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.