Self-controlled is cited by the Apostle Paul as a fruit of the spirit. It's a virtue that's cultivated by the

spirit of God. But given our innate human weakness, we're not inclined to exercise

personal restraint. So what's the key to controlling our morals, our motives, and

our mouths? Today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall presents the ninth and final

message in the brand new series called The Fruit of the Spirit. the desires and controlling our impulses. Chuck begins with prayer.

Dear Father, we long to carry out what you have declared here in this passage.

We long to allow the spirit of God now that he has taken residence within us to reveal love and joy and peace and patience, kindness goodness, faith, faithfulness, gentleness, and as we will hear today, self-control.

We don't live in a world where these things are regularly seen, even among

those people considered significant others.

Often truth be told even in our own homes. But we long for them to be true. We long for our souls to

be so healthy, so well, that these qualities flow out of our lives so that they encourage others, touch them where they hurt, strengthen them where they are weak and minister to them when they feel the weight of life pressing upon them. Help us our father to live in such a way that we in fact represent Christ to others, then it will truly be

well with our souls.

We long for that.

We pray for that.

How good you are to provide for us and our needs. Thank you for meeting our needs.

Not only as individuals, but as a body of people at this church, you've never

failed to meet our needs. How encouraging that is to us. Thank you. We give today because we love

to participate in what is involved in supporting a ministry, being here for

others, sending our gifts to those we'll never meet,

that their needs might be met.

We pray that the health of our souls

will be revealed in the motive behind our giving.

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