It is only through self-control that we can adhere to the apostle Paul’s admonition to extract from our lives everything that is a dirty contaminant. In this way, he says, we show respect for our Lord (2 Corinthians 7: 1).

Knowing this, that it is essential for Christians to exercise self-control, I think sometimes we deceive ourselves into thinking the term “self-control” means “self-reliant.” So we then buckle down and determine that we will be strong enough to overcome the sin in our lives.

That’s a mistake. Self-control, in the Christian’s life, doesn’t come from exercising one’s own short-lived strength or ability. Self-control comes from the grace/power of the Holy Spirit. The only determinant we have to make in order to achieve self-control is to submit, to obey the Spirit’s counsel. Doing that is tantamount to sowing a spiritual seed that reaps spiritual fruit.

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 23). The Spirit, when allowed, will nurture our minds by infusing within them the mind of Christ. Along with that comes too, Christ’s feelings and motives.

Over and over, by repeatedly surrendering to Christ within, the result will be oneness with Him. His nature will become our nature. His self-control will become our self-control. This process makes me think of Romans 12: 1 and 2, in which we’re to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice so as not to be an imitator of the world; meaning lusting after the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life.

In the Bible, as strange as it may sound, self-control means other-controlled— controlled by the Spirit.

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God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7