[Monday's Devotional] - Recognising the need for self-control

Recognising the need for self-control What a joy to be sorting through our books before shelving them on our new book case. I came upon a favourite from University days which I shall use as the basis of this week's devotionals titled 'Ancient Chinese Fables' full of extracts from the works of Ancient Chinese philosophers. The Chicken Thief There was a man who used to steal a chicken from his neighbours every day. "It is wrong to steal," someone told him. "I'll cut down on it," promised the chicken thief. "I shall steal one chicken a month from now on, and stop altogether next year." Since he knew he was wrong, he ought to have stopped at once. Why wait another year? Mencius How is your self-control? I wonder if there is something you do, which you know is wrong, but you indulgently carry on doing despite knowing it to be wrong, maybe promising yourself you will give it a phased withdrawal? Giving habits up is not easy. St. Paul recognised the reality of our sinful nature, although he probably phrased it differently to the way the Message Bible does! But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. Romans 7:19-20 [MSG]   If you know it is wrong, why wait to give it up? Stop doing it now! Ask God to help you identify and give up some aspect of your behaviour that is wrong and to grant you more self-control.   Mairi Mowbray   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!