Controlling the Self, a Law of Doing

Preface by Linda Mihalic

To control means "to exercise authoritative or dominating influence over, to hold in restraint, to hold in check or repress one's passions or emotions." Psychologically, "self is an assemblage of characteristics and dispositions that we may conceive as constituting one of various conflicting personalities within a human being."

Self is "a permanent subject of successive and varying states of consciousness; what one is at a particular time or in a particular aspect or relation, one's nature, character, or sometimes physical constitution or appearance, considered as different at different times." Philosophically stated, self is the ego, often identified with the soul or mind as opposed to the body. Psychologically, self is a set of characteristics and dispositions that we may conceive as constituting one of various conflicting personalities within us.


Controlling the self is a law of doing and an initiation. Control is but the first step in conquering self, and it begins with bridling the tongue. The great principle of nonresistance is the control for all Power. Nonresistance is ultimate control. Controlling self is what you do until you conquer. An Adept controls self; adeptship is the practice of merely controlling the self. Period.

As you involve yourself in the world and its affairs, self expands to fill all available space. You must exert the principle of contraction to restrict the selfish will, to rein it in and return command to the soul. You must redeem all self to give soul the power to ascend.

Whether conscious or unconscious of your ability, you do have the power of conscious direction and control. Your unconscious thinking holds you in bondage. Edna Lister taught that God has given the embodied soul the power of conscious direction and control through the spoken Word. God has given universal substance only the power to become the vibration that you decree, the spoken Word.







Edna Lister on Controlling the Self

All virtues are born through diligence and self-control, which leads to soul mastery. – Edna Lister, Growth, November 4, 1934.


When Power controls you, nothing can stop you from acting steadily, unchangeably, surely determined, and the game is yours. If you start under the Light, Light controls you. – Edna Lister, The Fountain of Youth, December 19, 1934.


Reason and judgment must rule and hold the vain emotions under control until you may conquer them. – Edna Lister, September 28, 1938.


You first learn to control self, to finally rule self. – Edna Lister, January 19, 1939.


You lose your heavenly contact with God by letting go of soul expression to allow appetitive self to control your thoughts, words and deeds. – Edna Lister, January 19, 1939.


You have no control over others, but may suggest only. – Edna Lister, January 25, 1939.


Pay no attention to any self, yours or another's; see only the Light. – Edna Lister, Lenten Questionnaire, February 13, 1941.


Your idea of self mastery must be to conquer self by sacrifice and lifting it, not by controlling it. – Edna Lister, Lenten Questionnaire, February 13, 1941.


Let joy, love and faith control every thought, picture, emotion, desire and above all, your will. – Edna Lister, May 18, 1941.


Unfortunately, before you learn to control yourself, you spend so much time trying to control others. – Edna Lister, Life in a Nutshell, "Mastery: The Bottom Line," 1942.


Let God rule, control and conquer as you. – Edna Lister, December 22, 1942.


The heat of your desire is always under your control, and law grants no legal reason for lukewarmness or indifference. – Edna Lister, February 11, 1943.


You must redeem self fully, for no partial redemption is enough for further advance. – Edna Lister, November 2, 1944.


One invisible, unknown, hidden particle of self left under the surface erupts as a volcano, burning, searing, and dissolving everything it touches. – Edna Lister, November 2, 1944.


Train yourself to be instantly aware when a negative thought or vibration enters your consciousness. – Edna Lister, Keys to the Kingdom, 1945.


When your rational soul, ruling the appetitive soul, is in control of your body instrument, it truly becomes an extension of you. – Edna Lister, March 28, 1945.


Let love control you fully. – Edna Lister, June 8, 1945.


God has given the soul the power of conscious direction and control of Mind, Substance and Power through the spoken Word. – Edna Lister, June 29, 1945.


Soul substance must have conscious intelligence to have conscious control, to solidify into the myriads of forms. – Edna Lister, July 12, 1945.


Light is invulnerable. Once the soul takes charge, you are invulnerable. – Edna Lister, July 21, 1945.


The great soul is the one who can stand and be used by all Power and Light. The greater the soul, the greater the usability. – Edna Lister, July 21, 1945.


Put your Oversoul in control of your life. One who can command himself is worthy of being a leader. – Edna Lister, August 6, 1945.


The slightest bit of negative emotion shows that the self is in control. – Edna Lister, October 14, 1945.


Self must come to the top. Skim it off with your so-deep love for God. – Edna Lister, April 1, 1946.


Law is a modification of Wisdom, which plans, Love, which sustains, and principle, which controls and limits the transformation to meet your present capacity and ability. – Edna Lister, Eternal Youth: The Seven Breaths, November 6, 1946.


Know yourself from above instead of looking up at yourself from below. – Edna Lister, November 27, 1946.


Jesus said that he was glad that Lazarus had died to prove that life controls death. – Edna Lister, The Three Phases of Life Through Faith, April 20, 1947.


Atomic substance is under control of the will. – Edna Lister, May 18, 1947.


Nothing is as blind as the rational soul ruled by the appetitive soul of self. It is the curse of the world. – Edna Lister, June 20, 1947.


You cleanse the subconscious self here, now, by looking and digging. Do not pray for God to do it for you, a sure sign that you are just thinking about it, which is being betrayed by self. – Edna Lister, July 29, 1947.


Balanced observation comes from the soul remaining just above the body, filling it lightly for control, but in full consecrated Power, conquering in the higher creative centers, the glands and nerves within the head. – Edna Lister, July 30, 1947.


Ascend above your golden bowl, the head. Life is hard when you drop to horizontal consciousness. – Edna Lister, August 17, 1947.


You have no reason for not controlling the subconscious, for it stems from your appetitive soul. – Edna Lister, August 20, 1947.


There is no small thing. Your smallest weakness is stronger than your greatest strength, for your hidden weakness sends you to the bottom, while your greatest strength gains you only one step at a time. – Edna Lister, January 8, 1948.


Be on guard to uncover each small hidden weakness in your life, lest it sends you down from heights of consciousness that you may only regain by deep travail of soul. Stand on your observation point in the "high place" of Oversoul consciousness to do this. – Edna Lister, January 8, 1948.


When you feel low, you have reached up and turned off the Light. – Edna Lister, October 3, 1950.


Every time you give in to an appetite, you lose thousands of credits, and your self takes you on a long detour. You control this. – Edna Lister, October 17, 1950.


It is not enough to control self; move up in consciousness to contact all soul poise. – Edna Lister, November 8, 1950.


You use mind to plan, build, direct and control your destiny. – Edna Lister, Is Mind Important? June 15, 1952.


Some people live consciously, directing and controlling their lives. Others float indifferently as the playthings of the four worldly winds of criticism, condemnation, opinions and prejudices. – Edna Lister, A Design for Living, November 2, 1952.


When you stand in unquenchable love and unconquerable faith of God, you always have control. – Edna Lister, December 8, 1952.


How often you slip into the puddle doesn't matter, but how often you arise for cleansing in the Light does. – Edna Lister, November 1, 1954.


Control is but the first step in conquering self, and it begins with bridling the tongue. Keep your tongue well bridled and under control. Be great enough to exercise perfect control over self. Bite your tongue instead of responding foolishly. – Edna Lister, November 24, 1955.


You must convince self to live by soul and let it direct and control your life. – Edna Lister, The Light, Your Expression, November 4, 1956.


If you do not believe always, you drop back to the stupid, rationalizing little self that doubts God's Powers, and close the door on your soul. – Edna Lister, December 10, 1956.


As you become law, your Oversoul o'ershadows you until you become greater than the body. Most people do not believe or understand that you can become as perfect as the Father or His Son. – Edna Lister, February 5, 1957.


You must do and be everything of the soul to return Home to God. – Edna Lister, September 5, 1957.


Be a creator who has conscious direction and control over your plan of creation. Conscious direction includes the ability to make a choice. – Edna Lister, The Bond of Spirit, October 6, 1957.


Only divine law using love directs and controls Power, or you misuse Power as force. Only love can direct and control love. God is the personality who directs and controls Spirit through principle. – Edna Lister, December 19, 1957.


From age fourteen, Oversoul has indirect control through the embodied rational soul. – Edna Lister, December 19, 1957.


You cannot control Power if even a taint of self remains, for your heart could not withstand it. – Edna Lister, January 9, 1958.


The Neophyte, Disciple and Adept Degrees deal with self control. The Mystic is the one who prays, who communes with God. The Master, Priest and Christos Degrees deal with ascension and soul conquering of self. – Edna Lister, February 13, 1958.


The Mystic Brotherhood degrees conquer self. The White Brotherhood controls self. – Edna Lister, February 13, 1958.


Yoga is control of every chakra center, whereas our study is ascending in consciousness. – Edna Lister, March 4, 1958.


Watch people who create great turmoil. If one would gain covert control, he must first confuse others. – Edna Lister, May 5, 1958.


The lid you put on temper can blow off under the pressure cooker of self-control. – Edna Lister, The Pioneering Mystic, May 5, 1959.


Integrating the self and soul is the most important work we do. – Edna Lister, May 7, 1959.


By control, you crystallize any emotion that you do not transfigure by conquering. – Edna Lister, Transfiguration, Resurrection and Ascension, May 19, 1959.


You control the speed of your spiritual growth. – Edna Lister, June 23, 1959.


If you work for self mastery, self-control will take care of itself. – Edna Lister, Eight Great Powers of Being, June 23, 1959.


Hypnosis, when used to exploit the hidden mysteries for gain, is a dark way of controlling the seekers of truth. – Edna Lister, November 19, 1959.


Pandering to the appetitive soul, the little self creates the obstacles in your path. – Edna Lister, March 21, 1960.


You make mistakes until you direct and control your subconscious impulses. – Edna Lister, Is it Right to Ask for Myself? June 14, 1960.


Law must be well thought out and set in mind to be in complete control of your life. – Edna Lister, June 27, 1960.


The great abyss of self to cross is, "Oh, I didn't mean it!" You break all laws on this one. – Edna Lister, December 14, 1961.


A line of Light always extends from the Source to your soul. Without this, no one could return Home. – Edna Lister, June 7, 1962.


Many selfish traits have brakes and give warning squeaks. – Edna Lister, December 6, 1962.


"I" is always your first point of regression to self. Find phrases to replace "I," for it is a most subtle throwback, without the slightest brake; the skid down the greased pole is perfect to the bottom. You can find a million ways to avoid saying, "I did this. I did that." For example, say, "It happened like this," or, "It seemed." – Edna Lister, December 6, 1962.


One thought of self, "I am doing it right" or "I am noble and everyone should acknowledge it," and you are sitting in the mud with the evil ones. – Edna Lister, March 17, 1963.


The inner growth of the highest soul to the lowest creature consciousness is not controlled, but must flow spontaneously from the heart. – Edna Lister, March 25, 1963.


Never remain low in consciousness or permit a sinking into the self. – Edna Lister, December 1, 1963.


Do not control, but conquer by lifting all to the Light to be cleansed and purified. – Edna Lister, The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, April 21, 1964.


Unconscious scattered living slides you down the pole. You must have conscious direction and control in your life twenty-four hours a day. – Edna Lister, Ezekiel's Wheels, April 28, 1964.


As an initiate, you can be certain you subconscious self cannot get away with anything, but the only way you can control it is by obedience to law. – Edna Lister, July 28, 1964.


Part‑time devotion to God and consideration of self in any manner is straddling life's fence. – Edna Lister, March 24, 1965.


If you use self-control, you are using Power. Conquer instead — then the Power is using you. – Edna Lister, February 5, 1966.


Control over aging comes from within, despite circumstances on the outer. – Edna Lister, May 2, 1966.


The Father does the work as God's Power, not the self. – Edna Lister, September 8, 1966.


You must be reborn in consciousness even to control, to say nothing of mastering the "little self." – Edna Lister, Eight Great Powers of Being, October 18, 1966.


An Adept controls self. Adeptship is the practice of controlling the self. Period. – Edna Lister, Eight Great Powers of Being, October 18, 1966.


You must breathe the Breath of God daily, and be conscious constantly of a golden cord attaching you to your Oversoul, or you cut off the branch on which you're perched. – Edna Lister, January 5, 1967


Control will hold you above retrogression, but only conquering will take you to God's throne room, and enable you to see and hear spiritually. – Edna Lister, October 26, 1967


No matter how alone or beset with difficulties you are, you can be perfect where you are right now. – Edna Lister, December 11, 1967.


Until you learn to conquer and properly control the Power each unveiled mystery releases, you need the veils of illusion to protect you. They cause you to stop, look and listen, allowing the Light of illumination to break through to you. You control self until you conquer. – Edna Lister, Five Important Steps in Ascension, 1968.


The great principle of nonresistance is the control for all Power. Nonresistance is ultimate control. – Edna Lister, May 23, 1968.


Because you cannot control the smallest thing on earth, you dare not dictate how another is to live. – Edna Lister, October 31, 1968.


No matter what of his soul he freely gives another to cannibalize, no person can supply another's inner desire for perfection. – Edna Lister, Light on the Path, July 6, 1969.


Be in control of your voice, for it can carry power in degrees offensive to others. – Edna Lister, July 10, 1969.


Every word must be a controlled expression of glory to create beauty. – Edna Lister, July 10, 1969.


Reality is the law that governs and controls. – Edna Lister, October 30, 1969


Jesus the Christ is in complete control of the world's Ascension. – Edna Lister, September 13, 1970.


Many righteous "good" people have soul records that are tarnished by taints they thought they had given up to God. – Edna Lister, February 4, 1971.

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New Testament on Controlling Self

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:19.


Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council [Raca is a term of contempt for a person without education or morals]: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire [because it is judgmental cursing]. – Matthew 5:22.


Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. – Matthew 5:33-37.


Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? – Matthew 6:25.


Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. – Matthew 6:31-34.


Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. – Matthew 7:1-5.


A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. – Matthew 12:35-37.


When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. – Matthew 13:19-23.


Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. – Matthew 22:37-40.


Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. – Matthew 26:41.


For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. – Mark 3:35.


That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. – Mark 7:20-23.


Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself [his self], and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34.


And if thy hand [foot or eye] offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands [feet or eyes] ... to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. – Mark 9:43, 45, 47.


If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? – Luke 9:23-25.


Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself ... this do, and thou shalt live. – Luke 10:27-28.


Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. – Luke 12:15.


Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:27-33.


I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. – John 12:49-50.


Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. – John 15:14-17.


Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. – 1 Corinthians 8:1.


Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. – 1 Corinthians 10:12.


For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. – Romans 2:13-15. [Obedience to the law justifies you, no matter your belief.]


Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:9-21.


Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. – Romans 13:12.


Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:23-32.


Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:1-4.


Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world – Philippians 2:14-15.


Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. – Colossians 3:8.


The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6:10.


Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:19-21.


If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. – James 1:26-27.


The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. – James 3:5-6.


The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. – James 3:8-10.


Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. – James 3:13-18.


Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme. – 1 Peter 2:13.


Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. – 2 Peter 1:2-9.


Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. – 1 Peter 2:11.


He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. – 1 John 2:6.


All that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. – 1 John 2:16.


Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. – 1 John 3:2-6.


Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18.


Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. – 1 John 3:22.


He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. – Revelation 2:7.


He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. – Revelation 2:11.


He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. – Revelation 2:17.


I will give unto every one of you according to your works. – Revelation 2:23.


Hethat overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. – Revelation 2:26-28.


He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. – Revelation 3:5.


Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. – Revelation 3:12.


To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. – Revelation 3:21. Top ↑


Old Testament on Controlling the Self

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7.


If sinners entice thee, consent thou not. – Proverbs 1:10.


So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which takes away the life of the owners thereof. – Proverbs 1:19.


Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. – Proverbs 3:30.


Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. – Proverbs 3:31‑32.


Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. – Proverbs 4:26‑27.


Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. – Proverbs 6:2.


Whoso committee adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul. – Proverbs 6:32.


He is in the way of life that keeps instruction: but he that refuses reproof errs. – Proverbs 10:17.


He that hides hatred with lying lips, and he that utters a slander, is a fool. – Proverbs 10:18.


When pride comes, then comes shame. – Proverbs 11:2.


He that seeks mischief, it shall come unto him. – Proverbs 11:27.


He that hates reproof is brutish. – Proverbs 12:1.


The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. – Proverbs 12:15.


The soul of the sluggard desires, and hath nothing. – Proverbs 13:4.


Only by pride comes contention. – Proverbs 13:10.


Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction. – Proverbs 13:18.


He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes. – Proverbs 13:24.


In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury. – Proverbs 14:23.


He that is hasty of spirit exalts folly. – Proverbs 14:29.


A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. – Proverbs 14:30.


A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. – Proverbs 15:1.


A wrathful man stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife. – Proverbs 15:18.


The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns. – Proverbs 15:19.


Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom. – Proverbs 15:21.


Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18.


A froward man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends. – Proverbs 16:28.


He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city. – Proverbs 16:32.


The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. – Proverbs 17:14.


He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction. – Proverbs 17:19.


Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. – Proverbs 17:24.


He that hath knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. – Proverbs 17:27.


Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom. – Proverbs 18:1.


A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. – Proverbs 18:6.


A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. – Proverbs 18:7.


The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. – Proverbs 18:8.


He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. – Proverbs 18:9.


He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him. – Proverbs 18:13.


Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. – Proverbs 19:15.


It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. – Proverbs 20:3.


Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty – Proverbs 20:13.


Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord ponders the hearts. – Proverbs 21:2.


Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. – Proverbs 21:23.


Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath. – Proverbs 21:24.


Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6.


Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. – Proverbs 22:24‑25.


[As a man] thinks in his heart, so is he. – Proverbs 23:7.


Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. – Proverbs 23:13‑14.


Let not thine heart envy sinners. – Proverbs 23:17.


It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. – Proverbs 24:23.


Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. – Proverbs 24:29.


Whoso boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. – Proverbs 25:14.


Gluttony is eating more than you need: Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. – Proverbs 25:16.


For men to search their own glory is not glory. – Proverbs 25:27.


He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. – Proverbs 25:28.


As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. – Proverbs 26:11.


Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. – Proverbs 27:2.


Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? – Proverbs 27:4.


Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. – Proverbs 27:20.


He that trusts in his own heart is a fool – Proverbs 28:26.


A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. – Proverbs 29:5.


A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards. – Proverbs 29:11.


A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. – Proverbs 29:23.

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. – Proverbs 31:30.

Top ↑




Edna Miriam Lister
1884 –1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
American Idealist, minister, teacher, and author


Edna Lister


Etymology of control: Medieval Latin contraro controltulare, to check by duplicate register, from contrarotulus, duplicate register: Latin contra- + Latin rotulus, roll, diminutive of rota, wheel.

Etymology of self: Old English self, sylf, self, same.


Controlling the self is a law of doing.

Controlling the self is an initiation.


References

The Compact Edition of The Oxford English Dictionary: 2 volumes. E.S.C. Weiner, editor. Oxford University Press, 1971.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).


Related Topics

See Conquering

See Discipline


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