Monthly Archives: May 2026

PROVERBS 4 THE PATH TO SELF-CONTROL

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May 4

PROVERBS 4

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,   and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;  guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,  and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

  which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

    they do not know over what they stumble. – Proverbs 4:10-19

PROVERBS 4 THE PATH TO SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Walk in the way of righteousness and you’ll have prudence

You won’t be catering to your cravings or gratify your flesh

Meditate on God’s word and make sure you accept and do it

It will protect you from the enemy’s schemes, plots and tactics

Walk in love and you will be on your progress to self-regulation

This is your protection from being provoked with unruly emotion

Love is patient, it is kind, it is not rude or arrogant, it builds up

Love is the only way to have self-control, so don’t stray from this path.

We live in a world that is corrupt and self-focused. Each person wants attention and there is not much room for thinking of other people’s needs. In these following sayings, the writer advises the readers to walk the path of righteousness in order to live a life of integrity. So many things can stir and provoke us to be dysregulated, frustrated or angry, but the word of God leads us away from such reactions.

Solomon gives us wisdom on how to have self-control in these following verses. In verses 11-12, he gives an antidote to the corruption of this world. If they accept the word of God and follow it, they may not be free from the temptations of the system, but they will have wisdom to know how to discern the spirits working in each incitement. In verse 13, he warns the readers to ensure that they cling to the word and guard it with their lives because it is the source of life itself. In verses 14-17, Solomon exposes the tactics of the wicked. He shamelessly discloses their ways so that it could be avoided at all cost. This will give them strength and courage to face all trials and tribulations with much confidence and boldness. In verse 18, he shows them the way to go, the path of the righteous which shines so bright.

REFLECTION

·       Share insights how the word of God can make sure you aren’t derailed by the wicked.

2 PETER 1 COMMIT TO PURSUE SELF-CONTROL

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May 3

2 PETER 1

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us tohis own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ– 2 Peter 1:3-11

2 PETER 1 COMMIT TO PURSUE SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The believer’s walk is a constant battlefield as we live in the world

This is why God gave us His own Son, his Spirit and his precious word

He did not leave us to be defeated by the corruption around us

He filled our hearts with much promises, hope and wisdom

Let us then commit to pursue a life of discipline and control

Without such training, we will fail to defeat this spiritual battle

Seek God, make him first and meditate on his word day and night

In everything, rely on God and pray in the Spirit at all times.

In this account, Peter discusses what it takes to confirm our calling and our election. He reminds the believers that it is God’s divine power that allows us to face our sinful desires with courage and strength. In verse 4, he focuses on the promises that God has given to all those who are part of his covenant. These promises allow us to escape the corruption of the world. Like any healthy prescription for the body, Peter prescribes us to have virtues couple our faith. Just like the book of James tells us that faith without actions is dead in James 2:17 and 2:26.

Peter gives us his spiritual supplement for our bodies in this letter as the following:

  • Do your best to act out your faith by good works
  • Commit to pursue self-control with knowledge and wisdom
  • Rejoice in trials and press on to walk in righteousness & godliness
  • Show brotherly affection and walk constantly in love

By taking the spiritual supplement for our bodies, we will be able to walk in the calling given to us.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to commit to a self-controlled life as Christians?

TITUS 2 TRAINING FOR SELF-CONTROL

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May 2

TITUS 2

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

                                                                                        – Titus 2:6-14

TITUS 2 TRAINING FOR SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you were chosen by your Lord Jesus Christ

You have been regenerated and given a new life

You no longer crave for the old things you used to love

The Holy Spirit changed all your desires into pleasing God

He also showed your undisciplined and unruly tendencies

God gave you his word so you can see all your iniquities

The Lord God gave you the ability to say “yes” to his Spirit

Obey the word and you will be able to resist the devil.

In this letter to Titus, Paul urges his spiritual son to train for self-control so he could pass on the same training of the older men to the younger men in the church. It is teaching by example that Paul counsels Titus to do so. What did this self-control training look like? He gave them some pointers to follow to regularly grow in this fruit of the Spirit by the following guidelines:

  • Show yourself as an example of good works in all respects
  • In teaching, they must exhibit integrity and dignity
  • Be of sound speech so no one can find fault in them
  • Bondservants are to be submissive to their masters in everything
  • Be well-pleasing and avoid quarreling
  • Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? But this training is not just for Titus and the early Christian believers but for all Christians now. It should not be viewed as work to do because it is the Spirit working in our hearts and not us. Our part is to lean on God’s leading towards our maturity of faith.

REFLECTION

  • Which of the guidelines do you still struggle with as you train for self-control and share details?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 RUN THE RACE WITH SELF-CONTROL

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May 1

I CORINTHIANS 9

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:21-27

1 CORINTHIANS 9 RUN THE RACE WITH SELF-CONTROL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are in Christ Jesus, you will run the race

It is a competition to be content and humble as Christ

Self-control is needed for one to be able to sustain this fight

It is a race of endurance to bear all the struggles in this life

An athlete for Christ prepares well for this race by training

The workout involves much leaning on the Spirit’s prodding

It is by starving the flesh and following the righteousness of God

It is by humbly rejoicing in all trials and tribulations that comes.

Have you ever run or competed in any kind of contest or race? It takes long hours, daily pressing on and several failing, falling and getting up again. You practice and push yourself to your limits until you are ready to face the other people you are competing with so you can win the prize and take it home. I used to compete in art and photo competitions and there are lots of preparations and time for practice and conceptualizing to do until the deadline comes. I also competed for some bicycle races in my 40’s and although I may have not won first prize for any of these contests, I was fulfilled with the process, the training and the discipline that went with all these challenges. It made me strong and able to endure and keep on going.

The apostle Paul wrote about a different kind of race in this letter to the church at Corinth. He refers to an eternal race where the prize is not a trophy or any perishable item, but it is a reward given by the Lord himself. Paul focuses more on the process of running the race rather than how to win and get the prize itself. He points out that self-control is essential in the race itself as well as the winning. He mentions that every athlete must exercise such discipline or they won’t survive the race. Although the prize is very important in the race, the preparation for it is as vital as well. Running the race for Christ is not the same as performing in a race in this world. The worldly race is focused on perfecting and performing while Jesus’ race is on pressing on struggles and depending on God’s strength.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think “self-control” is central in the race towards Jesus Christ?