My Thoughts on Self-control, courtesy Bob Gass

Make every effort to be in control of yourself, and here are three areas in life that will test you.

1. Your Temper. 

Your circumstances are no excuse for a short fuse and an explosive temper.  The Bible says, ‘Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city’. When you lose your temper, you lose respect and credibility with others.

2. Your Time. 

Time is the stuff life is made of, and wasted time really is wasted life.  It takes time to build relationships, learn skills, execute meaningful actions, achieve goals, and fulfil plans.  A mismanaged life is often the result of mismanaged time. 

3. Your Tongue. 

“Let your speech be always with grace” - Colossians 4:6. Every day brings new opportunities to control your tongue; if you’re wise you will take them!  And if you must speak, let this scriptural principle govern what you say: ‘Be gracious in your speech.  The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out’.

Benjamin Franklin put it this way, “Would you live with ease, do what you ought and not what you please.”

So, this week, make every effort to control your temper, your time, and your tongue.