Self Control 2

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Category: Kid's Corner & Activities

SELF-CONTROL:  The ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.

Jerry Bridges said,

“Self-control is the exercise of inner strength under the direction of sound judgement that enables us to do, think, and say the things that are pleasing to God.”

Self-Control is one of the Principles at Higher Calling Martial Arts and is also one of the “Fruits of the Spirits” in the Bible.

One of the most difficult times to have self-control is when we don’t get our way.  It is our nature to be very self-centered and to want what we want, when we want it.  If we don’t get what we want we tend to get unhappy and want everyone around us to know we are unhappy.  Having self-control means to have power over your reactions to people and situations that come up.  It means to be able to handle your thoughts, words, and actions even if you are angry.  Learning how to have self-control when we are angry is not the only time we need to practice self-control.  We also need to control ourselves when we are tempted so that we do not make poor choices (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). 

Having self-control over our words is so very difficult and this is where I want to focus over the next two moths.  In the book of James it is written, “All of us often make mistakes.  But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and also able to control his whole being.”  James 3:2.   WOW!  Did you catch that?  James is saying that the key to being able to control all areas of our lives is to be able to control what comes out of our mouths.  James 3:1-12 give us much insight on how much power our tongue has.  He gives us some really good comparisons of the strength of our tongue.  Turn to the Kid’s Activity on Page 8 where you will see some of these comparisons and it will help you see just how strong and powerful our tongue is.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is so totally NOT true.  Words can be used for such good or such evil.  They can be used to build someone up or tear them down.  They can also be a major diagnostic tool into what is deep within our hearts.  At the center of our speech is truly what is within our hearts.  When we have a hurt or angry or jealous heart, our words will reflect that.  When we have sin in our own lives, many times our words will reflect this.  If you find it hard to control your tongue/words, I encourage you to look deep inside and see if there is some business that you need to do with God.  See if there is anything that needs to be confessed to God or that you need to hand over to Him to help you navigate through. 

Begin with your words, look at your heart, and be on the road to self-control!  

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 Circle the highlighted words. If there are 2 words together, there will be NO space in the puzzle.

James Chapter 3

We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want. Or think of a ship big as it is and driven by such strong winds, it can be steered by a very small rudder, and it goes where the pilot wants it to go. So it is with the tongue; small as it is, it can boast about great things. Just think of how a large a forest fire can be set by a tiny flame! And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies to spread evil through our whole bing. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes from hell itself. We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures - wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. But no one has been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen! No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water.