The Battle for Self-Control

Is there any area of your life that you would consider as being out of control? For some people, it may be their finances. They live beyond their means, spend recklessly, and feel the weight of debt pressing in on them like a heavy chain. For others, it may be their moral life. Choices made in secret or desires indulged without restraint reveal that sin is not being brought under submission. Still, for others, it is in their relationships. Arguments, bitterness, jealousy, and unresolved conflict testify that peace is lacking.

And what about attitudes? Perhaps you have discovered within yourself jealousy, envy, pride, or a critical spirit. Maybe gossip seems harmless to you, but it poisons your conversations. Or maybe laziness has taken root, keeping you from doing the very things God has called you to do. Some turn to drinking or drugs to escape the pressures of life. Others gamble, convincing themselves that it is only a little bit, but over time it gains mastery over them.

When we examine our lives honestly, most of us must admit that there are areas that feel out of control. We can try to excuse it or compare ourselves with others, but that does not change the truth. None of these behaviors or attitudes fit who we are in Christ. They belong to the old life, the flesh that must be crucified.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23). Notice that self-control is listed right alongside love and joy. It is not a minor matter. A life that lacks self-control is a life that is not being led by the Spirit.

Self-control is not something we can manufacture on our own. Many people have tried. They have made promises, set resolutions, and attempted sheer willpower, only to fall back into the same old habits. That is because self-control is not simply about human effort. It is the outworking of the Spirit of God within us. It is Christ in us producing what we cannot produce on our own.

The battle for self-control is really the battle of surrender. Who is in charge of your life? Is it your flesh, or is it the Holy Spirit? Paul goes on to say, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24–25). To crucify the flesh is to recognize that the sinful desires which once ruled us have no rightful authority anymore. At the cross, Christ not only paid for our sins but also broke the power of sin’s dominion. That means we do not have to live enslaved to uncontrolled passions.

So what is the solution when we recognize that an area of our life is out of control? The answer is not self-improvement or positive thinking. The answer is Christ. First, there must be confession. We must agree with God about our sin and stop making excuses for it. Then there must be repentance. We turn away from the sin and turn fully to Christ, trusting Him to give us strength to overcome. Finally, there must be surrender. We cannot hold on to our pride and expect victory. Victory comes only when we humble ourselves and allow Christ to rule in us.

When you yield your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit takes over the very areas that once ruled you. In place of addiction, He brings freedom. In place of anger, He gives peace. In place of jealousy, He produces love. In place of laziness, He stirs diligence. Self-control is no longer a burdensome effort but a natural fruit of the Spirit’s work.

Think about your life for a moment. Are there places where sin still seems to control you? Do not ignore them, and do not try to fight them in your own strength. Run to Christ. The same Jesus who calmed the storm with His words is able to calm the storms in your heart. The same Lord who raised Lazarus from the dead is able to bring life into the places where you feel hopeless.

The battle for self-control is real, but the victory has already been won at the cross. Your role is not to fight for victory but to fight from victory. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. You are a child of God, empowered by His Spirit to walk in freedom.

So the next time you are tempted to believe that your life is out of control, remember this truth: in Christ, you have the power to walk in self-control. The Spirit of God in you is stronger than the desires of the flesh. The cross has broken the chains. The resurrection has given you new life. Now walk in that freedom, and let your life bear the fruit of the Spirit to the glory of God.