Biblical Answer

The Illusion of Control

We tend to think that we are in control of our lives, but the Bible tells us that we are not. In fact, the Bible says that we are not even in control of our spiritual formation. This is a hard lesson for followers of Jesus to learn, but it's an important one. We can't control our spiritual lives, but we can intentionally design our lives to give Jesus free rein over our formation. When we do this, a whole new level of joy becomes available.

The Source of Control

The Bible teaches that our minds can be controlled by things outside of our own thinking. For example, our personalities can be shaped by our upbringing, and our thoughts can be influenced by our experiences. This is why God instructs us not to accept as truth everything we think. We need to take control of our minds and learn to discern what is true and what is not. This is a skill that requires practice, and it's not something that we can do on our own. We need the help of God to develop self-control.

The Purpose of Self-Control

Self-control is not about punishing ourselves for our sins, but about learning to say no to sinful desires. The Bible teaches that sin loathes boundaries and prefers to follow its own desires, leading to unsatisfaction, delusion, and enslavement. But self-control is a blessing from God that can bring us joy and satisfaction. So, the question is, do we want self-control? Do we want to be free from the slavery of sin and experience the joy of living a life that is controlled by God? If so, then we need to intentionally design our lives to give Jesus free rein over our formation, and we need to learn to take control of our minds and develop self-control. This is a journey that requires practice and the help of God, but it's a journey that can lead to a life of joy and satisfaction.