Daily Devotional: Wednesday, March 3

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Self-Control

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by Tim Hughes; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin.

READ: Psalm 23:1 and Titus 2:11-14

THINK: Having to keep up with the Jones' is never an easy task... or one that is ever done. As soon as you get there a new competition erupts and the race is on again! The bible actually says it can be a sin to need to do so. In listening to Ben speak about self-control over the weekend, I realized how easy it is in today's world to feel the need to have the latest and greatest thing. I struggle with this often whether it is wanting to buy a new car, get that latest gadget that just came out, or if I only had one terabyte of HD space! (Ok pretty geeky I admit... but you get my point.)

I can look past it all in myself, maybe even justify it, but then I spend some Dad and daughter time with my daughter and she drives me crazy because all she wants to do is go shopping! It could be any number of things she's after: shoes, shirts, jackets, jewelry...whatever! And then it hits me that MY need to have the latest gadget/car/computer/etc. is affecting my daughter's self-control. She sees my example and is just doing what I do... ouch.

It's hard to instruct my daughter that she doesn't need the latest item when I am busy on the Internet doing the same thing. Learning to say no to myself - and teaching my kids to do the same - is a big part of self-control and a big part in maturing in faith. When we have to continually feed that need for things or for experiences (or whatever the "need" is) we no longer are in control nor are we able to follow God's leading. God's heart for us is that we never let anything master us, but that we are able to control those desires.  

In the times when I feel the "want" come upon me, I simply read Psalm 23:1, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." and Titus 2:12, "...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."

DO: I continually have to remind myself that my self-control is paving the way for how my kids will practice self-control. Who might be looking to you as an example? What will they learn as they observe how you live?

PRAY: Dear Lord, continue to work in me on improving my self-control when it comes to worldly desires. Let me be a Christian example to my neighbors, church, co-workers and especially my family. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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