“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” (Proverbs 25:28).

From my personal experience, the attribute that every Christian wishes they had more of is self-control. And the proverb quoted above shows why.

A person who lacks self-control is extremely vulnerable. Temptations scream through the heart unabated. No roadblocks are in place to deter the sinful nature. Anything goes.

And you know this. You feel so guilty when your self-control has failed you. You let your tongue loose again. You drank too much again. You let anger control you again. Why can’t you fix this?

Read the proverb above one more time because there’s part of it that you skipped over.

What you have isn’t just a self-control problem. It’s a brokenness problem.

Sin has broken through your heart and left you weak, vulnerable, and prone to further attacks. The first step forward is to heal the brokenness, and brokenness is something that only Jesus can fix. So here’s what you need to do today.

When your defenses are being tested, remember that you do not have the power to withstand the attack. This is not a self-discipline thing. This is a Jesus thing. You need his forgiveness and power. And regardless of your past performance, he is your strength. He has forgiven what got you to this point, and you can hold him to his promise that his Spirit is what produces the fruit of self-control.