There are three fundamentals qualities we have to possess to enjoy and fulfill the mandate God gave us here on earth
Self-Control, Self-Discipline And Sound Mind
These are interconnected traits that describe a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. They enable us to live with stability, wisdom, and purpose rather than fear. These represent the Holy Spirit’s influence that allows tempered emotions, wise choices, and controlled desires.
Without self-control, we are destructive not only to ourselves but to God’s purpose for our lives. Without self-discipline, we remain defeated by all kinds of circumstances. And without a sound-mind, we are invaded by things that cause us to be unstable in our convictions.
Self-Control
Being self-controlled is the very foundation for living a life of righteousness and selflessness that reflects Jesus and brings glory to God. We have the power to bring sin under control when we have self-control. But without self-control, sin controls us.
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” -Proverbs 25:28.
A city without walls simply means we are exposed to any kind of sin, lies, manipulation, fear, sexual immorality, pretence, and anger. Basically, anything can come through our thoughts, control our actions, shape our habits, and form our character.
The problem with sin is that it wants to grow. Whenever sin is given a doorway, it is not satisfied with being a little secret, sin grows and ultimately destroys whatever thing it inhabits. Like a thief, it comes to “steal, kill, and destroy us” (John 10:10). Lack of self-control will destroy marriage, career, relationships, and our lives.
Without self-control, we can destroy in one day, what took us years to build. We are the ones who bring a threat to every heroic thing we’ve done.
Psychology defines self-control as “The ability to manage one’s impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals. Self-control serves as an executive function necessary for individual goal attainment.”
Biblically, self-control is not only an ability to impose restrictions and boundaries on ourselves to achieve end goals, but it’s a “fruit of the Spirit” that produces the glory of God. The difference here is that self-control is not something that comes from our desire to achieve something, but it is a virtue that emanates from our spirit. Self control is something we do as a result of the person in the presence of the Holy Spirit inour live lives. This means a self control is an act of our spirit over our flesh, which is evidence of the active presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
In fact, self control is a spiritual practice that keeps us grounded in our godly nature. Self control is not what we do to get somewhere in life, but something we do to remain where we are in God -righteous and holy.
As human beings we are habitual beings, we live better when we have established habits. Good habits, benefit, and power, our well-being, inspire our development, and inspire success in our lives. On the other hand, bad habits caused us our time, rope, help, and money And deprive us of the life. God intended us to have through his redemption.
If we want to change how things are in our lives, we need to change our habits, change how we spend our time in the comfort that we have cremated through our old habits and replace them with new habits.
Self-Discipline
We can turn our spiritual convictions into habits, with self-discipline and repetition. Subjecting our bodies to strict rules to gain control of the key. Our willingness to suffer temporary pain, being inconvenienced, and delaying gratification to experience joy and freedom in our spirits is what matters most. In other words, make our bodies a slave to our spiritual convictions so that our spirit can be free to worship, serve, and live for God.
Self-discipline is the steady determination to keep going come hell or high water. Discipline is what makes us choose to do what ought to be done, when flesh tells us to do what we want. Self-discipline is not optional it’s a virtue, and sometimes we have a hard time choosing it. But if we practice it every day it becomes a desire that helps us grow and become more Christlike. The best thing we can do is to cultivate it. It is by discipline that we take hold of the means of grace of God has provided for our spiritual flourishing.
Thankfully God has given us the source of discipline by giving us His Holy Spirit. This means He has given us the power to actually be self-disciplined. But, it needs to be cultivated.
We need self-discipline in order to achieve anything of significance.
Sound Mind
A sound mind is a right judgment of things based on the Word of God. Having a sound mind is to have and maintain God’s perspective of oneself and our surroundings. It is to have an elevated outlook informed by God’s Word and inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is not something that comes naturally to us as humans. The Bible warns us that in the world we will have many troubles but it goes on to say in John 16:33, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” God is the One who gives us a sound mind but it is up to us to keep it.
“For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” -2 Timothy 1:17 (KJV).
A sound mind is interpreted as self-control, self-discipline, and good judgment. I believe that Paul was saying to Timothy, do not be intimidated but rely on the Holy Spirit who gives power, love, and a stable mind.
We don’t have a sound mind when our mental framework is subject to fear, past trauma, and low self-esteem. A good example of this is what happened during COVID. People were going crazy, because of the fear that the government, and main mainstream media were telling people. Now the same thing I’d happening with some who are fighting laws that have been on the books for a few hundred years, thinking it’s something new. When we respond to our circumstances, opportunities, and challenges through clouded emotions such as fear, instead of self-control and correct interpretation of things based on the view of the Spirit which leads to calmness and confidence in God it can lead to disaster.
A sound mind isn’t something that just happens to us by default. We need to be self-disciplined and in control of our thoughts and imagination. The Bible asks us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and seek things that are above where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).
“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is good, well pleasing, and perfect will of God” -Romans 12:2.
“If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God“ -Colossians 3:1.
The ability to control our thoughts is very important in maintaining and enjoying liberty in Jesus.
God has given us so much through His promises and blessing through His Son, but we do not get to fully experience them because of the lifestyle we subject ourselves to. We are already free, but that freedom depends on our lifestyle, we can undermine or uphold our freedom by how we think and conduct ourselves. It all begins with our thoughts.
No matter what life throws at us if we maintain a sound mind and keep in mind Jesus and all He has done for us, we can trust that God works for our good (Romans 8:28). A sound mind is a gift from, God, never surrender it to any circumstance or situation in life.
The life we are called to live is a life of warfare. We are in a constant battle to subdue the desires of the flesh, (Galatians 5:19-21) and to reject every opinion/imagination that is against God in our lives (2 Corinthians 10:4-6
The way to win this battle is by “walking in the Spirit”
“So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” -Galatians 5:16
There is no benefit in the flesh, no matter how much we go out of our way to satisfy it. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life.”
I pray that we gain back control of our minds, and have dominion over our flesh. And our habits come from our convictions, and we are fruitful and effective in our knowledge of Jesus and a life worthy of the calling we have received. Amen
From Pity to Praise 