Self Control

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Sexual immorality stems from practices of pagan rituals. God abhors sexual immorality as shown in the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. Often times civic religion instructed sexual acts as a form of worship. The Thessolonians knew that Jesus was coming soon, yet many of them suffered long periods of persecution, even seeing their follow brothers and sisters be martyred or imprisoned. Paul warns not to fall away from the faith and to keep strong from such temptations that these Christians were once apart of. 

As a guy, the temptation of lust is always in my mind. Even though there isn't a institution like those in the biblical time that promoted sex as an act of spiritual worship, our culture still embraces sexual acts as stimulant that is easily accepted and even praised among our peers. Being bombarded by sex in ads, movies, and other forms of media, I can't help but think about sex all day-everyday which causes me to sin all the more when I'm alone in the quiet of my room. God calls us to have self control and to be set apart. He made the act of sex a Holy and pleasing gift for us to enjoy in marriage, yet the world has desecrated it to another form of instant gratification that only leads to sin. In this I know my biggest flaw is that I lack the spiritual fruit of self control. I get tempted and I struggle as I will until I get married. And I'm sure once I'm married, I'll still struggle with lust, but I'm hoping that it'll decrease. Besides the point, I need more of God's spiritual fruit of self control. To control not only my hands, eyes, but also goes further in controlling my tongue as well. When I am tempted to look at pornography, I need to remember to pray or to listen to christian music. When I'm tempted with my gf, I need to call a buddy. Accountability is a big thing and I need more of it. 

Jesus help me to have more self control. Forgive me for my past sins, but going forward I pray that you would help me to rely on you when I can't control myself. Thank you for being gracious and forgiving. 

In Jesus Name Amen.