But, I really need it.....
Today's Reading: Ezekiel 20:1-44
Find the Reading Plan here.
Summer of Self-control. Still working on it.
This week has been a definite eye opener on some things I need to work on in the self-control area.
My mouth was the biggest area that I thought needed some self-control. However, apparently many other areas need it too.
For example....
My spending.
This has always been an area that needs some tightening up.
It's not that I spend a lot of money, I just push the budget more than I should. I make excuses for putting a few extra items into the buggy, knowing full well that I shouldn't.
Yesterday, I really wanted to go to Sally's Beauty Supply to get some new shampoo and some self-tanner. I knew I shouldn't.
So, I didn't.
However, a million other days I would have and I did.
Self-control is really not about depriving ourselves, it's about our obedience to Christ.
Our obedience to Christ in our spending, our tongues, our attitudes, our tempers, our appetites, our compulsions, our indulgences.....
Self-control is not a punishment. Really, it is anything but.
God's Word says that it is a fruit of the Spirit. Read that again....a fruit of the Spirit.
We just have to activate that sucker! If we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, then we have self-control. However, we must make use of it.
Several years ago, I was at Wal-Mart and really wanted some gorgeous stationery. We had no extra room in our budget for this $9.00 splurge. Zero.
I really needed {wanted} it.
However, as I sat and stared at the beautiful gold, silver and yellow stationery, my mind was thinking of a million ways to make it acceptable to purchase. After all, my birthday was only a few days away...this could be my gift to myself. {talking myself right into it}
After about 15 minutes of staring at it, I walked away.
My heart sank.
It was hard denying my flesh. Even if it was just a beautiful box of stationery. I wanted it!
Several days later, I was celebrating my birthday with some friends. My friend, Kelly, handed her gift to me.
Guess what it was?
That very same box of stationery!
Only God!
I cried my eyes out.
She was thrilled and a little shocked that her gift was so loved---that I wept over it.
I told her the story, and she was just as amazed as I was.
God always shows us His love when we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit instead of our flesh.
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."Galatians 5:25
Be honest with God today about what you need to work on in this area of self-control.
Ask Him to help you and to show you ways to walk in obedience--even when it's tough.
He wants to help us. He desires us to trust Him intimately with the smallest areas of self-control...and even the largest.
If we can pray for you in an area, please let us know. I will leave the comment section open at the bottom of this post. You can post anonymously if you wish.
We will pray.
delaying my trip to Sally's,
jill
Find the Reading Plan here.
Summer of Self-control. Still working on it.
This week has been a definite eye opener on some things I need to work on in the self-control area.
My mouth was the biggest area that I thought needed some self-control. However, apparently many other areas need it too.
For example....
My spending.
This has always been an area that needs some tightening up.
It's not that I spend a lot of money, I just push the budget more than I should. I make excuses for putting a few extra items into the buggy, knowing full well that I shouldn't.
Yesterday, I really wanted to go to Sally's Beauty Supply to get some new shampoo and some self-tanner. I knew I shouldn't.
So, I didn't.
However, a million other days I would have and I did.
Self-control is really not about depriving ourselves, it's about our obedience to Christ.
Our obedience to Christ in our spending, our tongues, our attitudes, our tempers, our appetites, our compulsions, our indulgences.....
Self-control is not a punishment. Really, it is anything but.
God's Word says that it is a fruit of the Spirit. Read that again....a fruit of the Spirit.
We just have to activate that sucker! If we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, then we have self-control. However, we must make use of it.
Several years ago, I was at Wal-Mart and really wanted some gorgeous stationery. We had no extra room in our budget for this $9.00 splurge. Zero.
I really needed {wanted} it.
However, as I sat and stared at the beautiful gold, silver and yellow stationery, my mind was thinking of a million ways to make it acceptable to purchase. After all, my birthday was only a few days away...this could be my gift to myself. {talking myself right into it}
After about 15 minutes of staring at it, I walked away.
My heart sank.
It was hard denying my flesh. Even if it was just a beautiful box of stationery. I wanted it!
Several days later, I was celebrating my birthday with some friends. My friend, Kelly, handed her gift to me.
Guess what it was?
That very same box of stationery!
Only God!
I cried my eyes out.
She was thrilled and a little shocked that her gift was so loved---that I wept over it.
I told her the story, and she was just as amazed as I was.
God always shows us His love when we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit instead of our flesh.
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."Galatians 5:25
Be honest with God today about what you need to work on in this area of self-control.
Ask Him to help you and to show you ways to walk in obedience--even when it's tough.
He wants to help us. He desires us to trust Him intimately with the smallest areas of self-control...and even the largest.
If we can pray for you in an area, please let us know. I will leave the comment section open at the bottom of this post. You can post anonymously if you wish.
We will pray.
delaying my trip to Sally's,
jill
