32 Encouraging Bible Verses About Self-Control

Published July 25, 2021

Self-control is defined in the dictionary as the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptation. In the bible, it is listed as one of the fruits of the spirit – a sign that Christ is in us. So it’s no wonder that bible verses about self-control are in no short supply.

Aside from being a sign that Jesus dwells in us, self-control is also a symbol that we surrender ourselves to Him. For if we let Him take the wheel, mastering our thoughts and emotions will be so much easier. If we focus our sights on Him, we won’t be trifled with inconsequential things. But if we let our desires get the better of us, living a godly life would be next to impossible.

This is why many Christian values have their roots in self-control. Patience, for example, happens when we learn to control our responses to people and situations. Having self-control also allows us to reign in our greed, gluttony, pride, anger, lust, and envy.

If you’re having trouble exercising self-control, these bible verses can help:

1. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. – 1 Timothy 4:7
2. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. – 1 Corinthians 7:5
3. Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. – Proverbs 12:16
4. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. – Titus 2:11-12
5. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  – 2 Peter 1:5-8
6. Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. – Proverbs 13:3
7. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33
8. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. – 1 Corinthians 9:25
9. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7
10. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. – Romans 13:14
11. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Against such things, there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23
12. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2
13. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
14. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. – Romans 8:13
15. Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. – Proverbs 21:23
16. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. – James 1:19-20
17. Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. – Proverbs 25:26
18. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16
19. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18
20. Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. – Proverbs 16:32
21. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. – Titus 2:6
22. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
23. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:5-6
24. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. – 2 Peter 1:5-7
25. I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12
26. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. – Romans 6:12
27. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. – Titus 2:11-14
28. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and