Welcome to the prayers of rest podcast. I'm your host, Ashrida Chuchu, and today we're

wrapping up our summer season, praying through the fruit of the spirit, specifically today,

self-control. Now, if you just groaned when you heard that, I empathize with you. I'm right there

with you. I know self-control is hard, which is why I'm so excited that we are bringing this

before God and inviting him to work in us today what only He can do.

So I encourage you to lay aside the guilt and the condemnation and the ways that you've fallen short.

And come with me as we rest in God's loving presence during these 10 minutes of prayer together. So as we begin, find a

quiet place and take a deep breath as we enter into God's presence together.

Today's reading comes from Titus, Chapter 2, verses 11 through 13.

For the grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory

of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let's begin by reciting God's goodness.

Oh Jesus, you are our great high priest.

You know what it's like to refuse sin.

Even when you were weakened by fasting and your wilderness wanderings, you did not give in to temptation, no matter how strong it was. Because you lived

that way, we have hope that with your spirit alive in us, we can also live self-controlled

lives, not because of our own abilities, but because of your spirit alive in us. And you are kind

to grow in us the fruit of your spirit. So in the next few moments, praise God for how he has shown

his grace in your life, the grace that has appeared to us and teaches us to live self-controlled

lives. Thank him now for that grace. The The

The We continue now by expressing our neediness, confessing our neediness, and for God and for his forgiveness.

Lord, I confess that self-control is hard.

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