Like a City Without Walls

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 25:28

Even the best, most even-tempered children have days in which their emotions seem to big for their bodies and start exploding onto everyone and everything around them. In fact, I feel like this some days too. How do we address this from a biblical stand point?

First of all, we are designed to be emotional beings - we are made to feel and to feel deeply. This is not wrong or sinful and only becomes so when we allow our emotions to sit on the throne of our hearts. A person who is ruled by and who obeys their emotions is a dangerous person indeed.

In fact, the book of Proverbs says this person is like a city without walls! This is an analogy that kids will understand - especially if they enjoy playing with castles and knights! When my son is overcome by emotion I remind him that a man without self-control is dangerous and destructive and God's design is that a man would be a strong protector - a safe place.

Self-control is one of the beautiful benefits of God's Spirit at work in our hearts. Let's pray for our kids (and our spouses and ourselves) to be people who exhibit self-control - or perhaps more accurately - Spirit-control. When we feel BIG emotions that threaten to lash out on anyone in close range, let's pray that God will give us self-control so that we can better reflect what He is like. The Name of the Lord (or the sum of who God is) is a strong tower. When our "walls" are threatening to crumble, let us run into Him and be safe.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10