The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28

A man who knows the imminence of a threat is eager to defend.

Right now our country is facing numerous natural disasters in the form of both fire and water. Fortunately, we live in a day where we can reasonably predict such an event with enough time to act in defense. Not always perfect, but a heads up goes a long way. If you knew a forest fire or hurricane was bearing down on your home, what might you do? Apathy in this instance is the greatest danger. You take action with sandbags, fire prevention measures, and evacuation. The same behaviors should also apply to our inner man.

While men don’t face a storm as obvious as a hurricane, they will face a threat with similar consequences. These consequences will make landfall on the inner man and disrupt his very foundation. Jesus makes mention of this in Matthew 7:24-27. So what can a man do to play defense? Practice self-control.

A city with broken walls is defenseless and a man without self-control has no protection against grave danger. We tend to think of many other defenses in life, but one weighs more heavily. When applied to any area in life, self-control will protect a man both inside and out. Think deeply about danger around you and remind yourself that the best defense starts with asking God to give you self-control.

DO THIS TODAY: Find one way to practice self-control in your life. Ask God to enable you to do so!