Today, we are continuing with our scripture from Titus 2: Titus 2:4-5 "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. NIV

Self Control



I entitled this entry as "The Well Trained Mind". In addition to being one of my
favorite curriculum sources, it's also a well stated phrase that describes the state
of our mind as it pertains to being self controlled.

Let me explain.

Let's first look at the definition of self controlled. I'm going to refer, for a
moment back to Titus.

Titus 1:8

8"Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled,
upright, holy and disciplined." (NIV)

Here we see the directives and requirements given by Paul to Titus in appointing elders.

Notice that self-control is mentioned here too. I love the NIV study Bible...it sums
things up so nicely. In the study notes, it defines self-controlled as being disciplined.
Disciplined!! Remember when we talked about needing to set the example for your children
and needing to discipline them to show them love?

Let's go a little further with this: the notes actually say that self controlled
is "disciplined", "possessing the inner strength to control one's desires and actions".

Paul actually referred to self control five times in just two chapters.

I struggle so much with self control. I struggle in many areas, how much I eat,
staying on a schedule, being kind....but it's actually a much deeper subject that
even these things can cover. We have to be self controlled in our minds.

2 Cor 10:3-5 "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons
we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine
power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ." (NIV)

See, the real battle takes place within us. Before we can display self control in any
other area we must first learn "to take captive every though and make it obedient to Christ"!

Don't let the enemy tell you that you can't do it or that you aren't of worth.

We must have a "well trained mind". It's not something that will just happen, we have
to practice it.

My uncle said the neatest thing to me during a conversation a few months ago. He said
that doing the right thing takes practice. You have to lay that sin down at the foot of
the cross daily. You must condition youself in such a way so that when Satan introduces
something into your mind that does not line up with the Word, you immediately dismiss it
and apply the Truth.

Self control, very deep subject....not hardly enough room here. We'll visit this one
again sometime but until then, practice having a well trained mind!