Be Yourself

Have you ever thought to yourself I wish I was like her?  As you think that to yourself have you ever thought that maybe that she is wishing she is someone else?  I know sometimes I find myself wishing I could talk to other people better or that I could be better at math, but you know what everybody does that sometime or other.  Nobody is perfect.  Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses.  Some people are better at some things than others that is just the way things are.  So instead think of what you are good at.  Everybody has something their good at and love to do they just need to find what it is.  Do not wish to be somebody else wish to be yourself.

Having Self-Control in Your Day-to-Day Life

     “Self-control is the exercise of inner strength under the direction of sound judgment that enables us to do, think, and say the things that are pleasing to God.”—Jerry Bridges

     Self-control, or temperance, is something that is commonly spoken about, taught about, and esteemed in others, but how many of us actually practice it?  How many times have you been in a supermarket and heard the sound of someone yelling at his or her parents?  How many times have you seen children (or adults) throw fits when they did not get their own way?  How many times has that person been you?

     The Bible has examples of what a life is like without self-control. None of the examples are positive.  In fact, they are everything you would not want to have.

     “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:3)

      “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

However, there are also verses about a holy life with temperance.  “(better is) one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)  What is the point of an “amazing” life, if you do not have temperance?  You have probably seen famous people in the news—politicians, movie stars, or billionaires, who, without self-control, have come to ruin.  Perhaps they still were rich and popular, but did they have joy in life?  Of course not.

     Self-control is the control of yourself. It sounds so simple and yet, no one in this world can make himself have temperance in anything!  It is something that can only come from God, by asking Him for it.  You can try…but you will never perfectly master it without His help.  However, 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His (God’s) divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…”  If God has given us everything we need to live a Godly life, then why would we not accept it?  This is such great news! We can have self-control in any circumstances because of this free gift from God!  All we need to do is ask.

     This means you don’t have to answer back when someone speaks bad about you.

     You don’t have to argue with that person who just loves to bug you.

     You don’t have to whine when you don’t get your way.

     You don’t have to frown when something bad happens.

     Instead, you can have joy all the time because you know something that many people do not—you can rely on the One who is perfect, and let Him fight your battles for you!

     I read part of an article online about self-control.  This was the first paragraph that shows the value of temperance in real life.  Maybe if you have a similar instance in your life, you can do the same.

     “In a department store, a young husband was minding the baby while his wife was making a purchase. The infant was wailing, but the father seemed quite controlled and unperturbed as he quietly said, ‘Easy now, Albert, control your temper.’

     A woman passing by remarked, ‘Sir, I must congratulate you! You seem to know just how to speak to a baby.’

     ‘Baby nothing!’ came the reply. ‘MY name is Albert!’” ¹

¹Self Control. Bible.org. J. Hampton Keathley III. May 26th 2004. Web. September 27, 2015.