There's no way she could have known. She walked into my classroom, shrouded in first grade innocence, and came directly to my desk. With her face full of pride, and her hands full with a tray of cupcakes, who would have ever guessed a fiend was nudging her along?
"Mrs. Walters, would you like one of my birthday cupcakes?"
"Mrs. Walters, would you like one of my birthday cupcakes?"
8 But food will not make us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God. And eating does not make us better in God’s sight. 9 But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom may cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin.
1 Corinthians 8:8-9 ICB
With fresh resolve, I'd promised myself on the way to school that I wasn't going to yield to my mouth full of sweet teeth. Fortified by another installment of a Joyce Meyer teaching series on having a happy, healthy life I thought I was good to go.
Wrong!
BFF in tow, and brown eyes full of hope, how could I disappoint her?
I blew it again!
Wrong!
BFF in tow, and brown eyes full of hope, how could I disappoint her?
I blew it again!
And just to ramp up the guilt trip, wasn't I the one to post, multiple times this year about eating healthier, and listening for God's voice? And now, honestly, it seemed like every form of Christian media was reminding me of the same thing: Honor God's temple by eating right.
Crash and burn! Eventually, I scraped my head off the wall, and started thinking a little deeper.
Tom and I discovered for ourselves a simple principle years ago. The harder we try to do the right thing, the harder the enemy tries to thwart us. Have you noticed that? ('Course I'm quite sure if we remembered and armed ourselves with God's word more often, it would pay off more.)
So, while I've been eating oatmeal with nuts, seeds and berries for breakfast, fruits and veggies for lunch, and a healthy dinner, the enemy has been keeping up a barrage of sweet treats via darling children, and nurturing coworkers, and indulging spouse.
Crash and burn! Eventually, I scraped my head off the wall, and started thinking a little deeper.
Tom and I discovered for ourselves a simple principle years ago. The harder we try to do the right thing, the harder the enemy tries to thwart us. Have you noticed that? ('Course I'm quite sure if we remembered and armed ourselves with God's word more often, it would pay off more.)
So, while I've been eating oatmeal with nuts, seeds and berries for breakfast, fruits and veggies for lunch, and a healthy dinner, the enemy has been keeping up a barrage of sweet treats via darling children, and nurturing coworkers, and indulging spouse.
13 The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ERV
Dear Reader, is there a temptation that keeps rearing its ugly head at you? How do you handle its teasing and tormenting? Remembering and speaking God's word makes a huge difference for me. Knowing his word is powerful gives me an extra layer of confidence.
The next time temptation shows its face in my space, I'm praying I'll recall and reclaim God's promise in Psalm 91.
The next time temptation shows its face in my space, I'm praying I'll recall and reclaim God's promise in Psalm 91.
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:3-4 RSV
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