“Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).
Without self-control, you will always be controlled by and at the mercy of others. You can be provoked to say sinful things. You can be manipulated into behaving foolishly. You are completely defenseless and ever vulnerable.
Your strongest line of defense against evil in your life is self-control. He who rules his spirit is better/stronger than he who takes a city (Prov. 16:32). Self-control is essential to not succumbing to temptation’s enticements.
In the book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success (page 19), legendary basketball coach John Wooden wrote this insightful poem about self-control:
If success is your great goal,
You must practice self-control.
Use common sense in all you do.
Controlling emotions is helpful too.
I knew a fish who took the bait.
Good judgment gone, the hook he ate.
My friend was fried upon the grill.
With self-control, he’d be here still.
Don’t be defenseless and vulnerable. There are no spiritual victories for hotheads.
This is why we don’t give in to peer pressure. Lizzie and I had a talk yesterday about walking a certain path and not giving in to go another direction. I was amazed at 8 she is discovering what it means.
Not relying on peers is another level of self-control.