A Prayer to Develop the Spiritual Fruit of Self-Control - Your Daily Prayer - June 6

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Many of my college friends are married and have families now. I was walking with one of my friends and her 8-month-old when, as we were talking, her baby started crying. This was not a slight sniffle, but a full avalanche of tears, baby fists swinging, and a scream that would break anyone's heart. My friend’s baby wasn't feeling well, and he wanted to make sure everyone knew it. 

She calmed her baby, and he eventually fell back asleep, but I could not help but think of all the times we, as adults, have felt like my friend’s baby. We wanted to cry, kick, and scream, but we didn't because we developed self-control. Throughout our childhood, our parents taught us the importance of controlling our temper, anger, and emotions. 

However, once we get older, our self-control can be tested in other ways. For some, this might mean it is hard to say no to peer pressure. A friend of mine had a challenging time ever saying “no” to drinks at college. Although he didn't enjoy how drinking made him feel, he continued to drink because he thought that was what made someone “cool.” He kept telling me he wished he had the self-control to say “no” and walk away from this friend group, but he kept spending time with them. 

With time, this issue grew bigger, and he struggled not only with saying “no” to his friends but also with saying “no” to alcohol. After years of struggling, he finally entered recovery and has now been sober for two years. He has attributed his sobriety to God's work in his life and to the Holy Spirit's help in cultivating self-control. 

The Apostle Paul lists nine fruits of the Spirit for us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Self-control is the last fruit of the Spirit, but it is by far one of the hardest fruits to develop in our lives. 

This is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can help us fully develop any of the fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23. The Greek word translated to self-control is egkrateia. Egkrateia and its variant engkrateia, can be translated as the “Spirit-enabled mastery of desires, impulses, and habits so that they serve rather than rule the believer” (Topical Lexicon). 

Self-control can be challenging, but not impossible to cultivate in our Christian walk. In what ways do you need help with self-control? You may need help controlling your anger, your impulse to purchase too many items, or the temptation to manage your emotions with a substance. Bring these concerns to God today and ask for His Spirit to cultivate self-control in your life. 

The road will be long, but God will be with you every step of the way. When the anger, temptation, or desire becomes too strong, cry out to God. Acknowledge your dependence on God by humbling yourself under His mighty hand (James 4:10). He will lift you and restore you to a place of steadfastness. 

Let's Pray:

Dear Holy Spirit,

I do not do well with self-control. I tend to get angry over trivial things and lash out at people. I also have problems with spending money on things I don't need and restraining the impulses of the sinful flesh. Please help me to begin cultivating self-control today. Living a life without self-control has only hindered my walk with Christ. Bless me with the ability to have mastery over my desires, impulses, habits, and wants.

The only thing that truly brings me joy is walking in accordance with the Bible. Walking in alignment with the sinful flesh has only left me feeling empty and crestfallen. Provide me with opportunities to develop self-control and help me to overcome any desires, impulses, or challenges. I trust that You can do all these things and even more.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

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Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.

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For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.

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