BE SELF-CONTROLLED

Wednesday – July 20, 2022

Posted

“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:8

In an article entitled: “For Good Self-Control, Try Getting Religious About It”, John Tierney wrote about the findings of Dr. Michael McCullough: “He and a fellow psychologist at the University of Miami, Brian Willoughby, have reviewed eight decades of research and concluded that religious belief and piety promote self-control.

This sounded to me uncomfortably similar to the conclusion of the nuns who taught me in grade school, but Dr. McCullough has no evangelical motives. He confesses to not being much of a devotee himself. “When it comes to religion,” he said, “professionally, I’m a fan, but personally, I don’t get down on the field much.”

His professional interest arose from a desire to understand why religion evolved and why it seems to help so many people. Researchers around the world have repeatedly found that devoutly religious people tend to do better in school, live longer, have more satisfying marriages, and be generally happier.

‘We simply asked if there was good evidence that people who are more religious have more self-control,’ Dr. McCullough. ‘For a long time it wasn’t cool for social scientists to study religion, but some researchers were quietly chugging along for decades. When you add it all up, it turns out there are remarkably consistent findings that religiosity correlates with higher self-control.’”

We need to be self-controlled in all areas of our Christian walk. Today in prayer, as you face choices and challenges this day, ask the Lord to give you the strength to be self-controlled.  

“Control your appetites before they control you.” – John Climacus

God’s Word: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” – 1 Peter 1:13