Central to all the fruits of the Spirit is the last one, self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness are all contingent on our ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to control our emotions and behaviors.

We often get ourselves into trouble when we react to people and situations rather than responding to them. A reaction is often emotional and unduly harsh. I react when someone who irritates me punches an emotional button. I react when something causes fear in my heart. I react when something happens that creates anxiety. Reactions are often fight or flight responses that we regret after the fact. Consider words you have spoken, for instance, that you wish you could take back but they were said in the heat of the moment.

The fruit of self-control is an antidote to unhealthy reactions. When practiced, it allows us to respond rather than react. A response is a measured reaction, not one driven by hijacked emotions. The Greek word for self-control, egkrateia, is derived from two words, “in” and “strength” or “power.” Thus, it is living with personal discipline - personal power - that allows us to respond to people and situations in a measured, controlled way and ways which are consistent with the character of God. It means that we have power over ourselves, rather than being driven by our emotions and passions.

This is one of the fruits of the Spirit that requires constant attention for me. When triggered, and we all are, I immediately try to ask the Spirit for the ability to respond rather than react. And to respond with the love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and goodness that the other fruits describe. Our lower nature wants to take us other places. The woman or man who has self-control manages their responses so that they reflect God’s character. It is a daily challenge.

Remember with all of the fruit of the Spirit that these emulate from God who lives within us through the Spirit, giving us power and the ability to live as He calls us to live. We don’t have to do this on our own and cannot. These are spiritual qualities that we can access any time because we have Christ living in us. Think about that. Our secret weapon is not that we have knowledge of truth but we have the author of truth resident in our hearts. That is a game changer.

One of the reasons I keep a journal is to track my spiritual progress or lack of it in the stuff of real life. I can reflect on wins and challenges and remind myself of the power that is available to me. It helps me be more aware of how I am living out the life of Christ.

Father, thank you for the gift of your Spirit resident in my life. Give me an extra dose of self-control so I can respond rather than react. Help me, when triggered, to respond in ways that please you. Amen.