Self Control?!

"Struggling to make ends meet, the husband was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. 'How could you do this?!' She responded, 'I was outside the store looking at the dress in the window, and then I found myself trying it on,' she explained. 'It was like Satan was whispering in my ear, 'You look fabulous in that dress. Buy it!' 'Well,' the husband replied, 'You know how I deal with that kind of temptation. I say, 'Get behind me, Satan!' To that she responded, 'I did, but then he said, it looks fabulous from back here, too!'"

Self control! Mike will tell you I am very frugal and sometimes tight! Shopping is not my area of trouble which will surprise many. But there are areas that I have trouble with self control. I have self control, most of the time, with my mouth, because I do not want to have to feel bad and go apologize. I need self control with my thoughts. I may not be saying anything but I can say those things in my mind and I have to say I have some clever thoughts! Not that I am proud!

Bad thoughts are just as bad as saying those things. Matthew 9: 4, "Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?" God knows our every thought! Ouch! He gives us the power, through His name, to use self control, but do we? I have begun praying, "I pray the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart and mind be acceptable to You, God!" (Psalm 19: 14) And because this a new habit I sometimes just have to blurt out real quick, "Let my thoughts be acceptable to You!" And sometimes I just say, "Help!" He knows!

"Anger is one letter from danger."