RULE OVER YOUR SPIRIT:

"Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control." (Proverbs 25:28)

A new convert in my fellowship, Bernard; asked.

Bernard: How do I get over my addictions? "I have tried speaking to them but I am still tempted to do the same things. What should I do?" 

Me: First, you’re not supposed to be speaking to your addictions, but to yourself. You can talk to your addictions all year long, but nothing will change. 

Me: Secondly, you have to add some other qualities to your faith; such as temperance; this will help you gain the mastery over any addiction.

What anyone who is struggling with addiction needs is to exercise rule over his spirit. You declare to yourself "I have self-control and I am going to put it to work; I have rule over my spirit." When you make such declarations, it will pilot you and help you bring your thoughts, will, emotions and physical senses into subjection to the Word of God. Self control is restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions or desires. It means to hold oneself in.

2 Peter 1:5-6 says "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance…." God wants you to have rule over your spirit, that is why He put these beautiful qualities in your spirit to make you fruitful always.

The Apostle Paul in (Galatians 5:22-23) lists temperance as a feature of your recreated human spirit: "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." No Christian should say "Well, I can’t control my desires" or "I have no rule over my spirit." What you need do is to let your spirit gain the mastery. Through the agency of the Word of God and the influence of God’s Spirit, your spirit is regulated to gain the mastery over your mind, body and emotions.

Further Study:

2 Peter 1:5-9

Proverbs 16:32

Andy Agim

Christ Realities