Call it grumpy, cranky or moody, it’s often tempting for me to unleash my bad mood, assorted issues perceived unmet needs (wants) on the world at large. Yeah, pretty, indeed.
And, it’s often at these times the self-control issue comes dancing through my mind. Often, I’m not too keen on being a dance partner. Nevertheless, self-control is something God expects of us. Scripture says…
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
1 Peter 4:7
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14
Yay, sounds like a party, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, like it or not, each of us has the capacity for self-control. However, that’s not the same thing as having the feelings. Ah, yes. Those little buggers. Self-control isn’t about being overjoyed in pursuing our self-edit buttons. It’s about maturity; it flies in the face of instant gratification. And, c’mon, that’s really what we want at our base natures, isn’t it. Whether through compulsions, cravings, behaviors or bad tempers, it’d be instantly gratifying to just let it rip, right? We’d love to “release our Krakens.”
But check out what scripture has to say about that choice:
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Proverbs 25:28
Yikes.
So, the next time we’re tempted to let it rip, let’s stop, just for a second and do a little forward thinking. Perhaps, then, we’d view our Kraken issues in a different light. Let’s check ourselves BEFORE we wreck ourselves. We are worth doing so!
Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Release the Kraken!
When I saw this image, it reminded me of how I often resemble it first thing in the morning.
Call it grumpy, cranky or moody, it’s often tempting for me to unleash my bad mood, assorted issues perceived unmet needs (wants) on the world at large. Yeah, pretty, indeed.
And, it’s often at these times the self-control issue comes dancing through my mind. Often, I’m not too keen on being a dance partner. Nevertheless, self-control is something God expects of us. Scripture says…
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
1 Peter 4:7
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14
Yay, sounds like a party, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, like it or not, each of us has the capacity for self-control. However, that’s not the same thing as having the feelings. Ah, yes. Those little buggers. Self-control isn’t about being overjoyed in pursuing our self-edit buttons. It’s about maturity; it flies in the face of instant gratification. And, c’mon, that’s really what we want at our base natures, isn’t it. Whether through compulsions, cravings, behaviors or bad tempers, it’d be instantly gratifying to just let it rip, right? We’d love to “release our Krakens.”
But check out what scripture has to say about that choice:
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Proverbs 25:28
Yikes.
So, the next time we’re tempted to let it rip, let’s stop, just for a second and do a little forward thinking. Perhaps, then, we’d view our Kraken issues in a different light. Let’s check ourselves BEFORE we wreck ourselves. We are worth doing so!
Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse
Call it grumpy, cranky or moody, it’s often tempting for me to unleash my bad mood, assorted issues perceived unmet needs (wants) on the world at large. Yeah, pretty, indeed.
And, it’s often at these times the self-control issue comes dancing through my mind. Often, I’m not too keen on being a dance partner. Nevertheless, self-control is something God expects of us. Scripture says…
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
1 Peter 4:7
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14
Yay, sounds like a party, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, like it or not, each of us has the capacity for self-control. However, that’s not the same thing as having the feelings. Ah, yes. Those little buggers. Self-control isn’t about being overjoyed in pursuing our self-edit buttons. It’s about maturity; it flies in the face of instant gratification. And, c’mon, that’s really what we want at our base natures, isn’t it. Whether through compulsions, cravings, behaviors or bad tempers, it’d be instantly gratifying to just let it rip, right? We’d love to “release our Krakens.”
But check out what scripture has to say about that choice:
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Proverbs 25:28
Yikes.
So, the next time we’re tempted to let it rip, let’s stop, just for a second and do a little forward thinking. Perhaps, then, we’d view our Kraken issues in a different light. Let’s check ourselves BEFORE we wreck ourselves. We are worth doing so!
Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse
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