SELF – CONTROL

One of my friends was describing driving by an intersection and watching two people standing beside their cars just pummeling each other. What would have to happen for you to get that angry? When our emotions take over, the execution of our actions is at peril. When emotions dominate our actions, we make mistakes.

I have done this experiment many times. When I have a smooth and steady golf swing I tend to hit the ball straighter and almost as far as when I swing hard. When I swing hard there is a higher chance that the ball is going to go further left or right and not straight. One of the greatest lessons that golf teaches us is that when we make a mistake, we can’t double up our efforts and hit it twice as hard and make up for the error. The best course of action is to just step back and make the best of your situation, minimize the damage. Try reminding me of this the next time I am 200 yards away from the green and have to carry the water.

Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness. (2 Peter 5:6)

In the bible, Joseph exhibits tremendous self control. He didn’t let sexual inducement from the Potifar’s wife over come him and he didn’t throw a fit at God when he lost everything and landed in jail.

Our job is to be like Joseph and be a mirror that reflects God’s glory. The problem is that often our pride, our temper, the quick fuse, our emotions, our biting sarcasm (just keep the list going) clouds our mirror.

We have to ask ourselves, “what areas of our lives present the greatest difficulty in gaining and maintaining self-control?” We must commit ourselves to a closer relationship with God so that we can live a more balance life with greater self control and sound judgment.

Be a reflection that glorifies God. Ask for God to help you overcome the temptations that restrict your ability to be in control. Tee it up, take a deep breath and slow and steady!