To be able to control yourself is priceless, something supreme, a victory. A lot of people ruin their lives because of their uncontrollable spirit.
As we are but living in the flesh for the meantime, there are a lot of things that we are not able to control; eating, too much sleeping, laziness; to emotions as anger, guilt, fear, doubt.
We, in this bodies, are in a state of uncontrollable thoughts, acts, and deeds.
Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
To overcome this state, we must rely on God's Spirit to help us. This kind of submission takes training of bible reading, praying and hearing and hearing of God's Word.
I believe that we cannot be fully self-controlled on our own.
It might be ironic since it says
self, that means it is "on us"; self-control. There are may self-help ideas we may receive from advices, books, and the internet, asking us to do it on your own. While those may be helpful, it will help us to build ourselves to discipline and sobriety
for the meantime.
We can only be fully self-controlled if we allow God to control our lives, that is, to look unto Jesus how He possibly managed to be a self-controlled man while here on earth.
Until we have someone to look up to on how to be self-controlled, we would look at something that is finite to help us be finitely self-controlled. Jesus is beyond finite, since He was raised from the dead.
Below are some of ways how to develop self-control I found online.
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Developing Biblical Self-Control
by Rick Warren
A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)
People with self-control master their moods. They do not let their moods master them. Most of what gets done in the world is accomplished by people who do the right thing even when they don't feel like it: "A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." (Proverbs 25:28, NLT)
People with self-control watch their words. They put their minds in gear before opening their mouths: "Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself." (Proverbs 13:3, TEV)
People with self-control restrain their reactions. How much can you take before you lose your cool? "If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it." (Proverbs 19:11, TEV)
People with self-control stick to their schedule. If you don't determine how you will spend your time, then others will decide for you: "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)
People with self-control manage their money. They learn to live on less than what they make and they invest the difference. The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it went! "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)
People with self-control maintain their health. That way they can accomplish more and enjoy their achievements: "Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body ...." (1 Thessalonians 4:4, MSG)
In what areas do you need to develop for self-control? The disciplines you establish today will determine your success tomorrow.
But it takes more than just willpower for lasting self-control. It takes a power greater than yourself: "For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, TEV)
http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=3502
