"Temperance" is from the Greek word, "egkrateia," which means self-control; the ability to hold oneself in; self-restraint. This is connected to every area of your life, as a child of God, and the beautiful thing is that you don’t have to pray to God to grant you the ability for self-control; it’s one of the fruits of the recreated human spirit.

 

Our opening scripture clearly lets you know that you’re not "deficient" of self-control, because it uses the verb, "add"; it says you should add temperance to knowledge. You couldn’t add it if you didn’t have it! It’s in your spirit! When a Christian says, "I don’t know why I can’t control myself," he or she has refused to accept the truth of God’s Word. When you received Christ into your life, your spirit was enabled with selfcontrol. Therefore, you must learn to take charge of your life from your spirit!

 

The Bible says, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" (Proverbs 25:28). Refuse to allow anything get you agitated, fretful or aggravated! Learn the value of patience. In a situation where those around expect you to get into a rage, hold yourself in! Exercise selfrestraint. You can so rule over your spirit that when you’re provoked, you suddenly put up a smile and remain calm.

 

What if there’re addictions you want to get rid of? Temperance is in you to overcome addictions. The Bible says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you..." (Romans 6:14). Tell yourself, "I won’t do this thing, because sin can’t lord it over me." Don’t talk to the addictions, talk to yourself; talk to your own spirit. That way, you’ll free yourself from anything that’s of the flesh, because you have control from within.