Health

Day 25: Indulging Without Self Control – Proverbs 25

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day 25 pic of beach

“Do you like honey? Don’t eat to much or it will make you sick.” Proverbs 25:16 (NLT)

“It’s not good to eat to much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls.: Proverbs 25:27-28 (NLT)

I didn’t really think much about these 2 verses. I like honey, but it’s never been something I indulge on. But then, I checked out this Proverb in The Message, and well, it got my attention.

“When your given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down. Eat to much chocolate and you’ll make your self sick.” Proverbs 25:16 (The Message)

“It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you. A person without self-control is like a house with it’s doors and windows knocked out.” Proverbs 25:27-28 (The Message)

I’m like, wait! What! Too much chocolate? Really? It can make me sick? I mean, we are talking about chocolate! I really love chocolate, especially dark chocolate… mmmmmmmmm!

Ok, so here’s the thing, these verses are not saying honey, sweets and chocolate are bad. They are telling us the indulgence, with no self-control is the problem. I’ve been there and indulged on warm chocolate chip cookies, Sun Drop Pound Cake, gourmet chocolates and well, I could go on and on. I know that when I eat these things with no self-control, I will feel bad later. And isn’t it just like my sinful nature to say, “It’s worth feeling bad because those cookies were so good!” Really? What am I thinking?

I need to heed this wisdom for my life. I know there are foods that are not good for me. They may taste good in the moment, but they bring harm to my physical health. It may not be evident right away, but the effects of indulging will catch up to me.

This speaks to me today on a couple different levels. First, there is a definite warning here to not indulge on sweets. And I know scientifically and because of experience that to much sugar is harmful to my physical health. And secondly, this thought that the later pain is worth the immediate pleasure. That is sin.

I know that I’ve allowed this lack of self-control effect what I eat. Where else have I allowed the pleasure in the moment justify the effects of the sin?

Forgive me Lord for indulging and for a lack of self-control. Forgive me for justifying sin in my life. I pray today for more revelation in my life about where I’m lacking self-control. And I pray today for an increase in self-control. Amen.

What is God speaking to you today in Proverbs 25? Comment below or join the conversation in our Journaling Through Proverbs Facebook Group.

Day 24: I Must Put the Work In – Proverbs 24

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Day 24 pic of beach chairs

“I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of the one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and it’s walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: a little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. Then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Proverbs 24:30-34

The obvious lesson here is one of gardening. Growing a vineyard, a small garden or a field of produce takes work and time to maintain. You can’t simply plant a few seeds and expect to reap a harvest. There are weeds that will grow and overtake the plants leaving the garden with little to no fruit.

I’m thinking of this now in relation to my spiritual, emotional and physical health. These areas of my life must be tended and cared for. I cannot expect to be healthy physically if I’m eating lots of junk and have little to no exercise. It’s the same with my emotional and spiritual health, they need to be cared for. I can’t ignore these areas of my life and expect health and wellness. I am responsible for my own health and growth.

Growth and health take work. There is an effort on my part that must happen. I need to strengthen the healthy areas of my life. I must also look for the areas where weeds have begun to grow and get to their root to remove them. Sometimes we have to put on hold one thing to bring health to another area.

For the past 3 months I’ve implemented a new exercise routine to my life. I’ve been using the elliptical everyday, twice a day and doing yoga several times a week. It’s been good for me and I’m getting my body moving again so I can be healthy. Unfortunately, I’m experiencing some severe hip pain. It’s a result of an injury I had as a teenager. I just made the decision today to forgo all my elliptical work outs until I can work through the hip issue. I’m bummed about it because I’m seeing good results overall. I had to decide that I can’t sacrifice my hip and continue to endure the pain for the sake of a few more lost pounds. So, for the next week or 2 my focus will be on bringing health to my hip and getting it functioning well again.

What areas of my emotional and spiritual life have I allowed to become or stay unhealthy because I haven’t been willing to put the work in? Or, willing to admit there is a problem . I really want to forget about the hip and keep doing what I’m doing. Honestly, because it makes me feel old! However, if I ignore it, I can cause more injury. My emotional and spiritual health are just as important. I can’t allow “nettles and weeds” to overtake the field.

I can’t be lazy, but I also must use common sense. Taking a break from the elliptical isn’t being lazy, it’s using common sense so that I can allow my hip to heal. Where in my spiritual and emotional life am, I being lazy? And where do I need to use common sense to allow heling to take place? I’m responsible for my physical, emotional and spiritual health, and when things aren’t healthy, I am still responsible. I must admit something is off and take action to bring health to that area.

My prayer today is for new and fresh awareness of my health, spiritually, emotionally and physically. I pray for wisdom about when I need to take action and seek out professional help or when I can use common sense to bring thing into alignment. I’m praying today for health in my body, my soul and my spirit. Amen.

What is God speaking to you today in Proverbs 24? Share in the comments below or join the conversation in our Journaling Through Proverbs Facebook Group