But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24
I would like to say I am very self-controlled, but I am not. In fact, I am rather self-indulgent. Allowing things that aren’t for God’s glory, no matter how right they seem, to consume my attention and take space in my heart is idolatry, not control.
Our pride can easily disguise itself in these impure motives. God breaks through those pretenses and looks at the truth hidden in our hearts. It takes more control to allow God to lead us than it does to live by our own terms, despite how stringent those terms may be. Surrendering our will to God is a greater show of strength than relentlessly pursuing our own agendas in our own power. God’s ultimate plan will be done, and we are invited to be willing participators instead of blind ones.