“We Need A ‘Bailout’ in Self-Control!”

“We Need A ‘Bailout’ of Self-Control!”

All you have to do to know that ‘self-control’ is a rare commodity in this new pressure-cooker day in which we now live, is to get up in the morning, turn on most any news channel, and everyone is streamed up about something and it seems that no one agrees with anyone anymore. And worse, each individual seems bent on proving absolutely, that it must be their way or the high way, and the news anchor has to literally just go to commercial and leave them talking to cool things down!

Losing control is a familiar experience for most of us. We talk too much or retaliate with our tongue. We overeat and overspend. We think that if we indulge that bad habit just one more time, we’ll be satisfied. Or we don’t think at all, simply acting or reacting, ignoring our need for self-control.

“Just Do It” & “Just say No”

The slogans “Just Do It” and “Just say No” imply that anyone can choose to control themselves. But not many today seem to be making such choices. Instead, we’re listening to other messages (often the commercial one-liners that are drilled into our brains) that tell us what we want to hear. Isuzu for years have been telling us that “The world has boundaries. Ignore them.” Foster Grant says, “No Limits.” Merrill Lynch advises, “Know no boundaries.” Outback Steak house states, “No rules. Just right.”

The Statistical Survey of the United States indicates that we’re taking these ideas to heart, with a passion. A vast majority of Americans live in debt. The greater portion of our population is overweight. And I could but probably won’t go any further with the statistics. But it appears obvious that we clearly struggle to say “no” to ourselves about much of anything! [Matter-of-fact, if you have read this far, you are undoubtedly ahead of the curve of where most people are, who can control themselves enough to show even the slightest concern for the problem.]

But even though we know that self-control is very important. Many have just abandoned any serious effort to achieve it. If it doesn’t ‘feel’ good and is not what is ‘comfortable’ to us, or is ‘taboo’ in our thinking (even if it might be good for us) like having someone speak to us about what God thinks about anything – we turn them off without batting an eye.

So why is self-control so difficult to acquire? The main reason is because our sinful nature doesn’t reform. It doesn’t just wake up one morning and decide to obey God. Following God means learning not to follow our natural inclinations and the appetites of our flesh. It is a daily battle; one that Jesus, God’s Son, fought and won, every day.

Is it Just Impossible to Try…?

So to all who care and would like to change: To grow in self-control, we need a change of heart in order to change our habits. And our obedience to God is not a teeth-gritting attempt to measure up to an impossible standard; rather it grows out of a deep love relationship that is gained from daily surrendering to Him. And a knowledge that He does NOT desire to NOR does He remove anything from us; that is beneficial to our fulfilling His perfect will for our lives, in our lifetime, on this planet!

Be encouraged fellow traveler – our Lord knows what it is like to struggle against temptation. He forgives and cleanses us when we confess our lack of self-control to Him. He is lovingly patient with us, cheering us on, sending help every time we ask, so we don’t have to give in to temptations or give up on our pilgrimage toward self-control!