Self control needed

"A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." Proverbs 25:28

Thousands of runners, including Cynthia Gillespie of Canby, Oregon, gathered together last weekend to participate in the Hood to Coast Relay, a 199-mile race from Timberline Lodge to Seaside, Oregon. Also competing in the race was David Jon Blackmon, 36, of Bend, Oregon, who allegedly stole a pickup truck while intoxicated around 2 a.m. Saturday and drove through a nearby field where four runners, including Gillespie, were resting. While three of them were able to jump to safety, Cynthia wasn't so lucky. She was run over and dragged a short distance before the truck came to rest on her leg. Blackmon now faces some serious charges including driving under the influence, driving with a revoked license and reckless driving. He and his team have also been barred from the race for life. 

And while, thankfully, Gillespie was treated at a nearby hospital and released with minor injuries, the story could have had a much sadder ending-all because one person chose to give in to temptation rather than practice self-control. And if self-control is defined as the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses, the Bible is clear that a person without it "is like a city with broken-down walls." You see, even though walls restrict where you and I can go and what we do, they are important to keep us safe. They give us set boundaries. And as the story illustrates, a person's life with no walls, or set boundaries, is a life that is out-of-control and one that will result in harm to themselves or to others. 

Perhaps you, or someone you know, is struggling to practice self-control in the midst of temptations today as well? Let me remind you that you can't do it in your own power. No one can. As Andy Mineo wrote, "Here is the paradox of Christian living. We must give up control of self to gain self control." In other words, we must surrender our lives to God. And the more we do that, the more formidable our walls will be and the more self control we will have. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Bible that warns us of the dangers of not having self control. May we recognize the need to yield to that warning so greatly that we make every attempt to draw closer to you through the Word and prayer each and every day. Help us to surrender to you and build up strong walls Lord. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I surrender - Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXzjLUN6Fd0

https://www.runnersworld.com/hood-to-coast/runner-accused-of-driving-over-woman-with-pickup