1 Peter 5:8

SELF-CONTROL

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I suspect that some, maybe even most of us, have an area or two in our lives where we exercise far too little self-control. For a few of us, the struggle is a mounting concern: bad habits are forming, our thought-life and choices are being tainted by the actions we are partaking of, and so on.

I have always been a person able to practice self-restraint. There are nevertheless a few areas of my life that still need work! Recently I found myself frustrated and discouraged with self-control failures — and the Lord seemed to say “Trust Me. I’ll show you the way.”

Later that evening He addressed my concern with this wonderful devotional thought from Arthur Penrhyn “Dean” Stanley (1815 -1881).

Stanley begins with Proverbs 16:32, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Stanley then comments: “More dear in the sight of God and His angels than any other conquest is the conquest of self, which each man, with the help of heaven, can secure for himself.”

Simply put: What is of utmost importance to God and to the truly committed follower of Jesus (the “conquest of self”), the Lord Himself will enable us to do!

That victory begins with an act of the will: saying “no” (or “yes” depending on our situation). Remember this: Old patterns and habits are built through use — and broken through disuse. Start choosing to exercise self-restraint (I Peter 1:13) and before too long you will see how true this maxim is! After all: Self-control is the will of God for His children (I Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 2:11-12; I Peter 5:8). We can therefore rest assured He’s going to enable us in this decision.

STANDING FIRM — GROWING STRONG, PART I

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The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815. This was the final major battle of the War of 1812. At this battle, Major General Andrew Jackson defeated the British. 2000 British soldiers and 70 Americans died, with Jackson emerging as a hero — later to become the seventh President of the United States (1829-1837).

What many folks don’t realize is that before this battle took place, a peace treaty had been signed in Europe (January 24, 1814), but because of slow communications the message was delayed — and 2070 men died needlessly.

Sometimes we suffer and fail needlessly as believers in Jesus Christ. It’s stunning to me how often we go down in defeat — only to see, after the fact, our defeat could have been avoided! True, we often fail because we are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. But a major caution in Scripture, an avoidable pitfall, is spiritual deception; believers being duped by the devil. Hence Peter’s succinct warning in I Peter 5:8: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

How can we effectively deal with the devil? Great understanding is given by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18. In these verses, Paul describes our spiritual enemy and how to dress for battle.
Several years ago I presented to my congregation a series of studies on spiritual warfare. I entitled the series “Standing Firm — Growing Strong.” I sensed the Lord prompting me to present an abbreviated form of this series as part of these daily devotions. The studies come from the Apostle Paul’s teaching on this subject in Ephesians 6:10-18. Today’s study is taken from verses 10-12 and is entitled: “Understanding The Enemy.”

“Finally,” writes Paul, “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”(NIV).

Paul says to stand firm in a spiritual battle, believers must put on the full armor of God.

Jesus said, “…apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Of ourselves, we are no match for Satan.