Self-control will change your life.

When we think about the fruits of the Spirit we want in our lives, we usually think of the obvious — love, joy, and peace. We rarely think that we want, or need, self-control. Lack of self-control can raise its ugly head in every area of our life. We can lose our temper, spend more than we should, or eat ourselves into disease.

Lack of self-control will manifest through pain, money, and frustration. Now here’s the creepy part. If you are not in control, who is? God does not manifest Himself through pain, poverty and frustration, but the enemy does. Your lack of self-control is handing over the reigns of your life to the enemy, and he will gladly take them.

How can you live happily in the kingdom if you claim to love God but fail to show discipline in your life — if you are constantly overdrawn, suffer health issues do to overeating, or yell at people in traffic?

Self-control will change your life. It will help you balance what is good and what is over the line. The Holy Spirit will lead you in this if you ask Him to. Be persistent. It takes time to change, but if you really want it, you can have it. And everyone around you will be glad you did.