1310) The second dachshund I owned was a little red, short-haired boy named Danny. Of all my dogs, he was, by far, the smartest. He knew how to figure out any food puzzle. If you ordered him, he would go to any place. He figured out how to grab a pound of ground beef off the countertop when he stood only 8 inches from the floor and he could do so much more.

Danny had two things about him that made him less than endearing, however. One was he was a barker and the other, a runner. We frequently were serenaded by his barks at anything and everything and we had to always keep him on a lead outside or he’d take off to the next town and beyond. I did not like to restrain him. I would have loved to let him run, but we couldn’t. Danny didn’t like when I restrained him, but it was necessary.

In 2 Timothy 3:3, Paul tells us in the last days, people will be without self-control. This word means without the ability to restrain themselves. People will not see (or choose not to see) the need and value of self-restraint. It’s almost as if anything goes because I cannot help what I say and do. That’s too bad because there are many benefits of self-control.

When you choose self-restraint, you weigh your words, choices and actions and leave unsaid or undone the things that cause damage.

Be prepared to see less self-control as the days pass and if you see it in yourself, restrain yourself.