Letting God’s Word Soak In
Written by
Sandra Dean
Good morning!
Today’s Scripture is:
“But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
—Galatians 5:22–23, ICB
Self-Control: Letting God’s Word Soak In
We’re going to look again at a scripture about self-control. We’ve studied this verse before—but God’s truth never gets old. Sometimes, repeating God’s Word is actually one way He helps it sink deep into our hearts. That’s called meditating on His Word.
Think about a dishwasher. Have you ever put dishes in without rinsing them first, and when they come out, they’re still dirty? Some foods—like eggs or avocado—dry onto the plate and stick really hard. One wash just isn’t enough.
God’s Word can be like that too.
Sometimes we read it once, and we learn something on the surface. But it doesn’t change us as much as we need it to. That’s when we need to go back and read it again—and let it SOAK into our hearts so God can bring real change.
So let’s read the Fruit of the Spirit again, paying special attention to self-control:
“But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23, ICB)
What does self-control mean?
Self-control means stopping for a moment and choosing what is right—even when you really want to do something else. It’s like having a little pause button inside you. Your feelings might say, “Go!” but self-control helps you say, “Wait. Think. Choose.”
And here’s the best part: self-control is not something we have to do all by ourselves. God’s Spirit helps us.
Remember when you felt upset. Every time that happened, it led to feeling unhappy. Let’s think about what you can do next time.
You can stop, wait, think, and choose what you believe. Sometimes the thoughts in our minds aren’t even true. And why would we want a lie to control our feelings?
I recently learned something helpful. When our emotions feel stirred up, our bodies can calm down with something simple—cold water. Splashing cold water on your face or gently wiping your face and neck with a cold cloth helps your nervous system slow down. That helps you regain control—self-control.
So here’s today’s challenge:
When you get home, put a few washcloths by the bathroom sink. The next time you feel upset, take one, run cold water on it, wring it out, and place it on your face and neck for a few minutes.
While you’re doing that, stop and decide how you want to respond—rather than reacting out of an old habit that steals your joy and robs you of happiness.
Remember: God’s Spirit is with you, helping you choose well—even in hard moments.
Let’s Pray Together
Father, You are our maker and You know what is best for us. Today we ask Your Spirit to speak to us when we get upset. Empower us to recognize our emotions and we ask You to help us control them. Thank You for being our Self-Control. We love You. Amen