Self-Control

At home, most of us were surviving on a network provider called Africell whose data was relatively affordable by the young adult for a month.

A month ago, Africell closed in Uganda due to debt, and many youth were in shock. ‘How shall we get by?’

In our neighborhood, only one neighbor used to have Wi-Fi. Two others now do, and they are closer than the pioneer. With online exams happening, my cousin pressured my uncle and days ago a guy called asking for directions to come set up the Wi-Fi.

I also went on to buy a Lycamobile sim-card which is a way cheaper data provider than Africell. As I returned one thought came to mind. This was the prophecy given over 2000 years ago that ‘knowledge would increase.’

How, you wonder! It is pretty obvious. With unlimited data, the old, the young adults, the teenagers, the children have access to a lot of content online. This is both the good, the bad and the ugly.

When unlimited Wi-Fi was installed at home, and I had personal data as well, I had a worm, tearing through my body. All it wanted was to be online online, onlineeee!

It didn’t matter the time, it just wanted to waste away at the fact that there was internet proximity and access everywhere! I found myself visiting Instagram and Facebook six to seven times a day. My cousins were glued to TikTok videos and YouTube shorts all day, always showing me a funny clip here and there whenever I tried to isolate myself in attempt to get something done.

My spirit was angry. It had been a few days but I felt I’d watched all I could (all those deep international preachers). I still acted like the data was going to run out, yet it was abundant.

•

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (AMP)

Self-control is a beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit, not only beneficial when we are doing ‘evil’ or sin, but when we are prone to waste as abundance comes our way as well.

I’ve seen, most times children serving a lot of food and pouring it, because they are assured of the next meals the rest of the year. A story is told of a poor man who won a lottery of millions, only to gain so many friends, squander all the wealth, and end up back on the streets begging.

What went wrong?

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the (lust of the) eyes of man are never satisfied. (Brackets emphasis mine from other versions)

Without self-control, we idolize the things that are abundant unto us. See how I was now addicted to the gram, and the net through my phone. Slowly, unawares, a god of social media was erecting in my mind.

Abundance couldn’t be the right word for all situations. For other sins, it is the conditions that are favorable. A boy could be sharing a room with three other young brothers; until they move to a bigger house, where he’s got a whole room to himself, and his worm to masturbate comes biting. Will he control himself? Will he control himself without a higher power to help him?

Previously still, as I begged God to ‘set me free’ from the online syndrome, He didn’t waste His breath! He quickly said, “You have self-control.” Self-control is the ability to control one’s impulses or desires. God must have seen the day I’d have abundance of data. The day of abundance of money as; and He set a precaution to enable me (you) control unnecessary impulses in case they ever arise due to the objects of abundance.

Perhaps you too are struggling with the same. When you pray, God won’t come into the situation and turn the desires’ lights red. Him as the Holy Spirit in you guarantees a fruit. Fruit means ‘end result’, or effect. The Holy Spirit in us effects self-control BY DEFAULT and ease.

If you’re still struggling with self-control and yet you already have the Holy Spirit in you, it is simply because you are ignorant, not knowing what He works in you as effect without your added input or efforts! And if you’re always short tempered, then you need Him. Now you know!

Against self-control there’s no law. This means there’s no harm in having an abundance of love or joy or peace or self-control. The more self-control one has, the better. No harm done. The no self-control one has, the worse. More harm is done.

Self-control isn’t postponing your feelings. It isn’t publicly restraining one self only to return and have revenge when no one is watching! Its definition isn’t ‘the ability to postpone one’s impulses…’ It is exercising influence over the emotions that make us forget how righteous we are (through Christ of course), and expelling (allowing no room) anything that is contrary to what God says or stands for, or His standard for us and our living.

Next time an addiction comes up trying to influence you to go its way, know that you’re master over it. Harness the self-control already in you! Lead your flesh and let it not lead you instead.

The grace to do this is abundant in a fruit called self-control. You will reign & have victory over the sin of lust or waste!

•

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

So even if general knowledge shall be abundant in these days, we need His aspect of self-control, to help us only feed on the knowledge that He wants us to or that which will be of benefit to us and others through us, and not to drive ourselves overfeeding on things (destractions) that will prove of no use to us.

Spirit lead us!