Self-Control

Titus 2:11-14: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels.

These verses from Titus are so encouraging as we face our temptations and vices on a daily basis. We all have them. Maybe for you it’s gossip, or lust, or alcohol, or vanity, or pride. Whatever the temptation or vice is, we have the strength to turn away from it when we turn to God.

I love how the verses say for the grace of God brings us salvation and teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. For the grace of God. What would we do without Him?

In today’s world where the devil’s lies have taken a root hold on society, and I am sure you can think of many of them, it becomes harder and harder to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. Yet when we do, we honor God, further His kingdom, and strengthen the faith and backbone of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. For it is not only for your sake that you turn from your temptations, but for the sake of others and God’s Kingdom.

We’ve been talking about Dylan from Jody Hedlund’s Last Chance Cowboy. He is the prodigal son who has run away from his vices not only for himself, but for the sake of others and to honor his God who saved him.

But since the day he’d left Chicago, he’d run away from his vices and hadn’t looked back. Like the prodigal son, he’d repented of his waywardness. He’d taken to hear the words of Psalm 1 and vowed not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, not to stand in the way of sinners, not to sit in the seat of the scornful.

(Hedlund, Jody p. 36 The Last Chance Cowboy)

Dylan’s story is the perfect ending to Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboy’s series. If you have not read this series yet I highly recommend it. You will be inspired by all the obstacles God helps this family overcome.

I will leave you with this final thought: Exercising self-control is possible with God.