July 7, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Self control or temperance as the New Testament calls it, is important in our deportment of everyday life and experiences. Losing self control can cost a person much.
Moses, the weakest man on earth, lost self control when he smote the rock at Meribah failing to sanctify the LORD. Failing to honour God in smiting the rock cost him the opportunity to see the promise land.
Numbers 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
As a young man before the Lord Jesus saved my soul, I lost control of myself and it cost me a good job. My attitude was malevolent toward others.
Whenever one losses control of themselves or acts contrary to that which is normal or expected their ethos, respect, and influence is quelled. In others words, they lost it and it cost them.
Adam lost self control and it cost him the garden of Eden when he ate the fruit which God commanded him not to eat and it cost us, for all of us follow in Adam’s sin.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Did you know, everyone who is born again has the power to control their spirit?
When a person is born again they are filled with the spirit of God and by the Spirit they can have temperance.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
When you lose self control, maybe with gestures or words given instantly and without thought you lose what you have gained perviously by doing that which was right. All the previous good actions are forgotten and the loss of self control goes directly to the forefront in the hearts and minds of those whom you had influence with.
If you are trying to win someone to Christ and you lose it, you may have lost your opportunity to see that person saved.
In our text, we find a city without walls is an unprotected city. Losing self control means you lose the protection you would normal have by being polite, courteous and calm.
Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Let’s conclude with what Paul said: 1Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
