Welcome to those of you visiting from my P31 Encouragement for Today devotion on "Temptation." I pray today's post and the verses, help you in your area of struggle.
First, I have to say a big thank you for the many happy birthday wishes. Y'all know how to speak some serious love to this girl's heart! It was one of my favorite birthdays and you were a big reason why.
Secondly, I know some of you are wondering about my "no sugar fast" and did I break it for my big day of celebration. No, I didn't.
I could have. I had decided if I wanted a special treat for my birthday, I would have one. But the day just sort of came and went without that desire. I was completely happy to have cantaloupe for my special treat.
I know, it's totally weird.
Before this fast I would have pouted to no end to go a couple of hours on my birthday without sugar. I would have had a cinnamon roll for breakfast, a brownie after my lunch, M&M's for a snack, and cake with ice cream after dinner.
And I'd probably have gone to bed congratulating myself for not doing too bad with my eating that day since I hadn't had any cookies. Mercy.
I wasn't just tempted by sugar, I was consumed by it and filled up with it.
And therein lies the danger of an undisciplined life.
The only thing we were made to be consumed by and filled up with is Jesus. Everything else with which we try to fill our emptiness, leaves behind pangs of dissatisfaction and regret. It feels good in the moment but not in the long run.
Now, does this mean I'll never again enjoy a brownie or a cookie?
No.
What it does mean for me is I must completely starve the internal drive that makes me feel like I need a brownie... or I deserve a cookie.
Saying I need a brownie is a sign of an empty heart... a heart whose misplaced desires have crowded out the fullness of Jesus.
Saying I deserve a brownie is a sign of an empty mind... a mind whose misplaced desires have crowded out the richness of God's truth.
If I choose to have one simply as an occasional treat, that's one thing. But longing for it and then wasting mental energy processing the guilt of eating too many- crosses a line I don't want to cross any longer.
I want to be filled up with Jesus. I want to be satisfied by God's truth.
Yes, this imperfect, incapable, brownie junkie of a girl wants to dare to be holy even with my eating. I know some will roll their eyes and call me crazy. And you know what? I am. I am crazy in love with Jesus.
And I figure if the very downfall of mankind was caused by a woman's temptation for food, then this might just be a topic God takes quite seriously.
Please understand I am not standing on some sort of soap box preachin' today. I am just a woman incredibly humbled by the reality of my own struggle who has two toes on the side of victory and I can't hush up about how amazing it is.
I never thought victory in this area would be possible for me.
Never.
And while I am hyper aware of my propensity to fail, I am becoming increasingly confident with God it really is possible find victory over any struggle.
Romans 15:4 says, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Here are some other Scriptures that give the gift of hope as well...
James 1: 12-25
1 Thessalonians 5: 22-23
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Psalm 86:11-12
Psalm 40: 8
Psalm 103: 1-5
2 Corinthians 4: 16
To leave a comment, click on the word 'comments' below. I'd love to know your thoughts and how I can be praying for you. If you'd rather remain anonymous, click on that button inside the box that pops up.
First, I have to say a big thank you for the many happy birthday wishes. Y'all know how to speak some serious love to this girl's heart! It was one of my favorite birthdays and you were a big reason why.
Secondly, I know some of you are wondering about my "no sugar fast" and did I break it for my big day of celebration. No, I didn't.
I could have. I had decided if I wanted a special treat for my birthday, I would have one. But the day just sort of came and went without that desire. I was completely happy to have cantaloupe for my special treat.
I know, it's totally weird.
Before this fast I would have pouted to no end to go a couple of hours on my birthday without sugar. I would have had a cinnamon roll for breakfast, a brownie after my lunch, M&M's for a snack, and cake with ice cream after dinner.
And I'd probably have gone to bed congratulating myself for not doing too bad with my eating that day since I hadn't had any cookies. Mercy.
I wasn't just tempted by sugar, I was consumed by it and filled up with it.
And therein lies the danger of an undisciplined life.
The only thing we were made to be consumed by and filled up with is Jesus. Everything else with which we try to fill our emptiness, leaves behind pangs of dissatisfaction and regret. It feels good in the moment but not in the long run.
Now, does this mean I'll never again enjoy a brownie or a cookie?
No.
What it does mean for me is I must completely starve the internal drive that makes me feel like I need a brownie... or I deserve a cookie.
Saying I need a brownie is a sign of an empty heart... a heart whose misplaced desires have crowded out the fullness of Jesus.
Saying I deserve a brownie is a sign of an empty mind... a mind whose misplaced desires have crowded out the richness of God's truth.
If I choose to have one simply as an occasional treat, that's one thing. But longing for it and then wasting mental energy processing the guilt of eating too many- crosses a line I don't want to cross any longer.
I want to be filled up with Jesus. I want to be satisfied by God's truth.
Yes, this imperfect, incapable, brownie junkie of a girl wants to dare to be holy even with my eating. I know some will roll their eyes and call me crazy. And you know what? I am. I am crazy in love with Jesus.
And I figure if the very downfall of mankind was caused by a woman's temptation for food, then this might just be a topic God takes quite seriously.
Please understand I am not standing on some sort of soap box preachin' today. I am just a woman incredibly humbled by the reality of my own struggle who has two toes on the side of victory and I can't hush up about how amazing it is.
I never thought victory in this area would be possible for me.
Never.
And while I am hyper aware of my propensity to fail, I am becoming increasingly confident with God it really is possible find victory over any struggle.
Romans 15:4 says, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Here are some other Scriptures that give the gift of hope as well...
James 1: 12-25
1 Thessalonians 5: 22-23
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Psalm 86:11-12
Psalm 40: 8
Psalm 103: 1-5
2 Corinthians 4: 16
To leave a comment, click on the word 'comments' below. I'd love to know your thoughts and how I can be praying for you. If you'd rather remain anonymous, click on that button inside the box that pops up.
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