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Self Control: The ability to control oneself, one's emotions, desires or expression of them in one's behavior.
Self-control—the last attribute of the Holy Spirit. This attribute ties the spirit’s attributes together. A action of our will, of obedience is required to have self-control, to live out all the Spirit wants to produce through us.
Over the past 45 years, I have spent hundreds of hours writing and podcasting by myself, sequestered at a small table or couch, working on articles to encourage, inspire, women in relationship to God.
Sometimes I am inspired to work, sometimes I am just weary, tired. But over 50 years ago, I told God, “I will be your girl.” “Tell me what your Holy Spirit would like me to do.” Over the years, I learned the meaning of self-control. I worked when I felt like it, when I didn’t.
It required self-control, when I felt like quitting, but the Holy Spirit patiently taught me to keep working. I can see I was not always self-controlled. I learned little by little, one step at a time. It was not a part of my character at first, but it was my spiritual worship of God, to love Him, to make Him known. One article, one post, one book at a time came from using my will, shaped by the Holy Spirit to keep accomplishing the work He wanted me to do. Even as a toddler grows toward adulthood, so we grow from immaturity to maturity little by little by His grace, a long obedience in the same direction.
Self-control means we learn not give in to impulses to be angry, offended, lazy, unkind. Instead, we fill our hearts with His word and admonitions. Out of a desire to please Him, we exercise our will to obey His word, to grow stronger bit by bit in these attributes the the Holy Spirit teaches us. Our character muscle grows strong because of God’s presence working in us.
Maturity, spiritual strength is not automatic, but produced one moment at a time, as we love God by choosing to live out the fruit of His Spirit living through us. When prompted to show love instead of anger, being kind and patient when we feel impatient. We choose to believe in God’s goodness, presence, when we are tempted to be discouraged.