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
Reactionary responses are what we consider lack of self control.
It is harder to control yourself than to say what you want.
Or to say what you think.
To not become angry, to control yourself, that can be difficult.
When we have deficits we struggle with, no matter what they are,
we can seek the Lord for wisdom on how to handle them.
He knows each of us and our backgrounds, how we were raised,
the bad habits we have acquired over the years, the triggers we deal with.
He knows it all and has answers for every single one of them.
This goes for any all all of the fruits of the spirit, and taming our tongues,
and not letting our love grow cold.
Trying to treat others like we know Jesus would want us to.
Jesus wants us to Love our enemies,
to treat others better than ourselves,
to be kind to the unthankful and the wicked.
These do not always come naturally.
Being in control of ourselves, so we can display the goodness of God,
takes practice, it takes endurance, and an ability to let Him give us a glimpse
of how He might handle a situation if He were here.
Whatever the case, none of us is perfect,
and as we walk through this life, trying to do what is right,
we have a savior who is right beside us, ready to help us for the asking,
so we can submit our flesh and walk in His strength.
Simon Peter was not exercising self-control when he fought for Jesus:
And one of them smote the servant of the high priest,
and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said,
Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him. Luke 22:50-51
Jesus said, No more of this or Suffer ye thus far.
Peter had resisted Jesus
when He was talking about His coming death and resurrection:
But He turned, and said unto Peter,
Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me:
for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:23
Allowing God’s will can be self-control.
Whatever He is asking, let it be with submissive humility before the Lord,
the true Self-control is allowing Jesus to be in control.