Fruits of the Spirit - Self-Control

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

The last fruit of the Spirit is the one which is all-encompassing.  Self-control is making the choice to be led by the Spirit rather than the flesh.  Self-control is the hardest of the fruits to master because it involves putting aside one's desires, bushwhacking through long-overgrown bad habits, and going against the grain of the society in which one lives.  Self-control requires active pursuit of what's right, whereas some of the fruits (namely peace, patience, and gentleness) often require passivity.

Even this blog post, and this whole study of the fruits of the Spirit, is an example of a man whose self-control is faltering.  I needed a break from Deuteronomy, so I decided to focus on something I thought would be easier during the Christmas holiday.  To quote President Bartlet from The West Wing, "Breaks are good.  It's not a bad idea taking a break every now and then.  I know how hard you all work."  Then later, "My point is this: Break's over."

Prayer of the Day:
Grant me this final fruit of the Spirit so that I may be more able to show the others - so that I may be more able to follow Your Commandments.  Give me the strength to do what's right, even (and especially) when it means battling against myself and my own fleshly desires.  Amen.