You are in charge of your life. Temperance means to have self-control, not God-control of self. It is self-control. God has put in you the ability, the power, the resolve to walk free from any sin, any lust of the flesh, any fear.
But for it to come to pass, you must believe Him. Self-control belongs to you. Self-control is for the Christian. Say this, "Self-control belongs to me. I operate in self-control. I am in charge."
There are two main areas in which we must guard so that they do not stumble or fall. We must exercise self-control over our budget and over our body. So often, people making $100 a week will spend $102 every week.
You want to regain control by spending under your budget and never going over. God cannot use you if you are out of control and bound up in debt. Start believing God to reign in your appetite for buying everything new that comes along.
The second area that must be watched is exercising self-control over our body. Maybe you are eating consistently—all day and all night! Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Therefore you ought to glorify God in your body. Glorify God by not going by the Dairy Queen every day. Take an alternate route even if it is out of your way. Take charge of your body.
Or maybe watching R-rated movies drives you to the cold shower. The point I am making is, do not put yourself in that position. You decide where you take your body.
You decide what you put in your body. And base your decisions on the Word of God. The word of God will cause you to overcome these situations every time.
Remember that it is Jesus who causes you to triumph. He loves you, and He has made you a winner in this life. Take the temperance that He has given you and abound toward it like a rocket. Then you will see, that as you do these things, you will never stumble or fall.
Study references: 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 2:12
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
