Do You Lack Self-Control?

My children just finished memorizing for Gopher Buddies (a Sunday evening program at our church) the verse, Proverbs 25:28. It says "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control."

So I've been pondering this verse since we've been reviewing it daily for 2 weeks. I've been using the verse to remind the children when they lack self-control that they are being like a city whose walls are broken down. My son gets very frustrated when we are building a fort and the blankets begin to slip and the "walls" come down. The fort is ruined and it takes a lot of work to rebuild it.

Likewise, when we lose self-control we ruin ourselves. Matthew Henry says of this verse: "The good character of a wise and virtuous man is one that has rule over his own spirit; he maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions, and does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience. He has the rule of his own thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order."

So I'm asking myself this morning - how am I doing? A new day is ahead of me - can I control my appetites, passions, thoughts, and desires? Or will my walls come falling down like my son's fort and my day be ruined by my lack of self-control?

If I do not maintain self-control today my walk with God will suffer, my marriage could suffer, my parenting could suffer and my work may suffer. Let's be women who are self-controlled. Plan ahead what you will accomplish today - and don't just put on your to-do list household tasks but put on there - pray for my husband, be patient with the children, encourage friends and neighbors, and walk with the King!

Courtney

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/