Living Out the Fruit of the Spirit: For Kids + FamiliesSample

Self-control isn’t one of the fruits of the Spirit that you’ll see printed on a phone case or t-shirt anytime soon—not like love or peace. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important. In fact, the apostle Paul left us with a pretty important one for last!

Proverbs 25:28 says, “A person without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through.” In Bible times, cities had walls built around them. The purpose of those walls was to keep the people of the city safe—to make sure nothing bad came into the city and that no one left the city when it wasn’t safe, like at night. 

So, what does this have to do with self-control? Well, self-control can keep us safe. Self-control makes sure nothing bad comes in—like when we stop ourselves from watching a movie that we know will be too scary for us. And self-control can also help us make wise choices about what comes out—like when we stop ourselves from saying something mean. That’s why the Bible compares self-control to a wall around a city!

Karunia is a Compassion child in Indonesia who has a disease called Apert syndrome. One of the things Apert syndrome affects is her appearance. Karunia looks different from other kids. Unfortunately, some kids choose to bully her because of this and say mean things.

While it’s probably tempting to say mean things back, Karunia has learned to root herself in the love of Jesus. As a result, she has developed the self-control to stand up for herself in a loving and truth-filled way. 

“When my friends mocked me because I don’t have normal fingers, my mom taught me to say back to them that this is what Jesus gave me,” she says. “I am beautiful like my mother.”

Self-control helps us make wise decisions in difficult situations, like if we’re experiencing bullying. Instead of saying or doing mean things back, self-control helps us stand up for ourselves in loving and gentle ways. If you or a friend are experiencing bullying, it’s also important to tell a trusted adult about it so they can help.

Imagine yourself as a city. Do you have a wall of self-control around you keeping you safe and helping you make wise choices?

Live it out: 

Think of a time you didn’t practice self-control. If you could do it over, what would you do differently? How can you remember to do things differently if there’s a next time?

Prayer: 

Dear God, thank you for encouraging me and giving me the strength to do the right thing and make wise choices. Help me to have self-control. As I finish this devotional, I want to thank you for giving me your Spirit so that I can grow more each day into a more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled person. Help me to live out the fruit of the Spirit more each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We hope this plan encouraged you! Explore other resources from Compassion Canada today.