“It is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”  Proverbs 16:32 NLT

“Lack of self-control weakens who you are and lessens who you become.”

My thoughts today are about “inner strength.”

Whatever success you ultimately achieve in life is rooted in the earlier times in your life when you paid the price to develop inner strength. Inner strength is not something that just happens along the way. That quality of character results from deliberate moments when you choose to do right when few if any would have known otherwise, but you would know that you had compromised some element of personal integrity.

How far you go in life is directly affected by the inner strength of character that supports your success. We seem surprised when some one with great success – in business, politics, athletics, fame, marriage, or ministry – violates public trust. Their fall is so public, but the cause was as private as their personal choices. How could that happen to them we ask, as though unusual achievement itself should prevent such collapse? Somewhere along the way, they failed to say no to themselves when they reached for something they should not have allowed.

It is not great accomplishment that proves your inner strength. The very weight of success itself can collapse the strongest of men or women, if they lack the character and integrity to sustain their inner life. Eventually, your outer life mirrors your inner strength, or lack thereof. Every embarrassing collapse starts before that public moment of exposure, when in private times and situations you foolishly allow yourself small exceptions – supposedly harmless and deserved privileges – that weaken who you are and lessen who you could become.

Paul wrote, “Just make sure you don’t use this freedom to do whatever you want to do, and destroy your freedom.” Galatians 5:13 The Message. Read the tragic aftermath of such small choices. (Vs. 19-21). The Bible wisely counsels, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do . . keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT/The Message. To do that successfully, you will need the Lord’s help.

Here is a good prayer to pray occasionally, kind of an inner life check-up. “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24. Plato wrote, “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” That’s where inner strength begins. Solomon declared,“It is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” Proverbs 16:32 NLT.  As difficult as that may seem sometimes, God gives you assurance of success in this matter of inner strength, “We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.” Romans 8:37.  That is God’s promise to you for every area of your personal, everyday life.

My prayer for you today is that you learn to say no and find that to be best when yes might feel better.