A Long Forgotten Word

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law."  Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

The word temperance has been interpreted as self-control, which we tend to think of as avoiding overindulgence.  We should practice discretion and restraint, but that perception of temperance is a little cold.

Rather than reducing temperance to the idea of enforcing proper boundaries on your inner child, recognize it as allowing our thoughts, feelings, motives, desires, intentions, and actions to be tempered by the Holy Spirit.

Allow God to take away your fear of sharing the gospel with someone who's ready to receive it.  Let Him shut your mouth when you want to impose your beliefs on someone whose heart is still hard.  Cast your cares on Him so you can set aside your stresses and be the person your family needs you to be in the moment.  Ask and take His advice when it's time to address those stresses.

"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. 

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 1:5-8 (KJV)

Let every part of your life be tempered by the Holy Spirit, and expect amazing results.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."  Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)