Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version, NIV) emphasis mine

God’s Word is seed that produces fruit. Fruit speaks of character. The Spirit and the Word produce fruit in our lives. The word fruit is the Greek word karpos, which describes the fruit of plants, trees, animals, the fruit of one’s own body. As Genesis says, seed produces fruit of itself; seed after its own kind. Therefore the Holy Spirit and the Word produce the fruit of God in us, or godliness. This godliness manifests in the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit.

Self-control is one of those aspects and it can be defined as power over oneself. discipline over one’s desires and passions. Self-control helps us master our desires. We control our desires and they don’t control us.

Self-control involves giving control to Holy Spirit, Who, in turn, helps you exercise control over yourself. Will power is not enough, we must bow to Spirit power. It is a partnership to produce the fruit of self-control. Self-control is really control over oneself by the power of the Holy Spirit. We become what we eat. When we partake of the Word and the Spirit, we become more and more like the Lord. We become strong enough to say no to the flesh, sin, and worldliness.

Don’t say, “I couldn’t help myself.” The truth is that you can help yourself. You always have a choice whether to do right or wrong. God gave us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to assist us in controlling ourselves. As we abide in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and are led by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in us, one aspect of which is self-control.

As we bear the right kind of fruit, we glorify God. To do so, we must stay in the Word and spend time with the Spirit. Our goal is to be a fruitful disciple of Jesus Christ. And as we are, we exhibit the fruit of self-control.