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5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

– 2 Peter 1:5-8, ESV

Reflection

Self-control is one of the most interesting words in the Bible to me. Now, you will only find it a handful of times in God’s Word. But think about that for a moment: the Bible contains more than 700,000 words, and it uses self-control less than 20 times.

That’s what makes its appearance in 2 Peter 1:6 so important. Peter used this word because no other word could do. It literally means “the power within,” and there’s no greater power on earth than the Holy Spirit whom God sent, as recorded in Acts chapter 1.

Galatians 5:22 explains that self-control is actually a sign—a fruit—of the Holy Spirit. That means true self-control isn’t a here-today, gone-tomorrow type of behavior. By its very nature, it produces consistency in how we show up, which is a way it leads us to the next step, which is steadfastness.

So, to build a resilient faith, we must start by seeking our full potential in God (Step 1). Then, we need to learn what God is teaching us through our life experiences (Step 2). And finally, we must consistently apply what we learn by demonstrating genuine self-control—which we absolutely need the Holy Spirit to do.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come. Lord, thanking You for the Holy Spirit—for sending Your Comforter, for sending, God, the One that You appointed to guide us into all truth. Thank You, God, for the knowledge and wisdom to know that, Father, if we are going to have a resilient faith, we need the Holy Spirit present and active in our lives.

God, we need the Holy Spirit, God, to direct our paths, to teach us, Lord, so that we can be able to endure during those difficult and stressful times. God, I’m praying right now, Lord, that You will strengthen us, God, not only, Father, to let the Holy Spirit lead, but to allow Him to take full control of us. God, it’s that Holy Spirit leading that actually gives us self-control. So let us submit to Your will, Your work, Your way, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Have Your way, oh God, we pray in Christ Jesus’ name. Amen.

Application Question

How much are you allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your life?