Leftover Lunacy
…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
Leftovers from Christmas: Nonpareils, Trinidad truffles, M & Ms, Rice Krispie treats, Chex Mix Puppy Chow, and gluten free chocolate cookies. Oh yeah, and the Oreo Truffles from New Year’s Eve.
For some of you this doesn’t even sound tempting. For me, it is a battle every time I get near the kitchen. In fact, writing about them has me thinking their voices are calling me from two stories below. I will not go down there.
I give myself a little liberty with food through the holidays but the holidays are past, weight has been gained, and the need for self-control has been re-established. I tell myself if I lived alone I would give it all away or throw it all away. The problem is that it doesn’t seem like others are as tempted by it all as I am.
I go through this same agony if I invite friends over and have leftover dessert. Is it wrong to throw it away? Should I try to make sure it gets eaten, you know, by someone else? I hear my mother’s words, “There are starving children in Africa who would love to have that food!” I know this is true but I can’t send it.
Perhaps, like others in my household, food is not an issue for you. But don’t we all have something that is difficult for us to resist? For some men it is lust, for others video games or the internet addictions. We know there are huge problems with drugs, alcohol, and internet porn in our world. Some people even have trouble turning away from the gym or their phones. We all need discipline in some area of life.
God did not leave the Christian defenseless! He gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control! Our job is to use it.
I often think of a lesson I learned from Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Made to Crave that suggested that when we are tempted by food we simply ask ourselves this question, “Will I be more satisfied now with the pleasure of this treat or tomorrow with the victory of having left it on the plate?” (Those are not her exact words but they grasp the concept she taught.) This is a question we could apply to any temptation.
I know in my heart that I prefer the victory, the trick is remembering that in the moment when I am being tempted! That always brings me back to preaching to the heart what I know is true! I have to remind myself that God has given me the ability, through His Holy Spirit, to resist temptation. I know that when I am weak, He is strong. I remind myself that it is more important that I deny myself than that I indulge my every desire.
This may all seem like a lot of concern over a couple of pounds gained at Christmas. The truth is that I have learned that when I lose my ability to discipline myself in something small, like the food I eat, then I tend toward losing control in other areas. Overeating is my canary in the coal mine. My time management skills go out the window, what little will I have to exercise is lost, my tongue will move too much, and I will generally waste time and money. I can’t afford to forget about God’s gift of the Spirit of power, love, and self-control!
I don’t know yet if I will throw all those tempting sweets away, give them away, or just wait until they have all grown stale or moldy so it’s easier to justify trashing them. I just hope that I don’t get rid of it all by eating it all (which appears to be the course I have been on until now)! If only I could email it to you.
The Psalmist said, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 Let it be so, Lord. .