The Mother Hen

Praying for Your Kids Monday-- Self-Control

Could it be that Paul saved the hardest for last? Yikes. As I was rocking M to sleep tonight I was thinking of all the ways a person needs to have self-control. The list is really endless: time in the Word, emotions, spending, time management, actions, thoughts, speech (taming the tongue), physical health, eating/drinking, addictions etc. etc. And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I think of all the fruits we've covered, this one is where the way we live our life has the most influential on our kids without even saying a word.

I'm not going to say a whole lot about this because we all know the areas in our life that need more self-control and unless you're a chump you probably know you need to change those areas. Go boldly before the Throne of Grace and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, motivation, and strength so that you can be a godly example to your children. Self-control is not easy; I'm the first to admit that, but its worth it.

With that said... in Galatians the word self-control is the translation of the Greek enkrateia which means "possessing power, strong, having mastery or possession of, continent, self-controlled". I like what Proverbs 25:28 implies about self-control, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." In the time this was written a city without walls was defenseless against outside enemies; its occupants were vulnerable to any foe who would wish evil upon them. Like a city without walls, when we have no self-control we have no defense against anger, lust, desires, selfishness and pride. Without self-control we weaken ourselves.

So this week let's pray for kids but ourselves too. I encourage you to pray this week that God will show you areas in your life that are open and defenseless and where you need to exercise more self-control. God I am so grateful that You haven't left me alone to wander without hope. You continuously guide me through Your Word what I should be doing and how I should be raising my kids. Thank You. Lord, this week I pray You will give me clear focus on the areas in my life that I need more self-control and even though it may be painful I pray You will give me strength to begin to make changes. God I pray for _________ that You will begin to show her what it means to have self-control and that You will put people in her life to be godly examples of self-control. You are the matchless example of self-control and I pray _______ will long to be like You. Amen.