When Pressure Comes Self-Control Can Flee - Don't Let It

Proverbs 25:28; James 1:19,20

When pressures come, we can sometimes 'lose it.' Trust God to give you what you need to 'keep it.'

Soul Food

Proverbs 25:28

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

James 1:19,20

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Soul Search

• What situations have you faced in the past that called your self-control into question? Can you talk about it?

• When you have ‘lost it’ can you point to a recurring theme that takes place when you can’t seem to keep things (namely you) together?

• Are you brave enough to poll the people in your life and ask them what they see taking place when you lose self-control and get upset?

• Can you identify ‘contributing factors’ that have shaped how you respond to stressful/troubling situations?

Soul Moves

• Recognizing that you’re not perfect or “complete” yet (because none of us are), ask God and the people around you to help you see the areas in your life where self-control might be lacking.

• We need outside help to change inside (heart/soul) problems.
  Starting with God, ask Him to change you so that you have more and more self-control when outside pressures try to raise your temperature and bring you to a boiling point.

• Ask those you are closest to to help you see what they see in you with respect to having (or not having) self-control.
  Ask them how it affects them.

• Ask God, by His Holy Spirit, to deal with those areas where you are angry or bitter.
  Ask Him to heal the things that are contributing factors – the things that have caused you to be angry or bitter and that rob you of self-control.