Sunday, November 26, 2006
A Way That Seems Right
I am often struck and sometimes discouraged by the fact that so many people around me don't place a higher priority on following the laws of health. I set goals for eating healthy, but then get dismayed by those around me who seem oblivious. It's hard to be different. Our guest speaker at church this weekend read Proverbs 16:25, and it reminded me why I want to say no to too much junk food even if everyone else around me is diving into ice cream and cake and smores.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death"(Proverbs 16:25, NIV).
If we do what feels right or what seems right to everyone around us, it may be dead wrong. It may lead to our destruction. This Bible verse reminds me not to follow the crowd. Just because a path seems right to the majority doesn't mean it's the correct path. If everyone around me is choosing a path that will ultimately destroy their health, why should I crave the same thing and desire to join them? If I don't want to share in the result, I must be different. Through prayer and Jesus' power, we can maintain self control even if we are the only ones turning down ice cream.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death"(Proverbs 16:25, NIV).
If we do what feels right or what seems right to everyone around us, it may be dead wrong. It may lead to our destruction. This Bible verse reminds me not to follow the crowd. Just because a path seems right to the majority doesn't mean it's the correct path. If everyone around me is choosing a path that will ultimately destroy their health, why should I crave the same thing and desire to join them? If I don't want to share in the result, I must be different. Through prayer and Jesus' power, we can maintain self control even if we are the only ones turning down ice cream.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Be Strong and Thankful
Have you stopped to count your blessings today? Thanksgiving week is a perfect time to carry thankfulness in our hearts. Satan is going to try to get me to lose self control and forget about my blessings on Thanksgiving. He'll try to get me to indulge in more sweets and high fat foods than my body can process. He'll try to benumb my brain with a sugar load. He'll try to get me to eat so much that all I can do is become a couch potato.
It's time now to put on the Armor of God to get ready for the battle. I want to make healthy choices and maintain my self control, even on Thanksgiving. At the end of the day I want to feel good and be thankful for good health. At the end of the day, I want to say thank you to God for giving me His strength and for helping me make it through the war zone successfully.
How about you? God has provided His Armor. Are you putting it on now so you can maintain your self control through Thanksgiving? Are you ready to live up to and uphold the light you have about how to keep your body healthy? I found a wonderful prayer in Colossians. Let's pray this for ourselves and for each other to maintain our health goals successfully on Thanksgiving.
"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:11-12, New Living Translation)
It's time now to put on the Armor of God to get ready for the battle. I want to make healthy choices and maintain my self control, even on Thanksgiving. At the end of the day I want to feel good and be thankful for good health. At the end of the day, I want to say thank you to God for giving me His strength and for helping me make it through the war zone successfully.
How about you? God has provided His Armor. Are you putting it on now so you can maintain your self control through Thanksgiving? Are you ready to live up to and uphold the light you have about how to keep your body healthy? I found a wonderful prayer in Colossians. Let's pray this for ourselves and for each other to maintain our health goals successfully on Thanksgiving.
"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:11-12, New Living Translation)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Self Control
My friend sat across the table at Subway having a drink while I ate my sandwich. I relayed my story about giving my health to Jesus and how amazed I am that I've been able to give up sweets this year. I know without a doubt that God has been helping me fight my battle against ice cream addiction. I explained that I still have areas of diet to work on. I'm not perfect, but at least I've been using His Armor to overcome in this one area.
She just so matter of factly reminded me that the struggle is all about self control.
Of course, I knew that, but sometimes I don't want to admit it. I find it easier to shift my focus and let go of one thing when I can indulge in some other thing. The battle is really about self control, in all areas of health and in all areas of life. So if I let go of sweets and indulge in something else, I really haven't won the battle.
My new name for this blog will be the Full Armor of God Self Control Diet. Paul reminds us how important self control is to our daily walk with God.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet" (1 Thessalonians 5:8, NIV).
She just so matter of factly reminded me that the struggle is all about self control.
Of course, I knew that, but sometimes I don't want to admit it. I find it easier to shift my focus and let go of one thing when I can indulge in some other thing. The battle is really about self control, in all areas of health and in all areas of life. So if I let go of sweets and indulge in something else, I really haven't won the battle.
My new name for this blog will be the Full Armor of God Self Control Diet. Paul reminds us how important self control is to our daily walk with God.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet" (1 Thessalonians 5:8, NIV).
