God gave us self-control because WE MATTER. Our purpose, our gift, our contribution to God’s kingdom is so important that God GAVE us what we need to fulfill it. Because calling is a GIFT of God, it does not come from trying harder in our own strength. The self-control we need for our calling is not a manifestation of striving. Instead, self-control is a yieldedness to the gift already inside of us. It becomes an expression of agreement with our significance AND agreement with the power of God inside of us.