Day 20
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28
You hear it all the time that the only person you can control is yourself OR The only person stopping you is you. As believers, there is an extra level of truth to these quotes because when you have God on your side, you are literally unstoppable. Our actions and lack of understanding however can break the hedge of protection that God has put around us.
Many times we want to blame everyone including village people, our partners or even our moods but it always starts with us.
I was writing in my prayer journal one day and I think it was one of those weeks where I was struggling. I was about to ask God if He can help me and then I realized of course He can. And not only that, He most definitely will because He loves me, wants me to be better and because He has the power to do so. The only thing stopping me is me, my mind. So i said ‘Lord help me and my unbelief and lack of willpower’.
Because I now realized God was committed to my success, I became committed to my success too. Because I saw that everything was working for my good, I began to remove anything within my power and started to follow through with plans I had made.
Self control is removing yourself from being the reason for your failure. It’s allowing God to step in to help you in the areas you cannot. It’s allowing the laws God put in motion in the world to work its way for you rather than against you. It’s dying to flesh and choosing something greater.
Discipline is a big part of bringing flesh to submission. The bible says by His stripes we are healed but are you eating junk food everyday and not taking care of your body? You nullify the power of God in that area of your life by your lack of self control. Has the Holy Spirit nudged you to speak up more at the office but you slack off and don't commit time to preparing for meetings? It won’t matter if the bible says all things are working for your good if you are constantly working for your own bad.
When we lack self control, we are like a city without walls, exposed to the assault of every temptation.
The only way we can stick to our commitment is discipline which fortifies the walls of our city and we have to approach it body, mind and soul/spirit.
Discipline goes hand in hand with intentionality. You want to get promoted at work or you want to kickstart your business; are you going to sit down and plot out a strategy or business plan even when you don’t feel like it or are you going to complain that Jumoke is the manager's favorite so no point? Are you going to watch that sermon that will strengthen your spirit even if you feel like watching TV instead? Are you going to stop spending hours scrolling on social media and instead research strategies for growth and development since you said you want financial freedom?
God gives us tools but we have to take them and use them. When we pray for a life change, the pathway becomes opened to us but we have to do our part. There is no successful living without intentionally doing those daily, weekly practices that take us closer to who we want to be. There is no success without sacrifice and self control. Fall in love with the discipline of doing the work rather than the result itself. Being disciplined will not stop you from living your best life, it will actually unlock the door for you to live your best life to the fullest.
I NEEDED TO READ THIS!