Living Out Self-control - Contemporary Example

Picture this: a young woman named Sarah, navigating the bustling chaos of her life as a full-time student and part-time barista. With deadlines looming and customers rushing in, stress often threatens to overwhelm her. But one day, as she sipped her coffee on a particularly hectic morning, she noticed an elderly man sitting alone at a table in the corner. Something in him resonated with her, a longing for connection, perhaps a shared story.

In that moment, Sarah felt the gentle tug of the Lord guiding her to act. Psalm 23 assures us that “the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This promise extends beyond our personal needs; it calls us to reflect God’s love and care to others. With a deep breath, she approached the man and struck up a conversation, discovering he had just lost his wife and was feeling the weight of loneliness.

Here, Sarah’s self-control wasn’t about merely managing her own stress; it was about choosing to prioritize the needs of another, reflecting the heart of worship in service. By exercising her faith through action—putting aside her own busyness for the sake of community—she fostered both her own spiritual growth and that of the man she met.

In our lives, when we embrace the call of Psalm 23, we recognize that true self-control is not just about restraint; it is about redirecting our energies towards loving others. Each act of service is worship, a joyful response to the Shepherd who lovingly guides us. How can we mirror Christ’s love in our daily interactions this week? What small moments might God be asking us to step into?