Day 55 - Spirit of Self-Discipline

Emily Green

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” - Galatians 5:16-23 NLT

The last part of 2 Timothy 1:7 says God gives us a spirit of self-discipline. The Greek word for “discipline” in this verse is sōphronismos, and it means “self-control” or “moderation.” Galatians 5:23 lists out the fruit of the Spirit, and guess what is included in that list? Self-control!

In God’s Kingdom, self-control really has nothing to do with “self.” If you read Galatians 5:16-23, you’ll see a list of negative results from our “sinful nature.” The only way we get self-control is by submitting to the Holy Spirit inside of us! Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to control our attitudes, cravings, desires, and actions.

Understanding that you have a spirit of self-discipline inside of you is crucial to loving yourself because you won’t be able to make wise choices without it. When people say they’re upset with themselves, nine out of ten times, this is because they’ve made a choice that brought shame or guilt into their lives. They take their choice and the consequences of that choice and wear it as their identity. May I remind you today that no matter what you’ve done in your past, God can redeem all things? If you’re a believer in Jesus, you have been redeemed!

Shame and guilt are from the enemy. Romans 8:1 reminds us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you think poorly of yourself due to past circumstances or decisions, know that those thoughts are not from God! Psalm 103:12 says, “He (God) has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” In other words, God is not constantly bringing up your sin and shortcomings. Only the enemy is.

God doesn’t condemn you but will convict you through His Holy Spirit. The difference between condemnation and conviction is that condemnation will make you feel stuck, but conviction will show you the way out!

So, as we close out our week on increasing in love for ourselves, know that you have a spirit of self-discipline that can help you live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). With the Holy Spirit as your guide, you can make decisions and choices that glorify God and honor yourself. The fruit of “self-control” is the greatest form of “self-care.” By following the leading of the Holy Spirit, you are giving yourself a gift and setting yourself up for success!

Next Steps

  • Think about it: Has there been a time in my life when I tried to practice “self-control” without the Holy Spirit? How did that work out?

  • Think about it: When was the last time I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How did I know that it was Him?

  • Action Step: Write out the negative thoughts you’ve had about yourself or your past decisions. Then, find a Bible verse that talks about the forgiveness of God. For every negative thought you list, read the Bible verse out loud and declare God’s forgiveness over yourself. Once you’ve read the Bible verse out loud, tear up the sheet of paper and throw it away. This is a physical representation of the redemption of sins that God has given you through salvation in Jesus!