Broken down walls.... rerun worthy.... Part one

I first posted this back in August of 2008.... but I think I need to revisit....

Broken down walls...... Part ONE....

Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control."

hmm.... walls, city, self-control??

I have been re-reading through my journal lately.
Something I wrote back in January really jumped out at me.
What are walls?? They provide protections (by keeping things in or out), create boundaries, create an identity. They provide safety, security and freedom. The strength of my walls is directly related to my self-control!!! YIKES! What kinds of "walls" can be broken down in my life if I lack self control?

• Financial
• health/physical fitness
• purity (in thoughts, word and actions)
• time management
  
• education
• relationships
• spiritual growth
• respect
• peace
• organization
• simplicity
• routines/order
• priorities
• balance

What does self control in those ares look like?? Self control is not just NOT doing something, self control is discipline to DO the things that need done. Self control is the BALANCE of the NOT and the DO.

God, what else do you have to say to me about this??

Prov 31:11-12 "Her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good and hot harm, all the days of her life."

Prov 31:27 "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

WOW... God you do have more to say to me about this... directly relating to my daily life!

The Proverbs 31 woman (admit it, we love to hate her!) takes care to protect the "walls" in her life: her home, her husband and her children. She does not reap the consequences of idleness, she lives out the blessings of diligence. If she idled away her time she wouldn't be able to keep the walls up and secure and her husband, her children and her home would suffer harm!

I am not naturally born organized. I am not naturally strong in the area of routine and order! I am a very creative person by nature.... I don't want to do the same thing, the same way every day... BORING! The good news: God is a creative God, but he is a God of order and balance. I can live in self control without becoming a dud. I can find FREEDOM in self control! I can keep the very important walls in my life intact so that I can ENJOY life!! What our flesh wants to reject is really what we NEED! Just like my 3 year old fighting his nap!

How can we practice self control in our daily lives to keep our walls strong?? I will be continuing this post tomorrow and share with you more of what God has been trying to teach me... sometimes I can be a slow learner!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather