Did you know that there is now such a thing as Gluten Free Oreos? Double stuff, btw. Man, they are yummy. I find myself eating more of them then I should. I keep thinking, just one more. Oops. My office where I work has a chocolate drawer that beckons me. Calls to me. Just one more.
I am a people pleaser by nature. I find myself thinking so often, is this person mad at me? I analyze past interactions. I try figure it all out.
The focus I can have on food, deciding what to eat, what to make, should I have one more? I am focused on, well, me.
This never brings me life or joy. I then overeat, over think and find myself regretting. John’s verses here convict me on my thoughts. Here they are:
“Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1jn.2.15-17.AMP
Is it wrong that I think about food or friends? No, absolutely not. Where I get tangled is the over. My mind and heart focus on the things of this world. And what I am not doing is focusing my mind on prayer and on the Lord. Here is a perfect opportunity to thank the Lord for both food and friends. Pause and pray for the friend. Recalling the needs my friend has and lifting them up to my Heavenly Father.
I also think my time spent wondering and worrying about finances leads me to try and come up with plans to solve. Not praying, but moving things around to create stability. Is it wrong to have stability? No, it’s my heart I’m pondering.
All this time could be spent pursuing the will of God. My thought life needs a check-up and my heart needs more time considering his word. Asking the Lord if I am carrying out his purposes.
Finally, I have a bush outside my window in my room that still has leaves. They have not fallen. They are brown and withered, but they are still there. Yesterday, as I was sitting here, the droplets of rain clung to the branches. Honestly, that is a good reminder for me today. What am I clinging to even though it is dead? What am I holding to tightly and trying to manage on my own? Releasing my mind, asking the Spirit to guide my thoughts.
I choose life.
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