Month: February 2021 (Page 2 of 2)
Why would you want to cheat yourself like that?
As I pondered this question, I realized that not taking advantage of Bible classes and Worship at every opportunity is cheating myself. This question prompted a positive change in my life. It led me, to pursue a stronger conviction of my priorities to truly, put God First. Not just through words but action.
God’s word is so powerful, we have so much to gain by hearing it, studying it, adopting it, and applying it to our lives and we cheat ourselves when we don’t.
It’s my hope you will also ponder this question because it’s not just you that’s affected. It’s those who know you and see your example. Your family and friends. It’s all who hear the truth you learned rather than recollections and speculation of things you’ve heard but don’t fully grasp.
When we engage in understanding the whole truth that is spoken in “God-breathed” scripture, when we actualu study and apply what we learn from our Heavenly Father we stop cheating ourselves and we stop cheating others. We became part of a grand solution.
Don’t cheat yourself!
Take advantage of every opportunity you can to learn more of what God, wants for us.
God First
”But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matthew 6:33)
- John 4:13-15 (living water)
- James 4:8 (God draws closer)
- Romans 8:31(God with us)
- Matthew 16:13-20(upon this rock)
- 1 Peter 2:1-10
God First!
So good that he can not be tempted with evil.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
James 1:13
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.“
1 JOHN 4:16
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
PSALMS 107:1
for his steadfast love endures forever!“
God First!
(Yes, it’s spelled right)
After a life-threatening huge push at the beginning of 2019, I embarked on the challenge of eating better so I could live longer, so I could do my part to be here for my wife and family as a contributor. I was 60lbs overweight, with sugar levels of 465 and an A1C of 11.6 (the chart ends at 12)
I realized that my life as a glutton must end, so I made two critical changes immediately.
1. Portion control
While in the hospital, I was given one scoop of three different items, and this is where I took my cue. (It looked like a snack). Once home, no matter how much was made, these small portions were all I ate. In the beginning, I had no snacks between meals.
2. Eliminate most sugar
a) I stopped all soft drinks. I drink water, unsweet tea, unsweetened hot tea, and black coffee.
b) I stopped all white bread. ( it turns to sugar quickly) if I had bread at all, it was not more than 1 piece for the day.
c) If I fix pasta it was whole wheat.
In 6 months, I lost 60 pounds.
In the evenings, while watching TV, I would get urges to eat something, so I took one cinnamon graham cracker, added more cinnamon, and probably took 20 minutes to eat it, trying to savor and extend the moment.
I learned to be glutton-free, and It’s an ongoing battle.
To reach my goals, I replaced many habits with new, better habits. It’s much easier to replace habits than to break habits. It’s now 2021. It’s been a little over 2 years since this all started. The struggle not to overeat or eat sweets continues to be a challenge.
I have also found there’s an eerie similarity between sinful actions and bad eating choices. Just like with wrongdoing, the more I give into glutton temptations, the less guilty I feel the next time the temptation arises.
Over the last 18 months, I have found myself little by little loosening the self-imposed restrictions. Telling myself that larger portions of healthy foods with occasional sweet treats are ok. While there is some truth to this thought, I don’t think I want to lose those feelings of guilt when I break my own rules because the farther I get from my original commitments, the closer I get to those old bad habits. So, I embrace the feelings of guilt that help me stay true to my commitment.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
1 cORINTHIANS 6:12
Doing what’s right is not always the easiest thing to do, but it’s always the best thing to do. If you’re not certain if something is right or wrong, you have your answer!
Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself!
Choose wisely to avoids regrets.
God First!
When we carry the weight of sin in our minds, are we not allowing Satan to dwell there? For example, We lie or deceive a loved one over an important matter (maybe a spouse).
We then carry the burden of that lie with us, and it haunts us from time to time. Conversations arise that remind us of our lie or cause us to repeat or expand the lie to avoid revealing the truth. Yet still, rather than confess, we tell ourselves things like ”no real harm done,” “it’s better if they don’t know.” ”Why hurt them with the truth”?
As a result, we may carry the unnecessary weight of that guilt (that God knows) in our hearts and minds for years, maybe even, to our death.
By doing so, are we not offering Satan permanent residence in that part of our mind?
Are we not limiting our relationship with that person from being all it can be?
However, if we fess up to God, that person, ask forgiveness, and repent, are we not simultaneously kicking Satan to the curb? Kicking him out of that permanent home that we’ve furnished him in our mind. Are we not mending our hearts and minds by removing that permanent dwelling of sin?
The above thoughts bring to my mind the following scripture.
1. James 5:16 – confess
2. Matthew 12:43-45 unclean spirits
3. Philippians 4:8-9 rethink
4. Romans 1:28-32
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