1. Feature Article: "Vigilance: Every Man's Battle for Self
Control"
Today's article comes from the Renewed Man Boot Camp. Renewed Man is a systematic teaching and coaching series designed to help men grow emotionally, relationally, and spiritually ... developing the essential character quality of "self-mastery." Even though this community is created for men, the principles
are universal -- women will benefit from these insights as well.
We build this teaching around 12 Keys, and this week, we're focusing on Key 12:
VIGILANCE. Here's how we put it:
12. VIGILANCE - We maintain motivation and vigilance about
our commitment to emotional and spiritual well-being, with sexual integrity being a key ingredient of this. We pursue the journey of self-mastery as a marathon, not a sprint.
Here's one of the daily messages from this week's teaching series. I hope this will help you:
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"If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self." -- Napoleon Hill
As we go about our daily lives, each of us faces an internal battle: the fight for self-control. The Apostle Paul was aware of this struggle, and wrote about it frequently. He talks about it as a battle between our lower, sinful, egoic nature; and our higher nature, the
new self of God's Spirit within.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new
in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24
Paul writes about this struggle -- between his old and new self -- in Romans 7:7-25. In verse 18 he says: "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
Enter Self-Control
The only way forward is to exert self-control. Self control is the heart of the Renewed Man program (sometimes we refer to it as "self-mastery"). It is the ultimate virtue and is too often in short supply today. Paul lists it as one of the "fruits of the Spirit" in
Galatians 5:22-23:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Self-control -- it sits at the end of this important list, yet it underpins them all. It is the wall that holds back the storms of self destructive self
indulgence. You might think of it as the fortress of the soul. Without it, a man is like a ship adrift, tossed by every wave, carried by every wind of desire.
Proverbs 25:28 warns
us, "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Without self-control, we are open, vulnerable; a
city ripe for being taken over by an unseen enemy. The image is stark, and brings to mind stories in books or movies about drawn-out ancient sieges. The enemy does not storm the walls in a grand assault. No, he chips away at them. Bit by bit, stone by stone, the defenses crumble. The enemy is subtle, patient.
Why must we be vigilant? Why is self-control so important? Because our
world offers us a constant barrage of temptations of self-indulgence. Unless we develop healthy habits of self-discipline, we will be strung out by our over consumption of food, online distractions, laziness on the one hand, and outright immorality -- sexual and otherwise -- on the other.
Self-control is the watchman on the walls. It is the first line of defense against the enemy approach. Without it we are blind and brainless, and the enemies of self-indulgence and immorality may enter
unopposed.
Vigilance is Not FEAR
But vigilance is not a state of constant fear. Rather, it is readiness. It is awareness. Awareness of our vulnerability, awareness of the stakes of our daily decisions. And this readiness, this
awareness, is cultivated through habit.
The writer James Clear writes in his book Atomic Habits:
"All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny
decision."
Keep in mind: the seed that
grows into a big habit can be something positive and life-giving, or it can be destructive.
The battle for self-control begins each morning. In the first light of the day, we begin choosing discipline over indulgence. It could be our practice of a time of prayer, a reading, a period of meditation, or the sacrifice of some fleeting pleasure. It is these small victories, these quiet moments of choice, that build the walls of our fortress, that build the muscle of self-control.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,
but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize...I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave..."
We train, we strive, not for some earthly prize, but for a
crown that is everlasting. And so, we practice self-control. Daily. Hourly. It is a labor, a work of the heart, as necessary as the beating of our hearts, as the drawing of our breath.
You Are
Not Alone in This Fight
There's good news to keep in mind here. Remember this: in the battle for self-control, we do not fight alone. The Spirit within is our companion, our guide. He strengthens us, He sustains us. He is the source of our self-control. But the Spirit also guides us into community -- into relationships with other brothers and sisters who can help support us. We are not alone.
So, stay vigilant. Stay ready. And let the Spirit lead you in the daily battle for self-control.
NEXT ACTION
Today's action step is to reflect on one area of your life where you've struggled with self-control. It could be anything from a nagging desire for unhealthy foods, struggle with sexual temptation, the
urge to procrastinate, or even a quick temper. After identifying this area, take a few minutes to write down some small, actionable steps that you can take to improve self-control in this area.
Choose
one. For instance, if you're struggling with a quick temper, your action step could be to practice taking three deep breaths before responding to a situation that agitates you. The key is to keep it simple and achievable, and remember, every big change starts with a small step.
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Would you like to go "all in" and join the Renewed Man Boot Camp? It's a 12 Week Immersion
in these principles. You'll get these daily teachings, a weekly video on one of the 12 Keys of Being a Renewed Man, and access to a support group and/or a coaching group that I lead.
Find out more about the Renewed Man
Program here.
