Full Armor of God Diet

Have you ever set a goal that was within your reach but also challenging? Didn't it feel great to achieve your goal through perseverance?

If you have set goals for your personal health, I encourage you to keep working to achieve them, even if it requires some suffering. Paul tells us in Romans that suffering produces perseverance, which eventually leads to a hope that does not disaappoint.

Romans 5:3-5
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Isn't it great to know that suffering produces perseverance? Even though we may have to suffer some to achieve our goals, it's worth it. If we taking time to exercise, say "no" to unhealthy treats, and make wise choices that promote health, we will not be disappointed. I have been disappointed many times when I have not persevered, but I have also experienced the joy that comes when I do persevere.

So that we can experience more joy and hope and less disaapointment, let's call on Jesus to help us persevere.

This month's fitness challenge includes push-ups and sit-ups for strengthening upper body and abdominals. The sit-ups are a real challenge for me. I have never liked sit-ups. In aerobics classes at the gym, I would usually do about half the sit-ups and then start stretching my legs because I could not keep up. Now it shows. I really need those sit-ups!

There is something else I need for building strength - even more than sit-ups. The Bible tells us how to build strength. Isaiah 40:31 tells us we can renew our strength by trusting in the Lord.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."

To reach my October goal for sit-ups, I'm doing about 24 sit-ups per day. How much more strength I would have to face all of life's challenges if I would trust God 24 times a day! That turns out to be every hour of every day. Let's take the challenge of trusting God every hour of every day. Think about how much more we'll be able to accomplish. Increase your trust in God and watch your strength increase.

Last week I was lamenting the fact that the annoying temptation for junk food will never go away. I am tired of Satan's most subtle onslaught against healthy lifestyles. We’ve grown up in a culture and are surrounded by overwhelming messages that compel us to follow eating habits that destroy our health. To maintain health, we really have to struggle against the current. It’s like swimming against a swift current. So many other swimmers are swimming the other way, laughing and having a great time and looking at me funny because they can’t understand why I would work so hard to swim the other direction. I had come to the conclusion that I would have a lifetime of swimming against the current. I’ve prayed over and over that God would take away the temptation to overindulge, and while I know he is there to help us through temptation, I don’t think He will completely take the temptation away. We have to learn to live with sin and temptation in this world. One of the greatest things about heaven will be the absence of that annoying temptation!

Of course, I'm looking forward to heaven. However, today, I found encouragement in 1 Peter for enduring trials even before we get to heaven. If we allow our bodies to suffer through the temptation, sin loses its power.

1 Peter 4:1,2 Living New Testament Paraphrased
"Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, and you won't be spending the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but will be anxious to do the will of God."

This reminds me of James 4:7 "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

This is a great message with hope for people like me, who are tired of dealing with temptation. Perhaps it's been annoying me for so long because I resist and then give in, I resist and then give in. I haven't really allowed myself to continuously suffer through the tempation without giving in. I don't have to spend the rest of my life chasing after junk food and enduring junk food cravings. I do have to suffer through it steadily for awhile (how long, I don't know), but I do know that if I allow myself to suffer through and just stop giving in to the temptation to overindulge, this sin of appetite (of coveting sugar and junk food) will eventually lose its power. I will be anxious to do the will of God for my health. I will look forward to eating the good, healthy food that God has provided. I'll do His will and He will be able to bless me with the good health He wants to bless me with!

So, the question is: Am I really ready to suffer through it? Like personal trainers, I believe Peter and James will be good coaches through this training period.

My appetite seems to be winning most of the food battles lately, and I don't like it. So, I decided to search the Bible for new inspiration. Where could I find a new source of strength to face the same old temptations? I found just 8 short words in Nehemiah.

"...the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Could it be that I've lost my focus on the joy of the Lord, so I'm also losing my strength? This week I will let myself feel the joy of the Lord, the joy He wants me to feel. I have so many blessings. I don't want to forget them. When I'm feeling tired and stressed, I'll look for new strength by remembering the many ways He brings joy to my life.

Maybe I can't really call it my favorite Bible verse, because my favorite verse seems to change on a weekly basis depending on what is happening in my life. However, there is one Bible verse that speaks to me and encourages me so much I could almost call it my favorite. I suppose it's my favorite Bible verse more often than any other Bible verse is my favorite, so maybe that does indeed make it my favorite!

Here it is in a Living New Testament Paraphrased:

"And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after awhile we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up." Galations 6:9

How about you? Is there something you're tired of doing but you know it's the right thing? Are you ready to give up? Don't do it! Don't give up. Stick with what is right, even if it's hard. God has promised that you will receive a harvest of blessing if you do not give up.