Friday; February 4

Throughout my life, I have struggled with controlling my weight. Now, while I am sure there are some people who have legitimate issues with weight gain, mine is very simple – I eat too much (especially of the bad stuff) and exercise too little. Honestly, it is as simple as that. In reflecting on this observation, you might be asking yourself, “Well, why doesn’t he do something about it?”. Interestingly, that is my question as well. I know what I need to do when planning out meals or thinking about going to the gym; but then I pass by Cold Stone and think, that sounds really good right now or I think about needing to go to the gym, but snuggle down deeper into my nice warm recliner. My problem isn’t knowing what to do, it is mastering impulse control. It is going beyond rational thought and making the right choices.

While this is a challenge in weight control, there is another place where many of us struggle with it – sinful temptation. When we think logically about the temptations we face, most of us can make good decisions; however, the war on sin isn’t won or lost with intellect as much as it is with impulse. We must transcend the mere fact of knowing what to do and do it when we don’t want to.
If it makes us feel any better, we aren’t the only ones who have ever struggled with this challenge. In fact, the Apostle Paul noted, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” (Romans 7:19-20). Thankfully, he didn’t stop with the observation, he worked through to a solution, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25a). Let’s overcome impulse with intercession – in other words, when we feel weak, let’s pray for the strength of God to influence our decisions.

Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more