Back-to-school season is officially here! After a long, sun-soaked summer, students are heading back to their desks. Looking back at my own school days, this time of year always brought mixed feelings – a fun mix of excitement and reluctance. I was sorry to say goodbye to sleeping in late, playing with friends all day, and enjoying lazy afternoons. Transitioning back to early alarm clocks and homework meant one major thing: Bringing back self-control!
Self-control helps us reach all kinds of big goals. You need self-control if you want to eat healthy, stay productive, or save up money for the future. But most importantly, you need self-control to follow Jesus, because being His disciple means choosing His way over our own selfish desires.
To see how self-control works, think about the famous “Marshmallow Test” done by psychologists years ago. Researchers put young kids in a room with a single marshmallow on a plate. The deal was simple: the child could eat the marshmallow right away, or if they waited 15 minutes without eating it, they would get two marshmallows instead!
The video footage of these kids is hilarious and touching. Some covered their eyes, some squeezed their fists, and others even licked the table just to avoid temptation! The kids who held out swapped a quick treat right now for a much bigger, better reward later.
Following Jesus works a lot like that, but with a wonderful twist. Human willpower runs out quickly (just ask the kids who ate the marshmallow in five seconds!). But as Christians, we do not have to rely on our own weak willpower. Self-control is a gift – a “fruit” that grows in our lives through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
When we ask the Holy Spirit to guide our daily choices, He give us the strength to say “no” to bad habits and “yes” to God’s best. It isn’t about missing out on fun; it’s about stepping into a meaningful, full and joyful life as a true disciple of Jesus. As our kids start new school routines this month, let’s all ask the Holy Spirit to help us practice self-control and walk closely with Jesus every single day!
Your Pastor, Hannah
