Genesis 39:10 - "And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her. . ."

I have read the "Joseph" story many times and have looked at this passage before. However, today when I read it I saw not only application possibilities but also felt conviction! I have a love hate relationship with "conviction." I hate to see the sin so clearly revealed in my heart, but I LOVE that my God loves me enough to show it to me so that I might be conformed to the likeness of my Savior!

You see -- I struggle with the fruit of the spirit called, "self-control." Not that I have all the others down -- this one just seems to be a root of many of the sin issues in my life!

When I read that Potiphar's wife spoke to Joseph "day after day," basically seducing him, it hit me that temptation is DAILY! Okay, not profound - I already know this. But he continually said, "no" to the temptation - day after day! That is what gets me -- the day after day!

When I plan to get to bed earlier to be my best in the morning for my family and my time with God, I often choose to do other things and stay up too late. The temptation of a good book, a movie, the computer (none of them bad things in and of themselves) comes along, and I stay up too late, causing me to not be the wife and mom that I believe God wants me to be.

OR

I determine that I need to eat more healthy -- for my heart, for my body, for God's glory! Then the daily temptation of a diet coke fountain drink ("They are half price during Sonic's happy hour!") comes my way. The cookies, candy, you name it say, "eat me!" And I do!

Now, I am not saying that I can never have a diet coke or dessert. I am just pointing out how quickly I cave to temptation. I do not do well saying, "no" as Joseph did day after day. One day - sure! A week - doable. But the consistency that is implied by day after day isn't found in my life. Gross!

I have a friend who told me about an older woman who mentored her. When my friend would tell her she was "struggling" with something, the lady would reply, "Let's just call it sin." Wow! To have a person love me enough to "call it sin." Not worrying if it hurt my feelings or offended me. (My husband will do this but can't really think of anyone else.)

Usually, I am wrestling with a self-control issue (let's call it sin!) and my friends say things like, "That is normal,""Don't be so hard on yourself," or "Nobody's perfect."

That is NOT what I need to hear. I need the truth of God's word challenging me "as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15), or "do not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2) -- isn't that saying that as a child of God I am not to be "normal"? Jesus Himself states, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt. 5:48).

I am thankful for the truth in Romans 8:1 that "there is not condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." So although I am not condemned, and I am able to stand clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21), I do need to strive to live a life of self-control in all areas of my life.

Day After Day!!!!! That is the mark of self-control.

I need to purpose "day after day" to evaluate (by the power of the Holy Spirit) all that bombards me so that I may be able to discern the time stealers, money stealers, health stealers, or other temptations that will pull me away from my relationship with God and with those He has placed in my life.