To Exercise Self-Discipline
DEVOTIONAL READING
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32 AMP
Conquest and self-control within are better than conquest of enemies without.1
PRAYER
Father, I desire to be self-disciplined. I affirm that I am maturing in the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. I belong to Christ Jesus and have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since I live by the Spirit, I will keep in step with the Spirit. I resist and give no place to feelings of conceit, or the temptation to envy and provoke others.
I receive every Scripture, for it is God-breathed (given by Your inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to Your will in thought, purpose and action). This enables me to be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Lord, You did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Your divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness through my knowledge of You, Who called me by Your own glory and goodness. Through these You have given me Your very great and precious promises, so that through them I may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire. For this very reason, I make every effort to add to my faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if I possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep me from being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose name I pray. Amen.
1Dake, Finis—Dakes’ Annotated Reference Bible. (Lawrenceville: Dake Bible Sales, 1963) p. 653.
Scripture References:
Galatians 5:23-26 NIV 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
2 Timothy 3:16,17 AMP 2 Peter 1:3-10 NIV
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