Proverbs 25:28 -- On Ruling the Spirit

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." Proverbs 25:28 I don't know about you, but I definitely don't want to be broken down without walls. :) It's a tiny bit confusing just because of the way that we use the word "Spirit" to both mean a spiritual part of us separate from the body (Alma 11:43; D&C 138:17) and talk about how the Spirit should be in charge of the body, and then here it seems like a more basic part of ourselves should rule over the spirit, or maybe it is used as a synonym for "soul" which sometimes is the same as spirit, and sometimes means all of us (D&C 88:15). I think the overall meaning is clear though... we need to be able to have some self-control. Self control doesn't necessarily mean pure willpower... the ability to laugh in the face of temptation or whatever. Most of us are really bad at that, in fact, although we differ on what particular things we are tempted by or weak to. In that regard, it might be useful to remember Joseph who literally just ran away from a bad situation, or studies that show that avoidance, or even just putting up a barrier like extra effort between ourselves and what we shouldn't have... those things usually work much better than so-called pure willpower. :) Even though Christ directly said No to Satan several times when he was tempted, and he is an amazing example, let's remember that he also walked on water, which we aren't quite ready for either. For the things that aren't hard for us, then let's just say no. For other things, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." ... Escape is totally okay. :) Today, let's find ways to rule ourselves, however that works for us... finding ways to practice good habits and avoid the bad ones until the good ones get stronger and become a part of us instead. :)