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Part of being a follower of Christ is learning how to recognize and relinquish the self control you exert over your life and give it to the Lord. Now this  is oftentimes, easier said than done, for most if not all people. It may be difficult but it is not impossible. 
The first step is giving everything that is yours including material items, your words, thoughts and deeds to the Lord. Sound strange?  It is not so strange as it sounds. Stop and think about this for a minute. God can take better care of things than you can. That does not mean you can just sit around and not do anything. The Lord meant for us to work, take care of our homes, our families, and spread His word. The Lord wants us to put Him first in our lives which means no material things,  no words, not even in your thoughts,  nothing should come between you and  God, nor carry more importance or hold more precedence that His word.
Too many times the door to temptation can be opened by staying in our old patterns of behavior. Even people of great faith in God, sometimes find it difficult to refuse their buddies and friends when they want to do something, even when they know it is wrong. 
Sometimes it becomes necessary to isolate ourselves from people, places and things that remind us of our old behavior patterns and spend some real time praying and reading the Holy Bible.
We should be filling our thoughts with the Word of God. The more of His Word you get in you the less room there is for evil thoughts. The more time you spend studying the Word, the less time you will have to do bad things. Not only that but you get the added benefit of developing a closer relationship with the Lord and you learn new ways of thinking and behaving that will change everything in your life for the better.
​You must take control over your thoughts, your words, and your spirit.
  • He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Prov. 25:28
​Love good men, be sober, be just, be holy, be temperate (show moderation and self restraint).
  • But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Titus 1:8
​In order to gain control over our spirit we must have the Holy Spirit inside of us, walk in the spirit, always trying to live in the spirit and to grow the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and always temperance while always using moderation in your act, thoughts and feelings.
  • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal. 5:22
  • Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal. 5:23
  • And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:24
  • If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal. 5:25
  • Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Gal. 5:26​
  • And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. II Peter 1:5-7
  • Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Prov. 4:23
  • "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45
  • ​For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, II Cor. 10:3-5
  • ​Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil.4:6-7
  • Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Prov. 4:25
  • We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, II Cor. 10:5
  • ​in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. II Cor. 4:4
  • ​Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:13
  • ​Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Phil 4:8
  • And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom.12:2
  • ​Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Col 3:2
See our featured video: How to develop self control and a prayer for self control, memory verse, and more below.

Featured Video: How to Develop Self-Control -Mike Mazzalongo

In the following video Mike Mazzalongo 5 things you can do to develop self control. 
BibleTalk.tv

Prayer for Self Control

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You cannot gain self control over your thoughts, actions, and spirit on your own.  You must ask the Father for His help and guidance to gain the strength and fortitude it takes to overcome and gain control. 
Prayer to Gain Self Control over your thoughts, actions, and spirit
Dear Father in Heaven,
I come before you humbly,  I ask for your forgiveness for my sins, I praise your Holy name. My request to you this day is that you will take control of my thoughts, deeds, actions, and spirit and let my thoughts be your thoughts, let my actions be an example that you want me to be and for others to follow. Please guide me on the path to virtue and righteousness, let my words be your words, let your love shine through me. 
​In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Memory Verse

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; I Peter 1:13
References:
  1. ​How to Develop Self-Control. (2019). YouTube. Retrieved 20 May 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBXK4mtgEyE