I like the way The Message version puts it:
[3-6]The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Take note that it says EVERY thought... not just "some" thoughts. So that means that thoughts about eating are included here! So often, when this verse is referenced, it's to things like immorality, and promiscuity, and things like that. The "big sins". But, God says "overindulging" is a sin, too! Not in so many words, of course, but...
Ephesians 5:5b says, "...the greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world."
And, of course, there's gluttony...
Like I said in an earlier post, Satan wants us to believe that our overeating is "no big deal"... that God doesn't really care if we overeat. But, that's a LIE! Overeating/gluttony (and, when I say this, I'm thinking *deliberate* overeating... choosing to "plug our ears" before "jumping into that pit") is a sin! And, we're to *hate* sin!... as my friend, Heidi, says, we're not just to "avoid" it, but to all-out DETEST sin!
I am praying that I will get to the point where I see overeating as the sin it is, and that I will hate it -- that I will confess, repent, and be able to turn away from it for good!
In her E-newsletter today, author Susan May Warren, talked about being careful of what we expose ourselves to: television shows, news programs, music, books... these can lead us to thoughts that aren't in line with Biblical principles.
My mother always used to like to say, "Garbage in, garbage out." She said that what we allow into our heads/minds is what's going to show itself in our behavior/words later on.
In an online excerpt of the book I mentioned in my last post, "Every Thought Captive", Proverbs 4:23 is quoted. It says:
for it influences everything else in your life."
And, this is what it had to say about that verse:
"Every act, whether beautiful or heinous, starts in the mind. Every charitable act begins with a loving thought, and every sin grows out of a distorted thought. We sin, in large part, because we hold on to and live out of toxic beliefs. So whether we are aware of the depths and brokenness of our thoughts or not, they are very real, and they influence us more than we even know."
So, my challenge to myself for the next week is going to be to watch my thoughts -- and to watch what I allow to *influence* my thoughts. And,
I challenge you to do the same!
1 comment:
Good Helps On Weapons Of Warfare! Thanks For The FaithLift Link. I Cant Listen To The Podcast On Gluttony As My Only Internet Is Via My Cell Phone. But Im Grateful For What I CAN Access! Recently I Realized My Gluttony/my Overeating Is, For Me, SELFISHNESS. Ouch! So, I Started Praying For Others And Looking For Ways To Serve Others. I Know, For Me, The Way To Freedom Is To Delight Myself In The Lord And Serve Others. That Getr My Focus Off Of Me (which Is Where My Focus Is When Im Eating/selfish). I'm Enjoying Your Blog. Thank You. Yisraela
Post a Comment