SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Self Control: I Will Think Before I Act”

*DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Topic: Self control: I will think before I act

_Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32_

Self-Control is thinking before you act or speak. If we think about what we are about to do, before we do it, we can be sure that what we are about to do is the right thing to do. If we just act before thinking, we might do something dangerous or hurtful to someone. If we think before we speak, we can make sure what we are about to say is kind and loving. Even if you feel mad and angry, we need to stop and think before we say mean or hurtful words. We might be tempted to act out, but don’t! If we stop for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit for help, He can give us the strength to use kind and loving words instead.

Self-Control actually means “in strength” in Greek. It’s not easy to have self- control, its hard work and we need to be strong! We need to be in strength to have Self-Control! Can you be in strength?

The bible says that it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city! God is telling us that it is a big deal to have and show self-control! You show self-control by not acting with your feelings.

There are stories in the Bible of people who showed self control. One of such stories is found in I Sam. 24:1-12: Saul was chasing David and trying to kill him. David spent many days and nights hiding, and someone told Saul where David was. Saul went into a cave to use the bathroom, and David and his men were hiding in there! David snuck up and cut off a piece of Saul’s robe without him knowing. But David could have killed Saul, who was trying to kill him!

David knew that God had a plan, and he trusted God, even though he could have acted to protect himself and kill his enemy! David showed self-control because he knew God’s plan needed to be in God’s timing.

Another person is Prophet Nehemiah in Nehemiah 4. Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls after the exodus. While he and others were building the wall, armies from nearby came and started to attack them! Nehemiah showed self-control and didn’t fight back. Instead, he stationed some of his men to be guards while the others worked.

Nehemiah knew that God would protect them. He acted calmly and with self-control.

Jesus is the greatest example of self-control! The bible teaches us that Jesus after his baptism went to the wilderness for 40 days and was tempted by the devil to respond using His emotions and to not trust God’s promises. Instead of giving in and making a bad choice, Jesus showed us how to have self-control by stopping and answering the devil with the word of God every time! Even though Jesus was tempted THREE different times by the devil, Jesus spoke the word of God again and again which gave him strength and self-control. Even when Satan offered Him control over the whole world, Jesus knew that God’s kingdom would eventually be the only kingdom. Instead of giving in to what He felt and wanted in the moment, Jesus trusted what His Father said, and the devil ran away!

Do you trust what God has said? Are you in strength Remember to stop and think about what God’s word says when you are in a tough place or even a good place and be sure to follow it.

When you stop and think before you react, you are showing you have learnt self-control! Jesus is the perfect expression of all the fruits of the Spirit, including self-control. Jesus is kindness, goodness, love, and patience. We can look to Jesus and pray to become more like Him in every way, including self-control.

*Song*
Teach, me, Father, what to say;
Teach me, Father, how to pray;
Teach me all along the way
How to be like Jesus.
*Refrain*
I would be like Jesus,
I would be like Jesus!
Help me, Lord, to daily grow
More and more like Jesus!

*Prayer*
Father God give me the strength to have self-control. I have my struggles and temptations and I know that Satan will use them against me. Lord help me to have the self-control to fight my temptations and remain steady on the path you have set before me. I know that if I give in my feet will fail me and I will stumble. If that happens, Lord, convict my spirit to not continue in my temptations. And, help me, Father, to stand up strong and lean on you to continue in the way set before me. I pray that in my self-control I will hear you more clearly so that you can change me to be more like you, Amen.