Self-Control and Humility

 

Self-control and humility twin well together.  Self-control stems from humility and of course, the Holy Spirit, since self-control is one of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit.

We can look at Nehemiah's life.  He was serving the king of Babyon as cupbearer.  He was also a captive from Jerusalem.  He could go nowhere, yet he believed his God was all powerful.

He exercised self-control when he heard from his brother that the great wall of Jerusalem, more specifically, of the inner sanctum area - the City of David - was still in ruins and the gates destroyed by fire.  The protection of the city was greatly lacking.

Nehemiah cried for days on end but he also prayed and waited.  He didn't rush in to the throne room of the king of Babylon, demanding to be let go and sent back to Jerusalem.  No.  He likely would have been killed instantly for such a breech.

Instead, he rushed to the throne room of Heaven, to the King of kings, who in turn, orchestrated it all.  We can make plans but the king's heart is in God's hand and he can turn whichever way He will (see Proverbs 16:9).

We also know,

"Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21 ESV).

Nehemiah knew this and had confidence in His God.  When King Artaxerxes then asked what was troubling Nehemiah, he was ready with his request even though he was afraid.  His great and awesome God did the rest.  Nehemiah got a leave of absence and the authority to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.

Unfortunately, Nehemiah had enemies who hated the Jews and who did NOT want that wall rebuilt.  They tried to stop the progress at every turn.

Nehemiah did not say, "Hey!  King Artaxerxes sent me here to do this.  He gave me the authority to do it too.  You guys get lost!"  No.  Once again he exercised self-control and turned to God again and again.

He showed his dependance on God and that he walked humbly with Him.  He showed he believed God was in control so he could restrain himself from lashing out in anger.  He used self-control that stemmed from his humility.

Self-control, being one of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, is imbedded in each believer, giving us the potential to develop it within our beings too.  It is part of our Christian standards and values in the Kingdom of God to which we belong.

It can keep us from becoming angry and hurting others.  It can stop us from overeating or undereating.  When we are tempted to do wrong, self-control will stop us if we listen to the Holy Spirit's prompting.  It will also stop us from becoming so proud we don't bother about threats from other people, except to prepare a protective defense if needed.  This is a benefit of humility working in our lives.

Let's be more like Nehemiah who, because of his humility, let self-control grow in his life.  God honored him, helping him and the other construction workers to build that wall around the City of David in just 52 days!  It was a miracle!

Father God, You are our great and awesome God.  You help us at every turn.  We are especially thankful that You sent us Jesus to provide our great salvation, and be a wall or protection around us.  Due to our acceptance of salvation we now have Your Holy Spirit.  In humbleness, we give Your Spirit free control to grow greater self-control in our respective lives.  We are such 'free will' people that we desparately need Your help with this lifelong request.  We ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                              ~ ERC  February 2025  ~

Based on Galatians 5:22-23 ESV and the book of Nehemiah.

Sing, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, along with the Maranatha Singers.

Lord's Day Devotion - Bulldozer People

 Some people are like bulldozers. They plough through people, not caring whom they hurt or harm.  They can be windbags that blast those around them with verbal sewage - those egoistical boasts of what they proudly know - their head knowledge.  God's Word is so succinct in this regard,

"... This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV).

These people of supposed "knowledge" feel so superior they are extremely impatient with others who do not venerate their supposed grandeur, nor match up to them.  They do not let others get a word in edgewise.  If the other does manage a stumbled and stuttered, 'but,' 'but,' or 'do you realize ...' they are swiftly cut off with another verbal barrage.

I call these people 'bulldozers' or 'bulldozer people'.   Often, they actually show their ignorance and misguided assumptions.  It's terrible.  We can smirk at and be repulsed by them in turn as they reveal more and more of their ignorance.  

As believers, though, we need God's help to be restrained by the Holy Spirit and wait for His timing to speak.   The lack of patience and tolerance of the bulldozers, can be significantly contrasted with Jesus' approach.  

Jesus is the only one who is truly omniscient.  He truly knows everything, yet He came humbly, in the form of a servant:  submissive and obedient to His father God.  He did not bulldoze through people except for perhaps, confronting the bulldozer people of his day, such as the Pharisees, those religious leaders.

Mostly, let's hone in on our Lord's patience, which is very much at odds with the 'bulldozers'.  It is borne out in 2 Peter 3:8 & 9, but I share verse 9 specifically ...

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 ESV).

No matter how much one may impatiently bluster and blither, and spew their minds, the Lord is patient with them.  Bulldozers being blinded by their own pride and beliefs that 'they are RIGHT,' that they are superior one, the Lord is patient with them because He is

 "not willing nor wishing that any should perish." 

 He waits for their repentance.

No matter how long it takes, a day or a 'thousand years,' the Lord is patient.  He has been patient with us.  He has given followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit is patience (see Galatians 5:22-23).  We can forebear with the bulldozer people because they too, need repentance just like we did, and still do.

Jesus died and rose again for them, just as He did for us.  Now He patiently awaits the individual's decision to repent.

As we ponder on this, this Lord's Day, let's be glad and rejoice Jesus waited for us.  Take of the bread and wine - those symbols of His broken body and His blood shed for us.  It is in Christ alone we can have this hope and experience His patience towards us.  His mercy is new every morning.  His promises are sure.

Thank You, Father God for Your patience and love that sent Jesus to die for us, and to resurrect and live for us now with You, intercedeing for us.  We partake of the bread and drink from the cup in remembrance of this.

We continue to bask in Your love and patience even more than 2000 years later since Jesus ascended back to be with You.  We marvel at Your long-suffering patience but are grateful for it.

Help us to patiently wait for our loved ones' repentance, those we've prayed for for 30 or 40 years or more.  We feel impatient because we too do NOT want or wish them to perish.  

Additionally, help us to have patience with the bulldozer people - the ones who belong to You as well as the ones who don't.  And God forbid if we are one of them!

We ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                 ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on 2 Peter 3:8 & 9 ESV.

Sing, His Mercy is More, along with Keith & Kristyn Getty and Matt Papa.

God Hears the Humble (Humility)

 I love it that when King Josiah was only 8 years old he became king.  In one so young, we might expect a person to be out of control with newly garnered power.  But we read that he did ...

"What was right in the eyes of the Lord" (see 2 Kings 22). 

 He didn't let his position of power and authority go to his head.

On the contrary, he must have been a person characterized by humility.  We can judge by his actions.  The 2nd Kings passage continues that he did not turn right or left but kept straight on to follow the Lord's ways and of his great ancestor King David who loved God.

Despite all the very wicked kings that reigned between King David and King Josiah, including King Josiah's own father, King Josiah did what was right and good as much as possible according to what he knew and imitated from King David.

This goes to show that even when there are wicked people around us or even just those who don't know the Lord that we can still unswervingly follow Jesus and His ways.  It may be difficult but not impossible.

The benefit of King Josiah's humbleness was that the Lord heard his prayers.  So when the Book of the Law was found in the rubble of the temple, which incidently King Josiah had ordered to be repaired, he tore his clothes in consternation.

He realized, that as it was being read to him, that there was so much  he had not been following. What's more, because of all the succesion of wicked kings, the people who were supposed to be "the people of God" and following it's ways, were not so doing.  In fact, many had become as wicked as the kings.

He knew they were all in big trouble and that God would not be happy - an understatement - with them.  He quickly sent men to inquire of the Lord.  He was ready and willing to take the consequences.

Once again, we recall that God hears the prayers of humble people.  When they admit their sins repentantly, God often shows mercy.  Let's see how God answered him.

God told King Josiah that because he was humble and repentant, he'd die in peace and wouldn't see the disaster or feel any punishment that would be coming upon his people.

You see,

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Let's all continue to grow humility in our hearts, follow the Lord's ways and repent of our sins (see 1 John 1:9).  Then we can listen for God's answers to our prayers; be they what they may.

Almighty Heavenly Father, like King Josiah, I want to do what's right in Your eyes.  Convict me when I sin, so I can continue to do what's right.  May I always be humble and repentant and do what pleases You, all my life long.  Hear my cries, O Father, I wait for Your answers.  In Jesus' name I ask.  Amen.

                                                       ~  ERC  FEbruary 2026  ~

Based on James 4:6, 2 Kings 22:1 & 2, 11, 13 and 19-20. ESV.

Sing, Lord, Hear My Cry (Psalm 38), along with Psalter's Voice.

God's Sons and Daughters of Encouragement (Humility)

 

At first, his name was Joseph.  But then the apostles like Peter, James and John gave him a new name.  They called him 'Barnabas'.  This means 'son of encouragement.'  

When we read about him in the Scriptures we see some of his encouraging acts of grace and mercy.  He sold a field and brought all the proceeds and set it at the apostles' feet.  The money could then be used to feed the poor and/or to go to preach the good news message of Jesus to others.

Saul, who had been systematically persecuting Christians, got saved.  The Christians were afraid of him and wouldn't allow him to join them, fearing trickery.  However, Barnabas discerned Saul's sincerity and brought him to the apostles, indicating that he believed Saul was truly the Lord's.

I believe Barnabas' actions stemmed from his humility.  This became one of his strengths.  He didn't need to show off  but instead, he quietly found ways and means to encourage others.  He became a bridge for Saul, who later became known as Paul.  This Paul became a mighty man of God, who had great and far-reaching spiritual effects over the millenia, even to us today.  We can attest to these by reading the New Testament, which was mostly composed of Paul's letters to various churches and individuals of yore.

As James 4:10 (NIV) says,

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Not only you, but others too.  Lifting another up may encompass lifting them up from depression, needing a touch of tender, loving care that particular day and so much more.  Such empathy and compassion would help such a person to feel loved and happier, able to go throuigh their day and even to serve the Lord in greater capacity.

Let's pray we can each grow in humility that makes us sons and daughters of encouragement too.  Who knows, your gift may become your new name.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all the times You sent someone to encourage me, someone who was a humble encourager.  May I too grow in humility, and in turn, be able to lift another up in Your name.  I ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                  ~ ERC  February 2026 ~

Based on James 4:10; Acts 4:36-37 and 11:21-22, 25 & 26 ESV.

Sing, Thy Will, along with Hilary Scott.

Book Review - Blind Pursuit - By Rob Sinclair - Publication Date: 3 March 2026

Blind Pursuit was a jab of pure adrenaline rush for me, perpetuated by active murder, intrique, and layers of lies.  Lea never quite trusts Denis as she investigates for the 'rat', to flush it out, all the while poor Callum, in foggy haze, complicates and overall, throws curve balls into the mix.  Iranians, Russians and questionable elements from questionable places are thrown into the mix and kept the narrative tickingly mysterious. I did love and appreciate the bursts of humor injected into the chaos, which made me laugh right out loud.

The switchbacks from 'before' and 'present' times annoyed me.  It was another type of annoyance to have to interrupt my reading as I found this to be a difficult-to-put-it-down sort of read, so that the first annoyance was overridden when I had to take breaks.  All in all, this was a gripping and most satisfying read, thus I give it a 5-Star rating.

                                                 ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                                 March 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to be by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.  

Book Review - When Justice Comes (Book 3 Tupelo Grove Saga)) - By Colleen Coble and Rick Acker - Publication Date: 3 March 2026

 

When Justice Comes is the third and final book in the Tupelo Grove Saga series.  The heart-stopping, pulse-racing tempo never flags as the dangerous and dire race escalates towards the adoption-of-Simon deadline.  Hez and Savannah, Michael Willard, Savannah's Dad, among others, collide and scramble to outdue each other.  Some want to cover up misdeeds, especially of the illegal nature,while others wish to expose them towards gaining justice, as the book title would indicate.  Help comes from God as well as from another unexpected source.

I found the narrative believable and the characters authentic.  Although there are two authors writing I feel it is seamless.  There were no blatant jumps from one writing style to another that I could detect.  Therefore, the story ran with excellent connectivity.

As always, I appreciated the interjections about God, prayer and faith.  These are a big plus for me.  This book also offers discussion questions at book's end and touches on some of the issues encountered in the narrative such as:  adoption rules in certain states; the idea of forgiveness for even terrible offences; dealing with grief and more.

I was well satisfied with this tale from beginning to ending.  I give this book a 5-Star rating.

                                              ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                           November 2025

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads. 

Actually, more than 200.  It's more like 360 reviews.

  

Better Leadership (Humility)

 

There are times we meet leaders who love to flex the power of their position.  It can be a real trial and people will walk as if on eggshells to keep equilibrium without the power play of rage and vindictiveness weighing in.  This type of leader uses fear to control those under their power and authority.

No doubt there are times when leadership needs to be firm and make ultimate decisions.  If they can do so with the good and benefit of the 'followers'' interests in mind, after hearing them out, this is acceptable and reasonable, even if not always appreciated.

We come across such scenarios at home, school, offices and even at church.  It would be so good and pleasant if leaders would learn humility.  They could build greater trust between themselves and those under their authority.  They could better remember to be kind, to admit their own mistakes; thinking more of others' interests and how to benefit the whole population under their scope of authority and not their own self-interest.

Most likely the 'followers' response would be greater trust and greater cooperation, not to mention greater respect for the one in leadership positions.  This may not happen overnight but with consistent and persistent 'better leadership' it is hoped that even if slowly, it would be surely, and there would be flourishing on both sides of the equation.

We can pray in Jesus' name, it does.

Lord Jesus, You have been and still are, the best leader, ever!  While You walked this earth You were meek, loving, caring and humble.  We take our example from You and try to imitate You in this attitude.  So sorry for all the times we have failed in this.  We ask now for Your help for whoever finds themself at one time or another, in a position of leadership, to be able to lead with marked humility.  We ask in Your name Jesus, amen.

                                                      ~  ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 2:3-4 ESV.

Sing, Refiner's Fire, along with Brian Doerksen as a prayer.