Joyful Moments in Christ

A Prayer for Cultivating Self-Control

A Prayer for Cultivating Self-Control

A Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a God of order and wisdom, steadfast and unchanging in your ways. You demonstrate perfect control over all creation, sustaining the universe with precision and balance. Your patience and self-restraint, even in the face of our rebellion, show us the depth of your mercy and love.

I confess that self-control is often a struggle for me. I give in to my desires too easily, whether it is through my words, actions, or thoughts. I lose my temper, indulge in harmful habits, or fail to resist temptation, even when I know it draws me away from you. Please forgive me for these moments of weakness and for not relying on your Spirit to guide me. Help me to resist the things that distract me from living a life that honors you.

Thank you for your grace and forgiveness when I fall short. Thank you for providing your Spirit, who empowers me to grow in self-discipline and live according to your will. I am grateful for your word, which serves as a guide and encouragement when I am tempted to stray.

Lord, I ask for your help in cultivating self-control in every area of my life. Teach me to pause and seek your guidance before I speak or act. Strengthen me to overcome temptations and to focus on what is pure, noble, and right. Let your Spirit shape my desires and give me the discipline to pursue your purpose over fleeting pleasures. May my life reflect the self-control that comes from walking closely with you, so that others may see your power at work in me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Respond

Please pray a prayer about cultivating self-control.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

  • Adoration: Praise God. Does this topic bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
  • Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this topic bring any specific sins to mind?
  • Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this topic inspire gratitude?
  • Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this topic inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

A Prayer for Cultivating Self-Control
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Proverbs 25:28 (ESV): A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (ESV): Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV): For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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