We all have our addictions…. or inability to reign in self-control. It looks different for each of us, and sometimes very similar. Where is your area of weakness?
I have a terrible habit, well actually a few – but I will share with you one here to be genuine and authentic. I said yesterday that I really don’t struggle with food issues. I would say that is correct, but it has not always been the case. I went through periods in my life where food was very high on my list of needs and I didn’t always choose the best things to nourish my body with.
I was looking for a “good feeling” from the things I ate. Thank goodness I have grown and can say that I can pass by the big piece of chocolate cake or stack of cookies – but it has been a BIG choice for me to do that and likely a strong WILL that the Lord placed in me. Becoming Gluten Free/Paleo has helped tremendously in knowing what I can eat and what I shouldn’t eat. For me, not only will eating something make my heart hurt and feel bad, carrying shame, but my gut will also hurt and I will be miserable. So self-control had to come pretty darn quick for me.
But I still do crave salty foods and have often shared about my favorite salty snack of the time, whether it is Cheetos (which I no longer eat) or Doritos (yep, not in my pantry now either) or just crinkle cut potato chips (yep, I let that one in and it is my salty snack of choice).
“Self-Control is our opportunity to freely choose to make God the first love of our life. Self-Control is our opportunity to deny ourselves and choose what our heart really craves – GOD.”
That quote really opened my eyes – it gives me new perspective with the one area that I do currently struggle with and that is time management. Focusing on what truly matters in the big mix of life. UGH! I know I am not the only one.
I want to be the ONE for everyone, but the reality is that I just cannot. I need to find self-control in my ability to shut down the computer, to walk away from my iPhone and disengage from Facebook. Yep, the complete introvert has problems!! Big ones! To be a life-giving mom I need to be present and I need to have self-control.
I know I will likely face other areas of my life where I will need to lay down my self-indulgence and allow God to work in my heart. I do think I overindulge in areas of my life and there likely are areas I am not completely area of, so I pray that God will open my eyes to other areas I may be struggling with that I am not aware.
Do you feel God is speaking to you in an area on this topic?
I loved these questions Sue poses:
- What overindulgent habits are causing death, not life?
- Who is my comforter?
- What is my reward?
- Who or what do I turn to in times of stress, anguish, or even delight?
- What do you rely on more than you rely on God?
- What do you turn to when your day is going really bad or really good?
- Who is your secret lover?
This quote stuck with me, with regard to parenting:
“Our children have been over promised and overindulged day after day.”
This is a huge topic and I pray this is just the beginning to peeling back the layers for you.
