Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9: 25-27

Once, I stopped in at a McDonald’s to pick up a Diet Coke when I saw a little boy (maybe four or five years old) experiencing a complete meltdown. He was totally uninhibited. Things were not going his way and wanted his mom (and anyone else in earshot) to recognize his displeasure.

As we grow older, most of us learn to control our emotions in most situations, right? But Spirit-filled self-control is more than controlling our temper, it is about saying yes to God’s design for our lives and resisting the temptation to slip back into our own way of acting and reacting.

In the verses above, Paul paints the picture of an Olympic athlete in training (how timely). And like the athlete, Paul didn’t train without a sense of purpose, he disciplined himself so that his life would not lose its meaning or his ultimate goal (Philippians 3:13-14).

Here are some questions to consider on our own:

• Do I lose emotional control due to circumstances or would others describe me as a person who maintains composure?
• Do I have trouble resisting things or temptations I know are bad for me?

Let’s remember that each of these descriptive words surrounding the fruit of a Spirit-filled life is rooted in His work in our lives. Let us grow more dependent on the Spirit’s work in our lives.