Day #12
Titus 2:11-12
Does Christmas bring out the buyer in you? I know it does for me! Most of the year I’m what my husband calls a “Strategic Strike Shopper”. I get in, get what I need, and get out of there! But there’s just something about Christmas and the chance to fill stockings and wrap gifts that makes me lose my strategic shopping strategy.
That’s why I need today’s character quality so desperately in the midst of the tempting holiday season. Without the character quality of self-control, I can lose control, over-spend, and overwhelm my kids with Too.Many.Toys!
Self-control doesn’t happen overnight and it isn’t a character quality that I can just call upon on the spur of the moment. No, developing self-control takes commitment and consistency. In what areas are you tempted to avoid practicing self-control? Those are the best areas to begin developing your self-control muscles.
There are some easy and concrete tools to help us maintain self-control during the holiday season.
When it comes to shopping, making a detailed list of everything that you will purchase before you get to the store is a lifesaver. When you have already decided who will receive what, it’s much easier to control your spending.
For others, the holiday season is difficult because food causes us to lose our self-control. A lack of self-control for the month of December can mean stress and dieting for the next eleven months! Keeping a food diary can help you to monitor and control the amount of food you are consuming.
There’s no need to skip-out on holiday treats if you are conscious of everything that goes into your mouth throughout the day!
As we demonstrate self-control, our children will be learning important life-lessons that transcend the holidays. I don’t know about you, but when my kids are offered drugs, or alcohol, or urged to drop their guard sexually, I want them to have the self-control to Just Say No!
Learning to practice self-control will guard us and protect us from falling into sin. Without self-control, we will be ruled by our flesh, rather than directed by the Spirit of God.
Think through the areas of your life that would be improved by a more developed character of self-control. Make a plan and practice diligently until self-control becomes second nature. Once you’ve developed a high level of self-control, you’ll wonder why you ever had such a problem saying no in the first place.
Commit to change, develop spiritual muscles, and enjoy the benefits of a self-controlled life!
Megan
Megan Scheibner 