Greater Than

Spiritual Skill: Self-Control (wk. 13/13)

Reading: Galatians 5:13-25

Freedom sounds like the ultimate goal — the ability to do what you want, when you want, how you want. That mindset shows up in the gym too. You walk in and feel the pull to skip the warm-up, do your favorite movements, or avoid the lifts that stretch you. Technically, you can do whatever you want. But real athletes know better. True growth doesn’t come from doing what feels good in the moment — it comes from self-control, the discipline to choose what’s best over what’s easy.

We define self-control as a better journey to a better destination. It’s the restraint to say no to what distracts, so you can say yes to what matters. And Galatians 5 makes it clear: self-control isn’t just a personality trait — it’s a fruit of the Spirit. It’s evidence that the Spirit of God is alive and working in us, pulling us toward something greater than freedom — toward peace.

That’s the surprise of the Spirit-led life. We think the goal is to be free to live how we want. But the Spirit shows us a better way — one that leads not just to freedom, but to shalom, the full peace of being aligned with God. Self-control is what gets us there. Not as punishment, but as protection. It’s the same reason a good coach programs rest days and strict movement standards. The restrictions don’t limit your growth — they guide it.

So how does self-control draw us closer to God? It tunes our hearts to His. It creates space in our lives where His Spirit can move freely. When we surrender our desires — even good ones — and choose obedience instead, we make room for His peace to settle in. And that peace is what we’re truly after. Not the fleeting rush of getting our way, but the lasting calm of walking in step with the Spirit.

In the gym, discipline builds capacity. In life, it builds connection. The more we practice self-control, the more we train our hearts to want what God wants. That’s where freedom finds its purpose. That’s where peace becomes the prize.

So resist the urge to do what feels good just because you can. Let the Spirit lead. Because in the life of faith — just like in training — peace is greater than freedom. And self-control is the path that gets us there.

Questions for Reflection:

Has freedom in your life ever kept you from experiencing God’s peace?

Where do you excel at self-control? Where could you use improvement?