Sapagkat ang Espiritung ibinigay sa atin ng Diyos ay hindi espiritu ng kahinaan ng loob, kundi espiritu ng kapangyarihan, pag-ibig at pagpipigil sa sarili.

2 Timoteo 1:7

Isang malaking hamon sa buhay ang pagtitimpi sa sarili. Sa loob o labas man ng tahanan, our self-control is challenged. The circumstances we are in may ignite anger that will cause us to lose our self-control. But if we have the Holy Spirit inside us, we can exercise self-control.

The Bible is full of inspiring stories of people who exercised self-control in difficult situations. Isa si Joseph na paboritong anak ni Jacob. He was a slave in Egypt. The wife of his master seduced him. Nilabanan ni Joseph ang tukso at sinabing “Hindi ko po magagawa ang ganyan kalaking kataksilan at pagkakasala sa Diyos” (Genesis 39:7-12).

Sa ating makabagong panahon, marami ang bumibigay sa tukso ng diyablo. Si Lorenzo ay isang seaman at nagkaroon siya ng karelasyon. Handa na niyang iwan ang asawa at dalawang anak nang marinig ang sermon na pinakikinggan ng isang kasamahan sa barko: “Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng sinuman” (Mateo 19:6). Tila binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Lorenzo at nagising sa katotohanan. Humingi siya ng tawad sa asawa, nagkaroon sila ng reconciliation, at ngayon ay matagumpay na ipinamumuhay ang sinasabi sa 2 Timoteo 1:7. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ best exemplified self-control throughout His life on earth.  Matthew 4:1-11 talks about the temptation of Jesus. Hindi Siya bumigay sa tukso ng diyablo, but rather He quoted the Holy Scriptures on why He would not do his biddings.

During His final hours on earth, Jesus demonstrated unwavering self-control. From His arrest to His crucifixion, Jesus did not give in to emotions, although He knew the enormity of the situation.

If we have believed in Jesus as our Savior, the Spirit of God is now in us. Through the Holy Spirit and by God‘s grace, we can face trials with calm and overcome temptations with humility, like Jesus.