This Deal Won't Last Long, Buy Now!

My kids say my phone has more apps than the App Store. They’re not wrong. You want to buy a burger from Wendy’s? Straight up, it’s like a million dollars. But if you use the app, it’s two for five. Which is…suspicious. Like, why is it cheaper if I push a button on my phone? And then the app won’t leave you alone. Notifications all day long. I’m driving home, trying to be responsible—eat something green maybe—and boom: “Halloween Frosty for a dollar.” A dollar. At that point, it feels less like spending money and more like being a good steward of the family budget. Like, “Honey, I saved us three bucks. Sure, I lost five years of health, but financially? Big win.”

That’s when I remembered a verse from Proverbs my son chose as his theme verse for the month: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Solomon isn’t just wagging his finger at us, saying, “Be disciplined or else.” He’s giving us a picture of life without self-control. A city without walls is vulnerable. Anyone can come in, take what they want, and leave you powerless. In the same way, when we lack self-control, we make ourselves vulnerable—whether to sales pitches, unhealthy habits, or unhealthy relationships.

And here’s the good news: God doesn’t want us to live powerless. Self-control isn’t about Him getting His way—it’s about us living free. Free from regret. Free from manipulation. Free from the burden of wondering, “Why did I do that again?”

So, no, I didn’t get the Frosty. At least not that day. I’ll wait for a time when it’s about sharing joy with my kids, not just giving in to a passing urge.

This weekend, as we wrap up our series in Proverbs, we’ll look together at how God leads us toward a life with fewer regrets—one decision, one wise choice at a time. I’d love for you to join us.