PRAYER TO GAINING CONTROL
Self-control is
the ninth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22–23. Though it’s listed last,
it’s clearly an important one. It takes a lot of self-control to manifest the
other eight fruits.
I recently read
about the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, conducted by Stanford University
psychologists in 1972. During the experiment, a marshmallow was offered to each
of the participating children, with the promise that if they didn’t eat it for
15 minutes, they’d be given a second one. The
researchers analyzed how long each child resisted eating the marshmallow, and
after follow-up studies in 1988 and 1990, suggested that waiting
longer—exercising delayed gratification—was correlated with future success. The
findings are not considered conclusive, but it makes sense that having
self-control is a positive factor in our lives.
My
daughter Audrey is not yet two, but I can already see the struggle that takes
place daily in her young mind with whether to yield to her anger and
frustration or not. I take seriously the responsibility of helping her
cultivate positive traits—patience, courtesy, consideration, respect, kindness,
honesty—that all require self-discipline but will shape her character and prove
valuable throughout her life.
Some
of us have easier circumstances than others. For instance, Audrey currently
finds chocolate and cake revolting—and if that continues into adulthood, it
might fool some people into thinking she must be really self-disciplined (at
least as far as sticking to a healthy diet). Unfortunately, being able to
resist something we don’t care for is not the same thing as self-control.
Each
of us is unique and has a personal path for growth, so there are no obvious
secrets to gaining self-control. However, if we commit our lives into God’s
hands, He will help us know what to do and not do, and the voice of our
conscience will safeguard us in our weak areas.
—
Colossians
3:5 ESV / Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
John
14:6 ESV / Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.
John
6:53 ESV / So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat
the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
PRAYER BOMBS
1. O Lord, let my
cries attract angelic assistance today2. Let my angel of blessing locate me today in the nameof Jesus.
3. My angel of blessings will not go unless he blesses mein the name of Jesus.
4. Let every satanic hindrance targeted against my angel of blessing be dissolved by fire in Jesus' name.
5. Let every dead area of my blessings receive resurrectionnow in the name of Jesus.
6. Let the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ comeupon the works of my hands in Jesus' name.
7. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, manifest yourselfin your mighty power to bless me.
8. Let every generational curse and covenant of povertyhiding in my life be broken and be cancelled by the blood ofJesus.
9. Every rage of the enemy against my coming breakthroughs bedisgraced now in Jesus' name.
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