Self-Control and Direction from the Holy One!

There is a powerful connection between self-control and divine direction. When we lose sight of God as our King, we can easily lose our sense of restraint, discipline, and direction. The Bible says:

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” — Judges 21:25

When there is no king, there is no recognised authority. Everyone becomes a law unto themselves. People begin to follow whatever feels right, whatever seems convenient, or whatever their flesh desires. And when the flesh becomes the driver, self-control becomes increasingly difficult.

Imagine knowing the road you are supposed to take, but sitting in a car without a steering wheel. You may know the destination. You may even know the correct road. But how will you manoeuvre? How will you make corrections when the road bends? How will you avoid danger when something suddenly appears in front of you?

Knowing the road is not enough. You need something that gives you the ability to steer.

In the same way, knowing God's will in principle is not enough. We need the Holy One to direct our steps and give us the grace to make the necessary corrections along the way.

Proverbs 16:9 says:

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

We can make plans. We can make decisions. We can even cast lots, but ultimately, God remains sovereign over the outcome:

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” — Proverbs 16:33

This should produce humility in us. We should not become so confident in our own understanding that we stop seeking God's direction.

Think about Israel in the wilderness. What should have been a relatively short journey became forty years of wandering. They had a destination. They had a promise. They had experienced God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt. Yet again and again, they struggled to follow God's direction. They saw God's provision, but they complained. They experienced God's presence, but they doubted. They were given commandments, but they repeatedly chose their own way. They were being led by God, yet there were moments when they wanted to return to Egypt or follow the desires of their own hearts.

The wilderness teaches us something profound: you can be moving and still not be progressing. You can be busy and still be going around in circles. You can have a destination in mind and still waste years because you refuse God's direction. Sometimes the problem isn't that we don't know where we want to go. The problem is that we want to determine the route ourselves.

Judges gives us the same warning: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:25

Notice the language: what was right in his own eyes. Not necessarily what was right in God's eyes. This is where self-control becomes so important.

Self-control is not merely the ability to say “no” to temptation. It is the ability to bring our desires, emotions, decisions, ambitions, and impulses under the authority of God.

The flesh says: “I want this.”

Self-control asks: “But what does God want?”

The flesh says: “I feel this, therefore I should do it.”

Wisdom says: “My feelings are real, but they do not have to govern me.”

The flesh says: “I know what I am doing.”

Humility says: “Lord, direct my steps.”

We therefore need to continually submit ourselves to God.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

A person who refuses God's direction may still move quickly, but speed without direction can take you further from the destination.

The Holy Spirit produces something in us that the flesh cannot produce: self-control.

Galatians 5:22–23 describes self-control as part of the fruit of the Spirit.

This means that genuine self-control isn't simply about having a strong personality. It is about allowing God's Spirit to govern our lives.

We Need the Steering Wheel. Lord, give us the humility to recognise that You are the King. When we know the road, give us the wisdom to follow Your direction. When we take a wrong turn, give us the humility to make a correction. When our emotions want to take control, give us self-control. When our flesh says, “Do whatever you want,” remind us that we belong to You. When we are tempted to run ahead, teach us to wait. When we are confused, teach us to seek You. And when we think we know the way, remind us:

“A person's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?” — Proverbs 20:24

We can make our plans. We can cast our lots. We can know the destination. We can understand the road. But we still need the King to hold the steering wheel. Because the greatest danger is not always being lost. Sometimes the greatest danger is knowing where we want to go, but refusing to let God determine how we get there.