Moderation | Temperance – Biblical Word Study
MODERA’TION, noun [Latin moderatio.] The state of being moderate, or of keeping a due mean between extremes or excess of violence.
1. Restraint of violent passions or indulgence of appetite. Eat and drink with moderation; indulge with moderation in pleasures and exercise.
2. Calmness of mind; equanimity; as, to bear prosperity or adversity with moderation
3. Frugality in expenses.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men.
The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned,
and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced
in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also
careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
-Philippians 4:4-13
Rejoice in the Lord…
let our requests be made known unto God…
He shall keep our hearts & minds…
focus on the true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good in life…
learn to be content with what we have…
and believe you can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!
It’s laid out, plain & simple for us. No need to go crazy thinking of the million things you haven’t accomplished today… stop thinking of those things you deem as failures.
God has you in the palm of His hand. Stop worrying.
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, trying to get it all done. I want to be the best child of God, wife, mom, and homeschool teacher possible.
I often look to the place in scripture where it talks of the fruits of the Spirit. Why? Because I feel that it is God’s little summary of a Christian life. I read it and examine myself and ask, am I producing these fruits? If not, why not?? Nothing else that I desire to accomplish will matter, if I am not bearing these fruits.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” Galatians 5:22-23
My attitude gets ugly, I feel ugly, and I start looking ugly to those around me… and my whole family suffers.
I am no longer readily available to do God’s work when I am seeking only to do my own.
God knows what He is doing! There is a reason He gave us His word. We need only to seek His will for our lives’ and leave the rest to Him. I will do my best and pray it will be blessed!
Amen!
I think this is something that all christian women struggle with. We place this super high bar of expectation on ourselves and its almost impossible to reach it. In our bible study tonight, I was reminded that I am to work for the Lord, not man. A great reminder to strive towards God and let all of the expectations of man fall away!
God bless!
This is awesome, living under God’s control and enjoying God’s will in ones life.
Thanks for this message, if all people would live by these principles there would be far less obesity, mental illness, health problems and crime.