Speaking of self-control, the third Sign of the Spirit, Pastor Mike Plunket takes us to 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 where Paul compares the walk of faith with a race. If we finish it, the prize will be an imperishable, eternal crown. But to get there, like good athletes, we need a focused involvement of our whole being, including mind and emotions. We lack self-control because there are disordered passions in our lives, and these starve us, enslave us, and divide us, therefore we run aimlessly. But when our trust apparatus is restored, our priorities reorder, and we come back to our first love, our Lord. Anything you love you will love better if you love God first. Your dreams and passions can be trusted to God; He can get you where you can't get yourself.