Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me.”  Our familiar verse this week may not often be referenced for self-control but it is the real key in our development of self-control.  We must remember that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  We cannot develop and maintain self-control in our leadership and Christian walk on our own.  Most of our problems are caused by a lack of self-control.  Why can’t I lose weight?  Why do I have problems at work?  Why can’t I break a bad habit?  Why do I become so angry?  Why do I overeat?  Why can’t I stop this particular sin?  Our biggest problem is us and we can only avoid or break the cycle in the strength and power of Christ in us.  Galatians 5:16 “Let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.” 

Common sense, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are key to our becoming more self-controlled.  These three resources should help us stay away from situations, people and places that weaken our self-control.  I am allergic to wasp stings and have to go to the emergency room for a steroid injection when I get stung.  I even have an Epi-pin.  So, if I don’t want to get stung, I try to avoid places and situations where I could be stung.  I spend significant money on wasp spray to kill them when I see them.  I plan in advance to avoid them.  What in life do you need to plan in advance to avoid or get rid of to develop self-control.  It is easier to avoid getting into things (like a wasp nest for me) than it is to get out or away from it once you have entered.  We read these important words in Ephesians 4:27 “Don’t give the Devil an opportunity.”  I have to remember this daily in almost every area of my Christian walk as the Devil places opportunities before me to weaken my self-control.  When I see a wasp nest, I think, “Don’t give the wasp an opportunity.”  I use self-control to not give them an opportunity to inject their poison into me.  The same holds true for using self-control to avoid the Devil putting poison into our lives.