Self-control: Mastering Short-term Impulses Through the Holy Spirit

Self-control is the Spirit-empowered ability to restrain short-term urges so that our thoughts, words and actions honour God, working together with self-discipline to build long-term habits of obedience that result in godly character and ultimate blessing.

Understanding Self-control

Self-control relates to the immediate or short-term urges and desires by making right choices, while self-discipline focuses on the long-term patterns of behaviour or habits. Together they bring the whole person — body, mind and tongue — into willing submission to God.

When we became a Christian we gave ourselves back to God. Our body became His property, inhabited by the Holy Spirit, so it is our responsibility to learn to control it in a God-honouring way (1 Cor 6:15,19-20; 1 Thes 4:3-8). We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God, not yielding any part of them to sin in the time of temptation, having already established boundaries through self-discipline (Rom 6:12-13, 12:1-2).

Bringing Every Response Under Control

Increasingly being in control of all our responses is a fruit or evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. He helps us as we desire to, and make a real effort, on our part; however God will not do for us what is our responsibility, including resisting Satan and coming closer to God (Gal 5:22-23; Jas 4:7-8; 1 Pet 1:13-14, 5:8; 2 Pet 1:5-7).

Every aspect of our life should be under control. This will result in wholeness, balance and stability. We are not to engage in anything that is harmful to our eternal, spiritual life, but to keep the ‘natural man’ in submission. This also includes the area of eating and gluttony (Prov 23:1-2,20-21; Col 2:20-23).

Our thoughts, words and actions must constantly be the focus of self-control – it is better to have control over our temper than to accomplish courageous things (Ps 39:1-2; Prov 16:32, 25:28, 29:11; Mt 12:34-35; 1 Cor 10:31; Jas 1:19-20, 3:2-12). The Bible states we are tempted by our own evil desires which, unless they are actively restrained and we choose to walk obediently to God, will progress into actual sin (Jas 1:14-15).

A self-controlled person understands that Satan can do nothing to them without their co-operation, and they don’t have to give it. Neither people nor circumstances are the problem — rather it is their own response. Although the fleshly desires are still present within us, they are not to dictate our reactions or our way of life; we are under no obligation to obey them (Rom 8:12-13). Instead, we draw daily on the Holy Spirit so that our reactions are governed by the Spirit rather than by the cravings of the flesh, and our whole way of life reflects God’s standards rather than our impulses (Gal 5:16-17, 24-25; 2 Tim 1:7).

Self-control is founded on making wise choices

Moses and David both acted unwisely, forfeiting the future that could have been theirs because they lacked self-control; sin always has a high price (Num 20:10-12; 2 Sam 11:2ff).

Living in the Freedom of Self-control

Paul said, although various things are legitimate, “I will not be mastered by them”, for “A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him”. The person who lacks self-control will always be a slave to something or somebody who doesn’t have their best interest at heart, so we determine our character by the things we allow to control us or we have control over (1 Cor 6:12, 10:23; 2 Pet 2:19).

Character is the settled pattern of who we have become — formed one choice at a time — and a wholesome character is one that is healthy, sound and beneficial to all it touches. It shows itself in thoughts that are pure, words that build others up and actions marked by integrity, kindness and consistency, whether in public or in private. Such character is not manufactured by willpower alone but grows as the Spirit-controlled decisions of today become the righteous habits of tomorrow, making our lives trustworthy, refreshing to others and honouring to God (Gal 5:22-23; 1 Tim 4:7-8; 2 Pet 1:5-8).

We are to control our bodies, not letting their desires dominate, but yield to the Holy Spirit who brings peace and freedom to do what is best for others and therefore also for ourselves (1 Thes 4:3-7, 5:6-8). Distractions must also be controlled, otherwise they can rob us of the important goals.

Reflection and Application:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one area of your life not yet under control, and confess it to God.
Establish clear boundaries in advance, so decisions are not made in the heat of temptation.
When you give in, deal with it quickly through repentance — and restitution where appropriate — then move on.
Identify one distraction that robs you of an important goal, and take a practical step to control it this week.