Can't Get Right

I gathered all of my newly purchased water jugs. I labeled each in ways so that I will have guzzled down a full gallon of water each day. I knew it was a stretch because I'm not particularly a water fanatic. 

I was determined that hunger would catch me off guard, so I unthawed my already-seasoned chicken breast and prepared the salad to go long with it. 

I was determined to eat healthy and live healthy. There was one thing standing in my way--the leftover cake in the fridge and the gallon of Blue Bell ice cream in the freezer. Panic started to set in. What would I do? Well, a little cake wouldn't necessarily hurt. Except I knew I would never probably have just a little. It wouldn't necessarily throw me off course. 

I played scenarios out in my head. The right way seemed boring and constrictive. The wrong way--to eat just a little cake and ice cream seemed justifiable and not too bad. While weighing the pros vs. cons, I never thought about the consequences of negative actions, I only saw that I would be scratching that sweet itch and satisfying my flesh. I decided to eat the cake. 

And afterwards, I felt absolutely horrible. I decided that the day was already ruine and that I might as well fully indulge in bad behavior. It was at that point that the consequences began to cross my mind. The fact that heart disease is so prevalent in my family. It was then that I recalled the new study that said excessive sugar could lead to heart disease. And that cake and ice cream was excessive. 

Isn't that how Satan does us when we are struggling with sin? After all, in the Garden of Eden, he presented Eve with the "good side" of disobeying God. He failed to mention the consequences. Once we give into sin, we can feel helpless and hopeless. In our minds, we might as well fully indulge, since we gave in already. Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" 

We have to pick ourselves up and try again. Continue on the with good fight. It's hard to resist temptation, but it's so worth it. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  (James 4:7, 8 NIV) God wants to take us to higher heights and deeper depths. We can't allow tricks of the enemy to block our blessings. Stand strong and tall and fully depend on God. 

It's not worth the low feeling of guilt that we feel after we fall. But we know that He's right there to pick us up. We don't deserve a love like that, but He's willing to freely give it to us. 

 

And remember, He provides a way of escape...we just have to want to accept the way out. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)