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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Revd Dr Calvin Samuel

Good Morning. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

The Bible often speaks of love, joy, and peace. It makes sense that these cardinal Christian virtues should be part of the fruit of the Spirit. But self–control? That sounds more like self–help.

Over the next few days as we journey into Lent our prayers will reflect on various aspects of the fruit of the Spirit.

For many, inspiration for Lent is drawn from the 40 days of fasting which Jesus undertook in the wilderness in preparation for the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus is depicted as following in the footsteps of Moses and Elijah who faced similar seasons of fasting, prayer and wrestling with temptation.

Which brings us back to the issue of self–control….

In Jesus, we encounter someone entirely in control of himself, precisely because he is entirely submissive to will of the Father under the direction of Holy Spirit. We see this perhaps most powerfully in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night in which he was betrayed where he prays three times: Lord, if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

Jesus demonstrates that the source of self-control is to be found not in ourselves, but rather outside ourselves. It is to be found in our God. Self–control is an outcome of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Merciful God,
strengthen us when we are tempted to take the easy way,
sustain us as we seek to follow you along the narrow way,
and if we yield to temptation and sin, forgive us we pray,
Amen.

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