Self-Discipline has to be developed.
For mortals to control themselves is quite difficult.
Some of it is how we were raised.
Some people had parents who taught them how to control themselves, others of us did not,
we had to learn it through hard situations that allowed us to learn why it has value.
If it’s any consolation, we all have our mountains we must conquer
and the people who seem perfect have theirs as well.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Proverbs 16:32
This is because he who takes a city is controlling someone else.
Controlling yourself is a great virtue. It is one of the fruits of the spirit. It takes a lot of telling yourself ‘No’,
learning alternative behaviors, learning God’s ways to bring about that change in us.
We might have mentors. We might have friends who sharpen us.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
Learning self-discipline is not easy. The first step is to value it. The world does not teach that.
The world teaches us to pursue happiness and to repay evil for evil.
Though I had read this proverb many times,
it did not sink in until someone shared their understanding of this proverb.
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Proverbs 19:11
This is like when you have been offended and you let it go. That is beautiful in God’s sight.
Which really is the whole point of learning self-discipline, to be able to walk in obedience to God.
It’s the warring of the flesh that we battle every day and try to win over.
Sometimes we try harder than others.
We excuse ourselves and while we can ask for forgiveness from God and from humans,
at some point, you get tired of doing the same thing over and over.
When I was young, I would fast when I felt my flesh was out of control to sort of whip it into shape.
I’d seek the Lord, too, so as with all we do unto Jesus, it is multi-fold.
There are so many battles with the flesh and so many things to learn.
Wherever we are in any of these endeavors for trying to be the good human before God,
He will continue to help us and work with us and make each of us perfect in His sight.
Being confident of this very thing,
that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6