Latest Devotion
Self-Control
By: Julie Maschhoff
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)
I don’t know about you, but I have a problem with self-control in some areas. A few that come to mind include chocolate, coffee from little coffee shops, and buying things for my grandchildren. I tell myself at my age I should be able to "give in" to some of the things I want. But that statement sounds a little selfish, doesn’t it? I mean eating lots of chocolate and drinking too much coffee isn't healthy. If I'm honest, buying a lot of gifts for my grandchildren might not be the best for them either.
I also know people who struggle with gossip, alcohol, or cursing. After all, we're only human, so it's likely we have something we are struggling to control. How about you? Are you struggling with self-control in any area of your life? What we need to overcome our weaknesses is strength. But it's not our strength, it's God's! He is strong when we aren't. When things are unhelpful or harmful to us, the best way to control them is to give those burdens to God.
But the world tells us we've earned the right to do anything we want. So, we don’t make an effort to control our thoughts, words, or deeds. We rationalize our behavior by saying: "everyone else is doing it too, right?" Wrong! Instead of behaving like the world, we must ask for God's help. We see self-control mentioned in many scriptures, so it's really like a commandment from the Lord. If we ask Him, He will gladly help us. Like me, you already know where you are struggling, so ask God to strengthen your weaknesses.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 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 appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-14
Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless each of us in the area of self-control. You know our weaknesses better than we do, so give us your strength in the areas where we are weak. Amen