Saying "No" and "Yes" to Yourself

There are a few things we want to teach our kids before they leave our house and become independent adults (OK, more than just a few). But recently we've been discussing in our house "self-control". The first week we were try to say "No" to ourselves in doing things that are not necessarily good for us or its just not the right time (priorities). Just about every day at dinnertime Steve would ask each of us how we said "No" to ourselves that day. Some days were better than other days. Our conclusion is that we say "Yes" to ourselves way more times than "No". In fact some days I couldn't come up with one "No". Our flesh is always looking out for the easy road, so IT is in control. So making the conscience effort to say "No" is hard if you're not used to doing it. This week we are to say "Yes" to ourselves in the same self-controlled way. "Yes, I'm going to get out of bed and workout", "Yes, I will obey right away", "Yes, I will have my quiet time with the Lord", "Yes, I will get my work done before I "play"." So far we are doing better this week, but I'm still trying to incorporate "No's" in my life. With the Holy Spirit in us we can be controlled by the Spirit and not our flesh. I think we'll all look at the list of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians a little bit different after this.