2Peter 1:4-8 In this way He has given us the very great and precious gifts He promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature. For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One morning I heard on the radio about a professional athlete who had a problem with mouthing off to the referee. To stop this problem, she would repeat Bible verses to herself when she felt the urge to express herself. She also had a problem with over-eating, which is disastrous to an athlete. Whenever she found herself struggling with this problem she would sit down with her Bible and spend time in study and prayer. The person on the radio went on to talk about the importance of self-control and on going to God for self-control.

As I listened to the man talk about self-control, the thought came to me that the word “self-control” is really a misleading word. It implies that we can have control over ourselves. In truth, we have no ability to control ourselves on our own power. It is only by God living in us that we can have control behavior, but it is GOD controlled, not self. We just have to depend on Him, and let Him run our lives.

It is a good thing to keep our minds on God and to remember Bible verses. By doing this, we keep our minds open to His directing. Here are some texts with very good advice on how to behave in a wise, calm, and restrained manner.

TALKING TOO MUCH:

PROVERBS 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

PROVERBS 29:11 A fool speaks all his mind; but a wise one keeps it in until afterwards.

THINK BEFORE SPEAKING:

PROVERBS 29:20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

PROVERBS 15:28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer, but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.

DISCRETION:

PROVERBS 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a woman who is beautiful, yet turning aside discretion.

PROVERBS 19:11 A man's discretion makes his anger slow, and his glory is to pass over a transgression.

LEARN AND PLAN AHEAD:

PROVERBS 19:2 A person without knowledge is no good. A person in a hurry makes mistakes.

PROVERBS 27:12 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. Gullible people go ahead and suffer.

FINDING THE FACTS:

PROVERBS 14:15 The simple believes every word, but the wise considers his step.

All of this is possible if God is the one controlling us. Let's not think Self-control, but think God-control instead.