Introduction to Self-Control as a Spiritual Virtue
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Self-control.
Foundational Role of Self-Control in Virtuous Living
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Dear Heavenly Father, I think perhaps the hardest fruit of the Spirit was saved for last.
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Self-control is kind of the attribute that all the other fruits depend on because self-control is my ability to not react the way my natural default wants me to react to people and situations because I am a sinful human being on the other side of the fall waiting for you to return and restore everything to be good the way
Gratitude for the Spirit's Role in Developing Self-Control
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it was intended. and
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In the meantime, in the gap, my nature is to respond selfishly, to react instead of giving pause and thoughtfully respond the way that you would want me to with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness.
Seeking Divine Help in Cultivating Thoughtful Responses
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And that all requires self-control.
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Lord, I thank you that you give us your spirit to transform us because self-control is not something that comes naturally, but you promised that you would work in us to transform us to be more and more like Jesus if we surrender our lives to you. And so I just need your help. Jesus, I need your help.
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for self-control. I need your help to develop the habit of pausing before I respond.
Asking for Forgiveness and Transforming Mistakes
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Of pausing and praying, if necessary, that prayer in my head. Jesus, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord.
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because the words that want to come out of my mouth and the meditations in my heart are not naturally pleasing to you. So please help me. Help me to continuously lay your help in responding with the fruits of your spirit.
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Please forgive me for the times when I don't have self-control and I let my anger, or my sadness, or my frustration get the better of me and I lash out at people who don't deserve it. I things that I wish I could take back. I do things that cause much more harm than good.
Reflecting on Mercy and the Journey of Self-Control
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And I pray Lord, when those things happen, that you would keep your promise to work the good in all things, even in the times that I get it all wrong. Please help me to ask for forgiveness when I lose my things right as much as I can with others, and to remember that always we begin again.
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Each and every day, your mercies are new. In fact, each and every moment your mercies are new. And I'm just so thankful that you love me so much that you would give me forever tries to have self-control, that you would restore the mess I make and help me to continue to grow.
Prayer for Continual Spiritual Guidance and Virtue Cultivation
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it takes lots and lots and lots of tries and lots and lots of laying down of my own life and picking up your way of life. Thank you for giving us these fruits, for showing us how you want us to live.
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And please, Lord, let your spirit be constantly at work in me to develop these fruits that I might be light and a love to the world that you love so much. I love you, Jesus. Amen.