Paul counseled the Philippians to, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” (Phil. 4:5a). In other words, get a Godly grip on yourselves, friends!

Humans have been losing self-control since the beginning of time. The stories of our Judeo-Christian history in Genesis are rife with folks who lost self-control. Some are tragic, and some are funny; but they all point in the same direction: people are prone to “losing it.”

For kicks I looked up phrases related to “get a grip” and found over thirty. In one way or another they each describe a component of what Paul meant. “Pull yourself together,” “simmer down,” “get your act together,” “quiet down,” “cool it”/“chill out,” “reign it in,” “get off your high-horse,” “stop flying off the handle,” “get a handle on it,” “put a lid on it,” and “take a breath.” You probably can guess the rest. Maybe you have your own phrase to regain self-control. I’ve conditioned to say myself, “JUST STOP.” It’s amazing how that pulls me back to a place where I can operate on an even keel.

What did God have in mind for us when offering self-control as a Fruit? I suspect all the above as applied to our thoughts, beliefs, actions, emotions, and spirit. We can’t function well when we’re scattered, fearful and/or in a rage because our decision-making skills go out the window cause us to and hurt ourselves and others. Moreover, because the lack of self-control is opposite to everything Jesus wasn’t, we can’t mature in the Fruit of Self-Control until we search out the negative ways we deal with frustration, hurts, feeling out of control, or whatever sets us off and ask God to assist us reprogram them. When we do, the Holy Spirit rejoices, steps in, and says, “Beloved child I’m here!”

Karen Kaigler-Walker
President, United Methodist Women