Tag Archives: self control

Spiritual Junk Food – Denise Loock
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What’s your prize?

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV

I love Peanut M&M’s, but I never buy them. One handful leads to “just a few more,” and before I know it, I’ve eaten the whole bag. Oh, I can rationalize that “they’re not that bad for me” because the peanuts contain protein. But the nutrition label tells the truth: 10+ grams of fat in a vending-machine-size bag.

Other junk foods, like potato chips and chocolate chip cookies, have a similar effect on me. I always intend to eat only one cookie or just a few chips, but my hand reaches into the container every time I pass it. And that lack of self-discipline means banning those temptations from my house.

When Paul told the Corinthians that “everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things,” he was referring to athletes who avoid unwholesome foods and activities while they train. But “all things” can be broadened into anything that hinders my public testimony to others or my private relationship with Christ.

Some Bible versions translate the word temperate as “self-control” or “strict training.” Paul’s words emphasize that representing Christ and His gospel requires sacrifice. Most of us realize that avoiding harmful activities like immorality and bitterness is necessary, but what about things we view as harmless or even healthful?

Dried fruit or veggie chips aren’t considered unhealthy foods; however, if I consume too many of those foods and neglect protein and vegetables, I’m not maintaining a healthy diet. Similarly, spiritual junk food can include Christian books, charitable works, and inspirational music if I use them as substitutes for studying my Bible or praying.

Just as I must control my physical diet by keeping certain foods out of my house, I may also need to keep certain activities out of my life—not because they’re wrong, but because I can’t control my intake.

Take time this week to inventory your spiritual junk food. What activities or habits keep you from ingesting the spiritual protein of Bible study and prayer?

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Denise K. Loock is a freelance writer and the author of two books: Open Your Hymnal and Open Your Hymnal Again. She is also the founder of Dig Deeper Devotions, a website dedicated to encouraging and enabling Christians to dig deeper into God’s Words.

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Watch Your Mouth – Andrea Merrell
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Watch Your Mouth

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:8

“I need to get my attitude under control and learn to keep my mouth shut.”

My husband glanced at me as we headed down the road, a grin on his face. “I know exactly when you’ll be able to do that,” he said.

I looked at him expectantly, ready for his usual words of wisdom.

“When you’re dead.”

“Thank you, honey—that gives me tremendous hope.”

Is it any wonder we have so much trouble keeping that tiny little member of our body in check? They say “good things come in small packages,” but sometimes those small packages contain things that are deadly, toxic, and explosive. The Bible refers to our tongue as an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Ouch!

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. Maybe I’m in good company, though, because the Apostle Paul had the same struggle with self-control. He admits that he didn’t do the things he should, and did the very things he shouldn’t. Sound familiar?

The good news is, there’s always hope for us (yes, even this side of the grave . . . thanks anyway, honey). When we have trouble controlling our tongue, speaking the right thing at the right time—in love—there is One who can help. When we give the Holy Spirit permission to be in charge, He will stand guard over our mind, our heart, and our mouth. He will act as the filter for everything we think, feel, say, and do, if we’ll only give Him permission.

The next step for us is to listen and be obedient when He says, “Don’t say that,” or “Say this instead.” He might even tell us to think about the consequences of our words, actions, or deeds. We can choose to follow His direction or pay the price for a lack of self-control.

I have found that God is always there for me, leading, guiding, and prompting me to go in the right direction, make the right choices, and do the right thing. He will impart wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in every situation. All I have to do is ask.

God sent the Holy Spirit to be our coach, umpire, and referee, all rolled into one. Will you let Him in the game?

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Andrea Merrell lives in the upstate of South Carolina and is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. Andrea is a staff writer and Associate Editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us. She is also Associate Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Her work has been published in Spirit & Heart: A Devotional Journey, Faith & Finances: In God We Trust, Faith & Family, PEN Points, The Write Life, and Extraordinary Answers to Prayer. Andrea also writes for www.cornerstonegreenville.com. Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com.

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Write it Down – Delton de Armas
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You can tell a person by their calendar.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Rituals can make or break us. Recently I finished reading a book about the practice of rituals. The author didn’t address them in the traditional context of spiritual rites. Instead, he addressed how our decisions dictate how we spend our time and how we develop our life habits.

It’s an interesting premise. We expend energy to complete the tasks before us. Actions such as good hygiene don’t require a lot of energy, while responsibilities like self-control can consume a lot. When something becomes a habit in our lives, however, it takes much less energy to complete it.

For example, as an adult, it doesn’t require any energy output on my part to remember to brush my teeth. It happens almost automatically when I get up in the morning. As a parent, I find myself reminding my sons to brush theirs almost every day. I don’t really remember it, but I suspect my parents had to remind me… until it became a habit.

Rituals are different. If we’re ritualistic about something in the short run, it leads more quickly to a habit that’s easy to maintain and becomes an ongoing part of our lives. Often, creating a ritual is as easy as putting it on our calendars. The simple act of committing to a specific time and place to complete the task is enough to begin the ritual.

I know there are areas I’d like to improve. Lose weight. Exercise more. Have the daily quiet time I’ve been promising God. My efforts at self-discipline sometimes fail. Why not try a ritual? Commit to a time and place by writing it down, then do it.

God gave us the power to improve…to better ourselves for a reason. He wants us happy and healthy and that overflows into all aspects of our lives.

A pastor friend once said you could tell a lot about people by their calendars and their checkbooks. I think I’ll check mine today to see what’s really important to me. How does yours look?

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Delton de Armas was born in Orlando, Florida. He moved with his family to Carrollton, Texas in 2010 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary where he is pursuing a Master of Arts in Media and Communication (M.A./MC). He married his high school sweetheart Pam, and has three children: Amber, Alden, and Abram. Delton loves cycling, snowboarding, reading, and writing.
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Contaminated Spirits – Tami Thurber
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Who can pass up chocolate? Really?

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. II Corinthians 7:1

I’m sick because I’m dumb. Last week my husband went with me to the grocery store. Normally I glide by the dessert aisle with a grace and speed that would make Little Debbie shiver. However, Tim, succumbing to a lack of sweets, brought our cart to a halt in front of that sandwich cookie with the wonderful filling. My guard was down and I gave in. Unfortunately, I ate way more than double the stuff. Then yesterday I ate a large order of fries for lunch and a bag of microwave popcorn for supper. I still haven’t gotten rid of that giant-grease-ball-sitting-in-your-stomach feeling. We know what we eat affects our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and yet I would guess I’m not the only one who has ignored that axiom.

It’s easy to splurge, to let our self-control lag for a moment, but unhealthy food is not the only contaminate we allow into our systems. We also allow unhealthy thoughts, attitudes, and actions to infiltrate. Our spirits become contaminated when gossip slips from our lips, when we watch that show or look online at images that pull at our passions, and even when we burst out in anger. Letting down our guard of self-control is so easy, and yet we all slip.

There are many practical steps we can take to get rid of contaminates in our body, but before we take the practical steps, we must understand WHY we should rid ourselves of impurity.

First, our spirits get sick from impure actions just as my body got sick from junk food. When we willingly contaminate our bodies with impure thoughts and actions, we are spiritually functioning at second-rate levels.

The second reason we should desire purity is out of reverence for God. God desires for us to give our lives to him as a sacrifice, holy and pleasing to him. When we willingly contaminate our spirits, we give a mediocre offering to God.

Examine your life. Ask God to show you any attitudes, actions, or thoughts that are contaminating your spirit and tainting your offering to God. Letting down your guard, even just for a moment, will make you sick.

Tami Thurber lives with her pastor-husband and three children in upstate New York. She has degrees from Houghton College and Northeastern Seminary. Tami enjoys teaching at women’s events and is a children’s instructor with Walk Thru the Bible, UnveilinGlory, and SuperDoc. Tami and her husband co-authored the family devotional Handing it Down. She also blogs at www.tamithurber.com.

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