Building Healthy Habits for Life: Body, Mind and Spirit
#Shakethesugarhabit Tip #4
I faced a challenge this week. My husband, Joe, and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary. I wanted to fix him a dinner full of some of his favorites. I went to the grocery store and began to pick up some items and I realized, he’s going to want some dessert and I know I’m going to want to share it with him in celebration.
“What do I do?”
I looked at the situation realistically. I was going to have some dessert with my husband on our anniversary.
So I gave myself some grace. I began looking in the bakery for what I could eat and at the same time limit the damage to all I’ve accomplished over the last two weeks.
Then I realized, I don’t have to buy the whole of something. You know, a whole cake or pie or whatever. I could just buy one serving each. So that’s what I did. I weighed my options as to sugar content, portion size and of course, cost. I picked wisely in a situation that in the past would have caused me to give up, throw in the towel, go back to my go-to habits and face the sad consequence of defeat. Yes! I am improving.
Small improvements can go unnoticed in light of the overall goals we want to accomplish, but small improvements get us there.
Two weeks ago I wondered, “Where are you taking me, Lord?”
“Do I have what it takes to even start any changes?”
I’ve learned when I’m weak, tired, in pain, emotionally distraught or discouraged the enemy comes in to mock me and tell me, “You’re a failure. You can’t get through this. Things will never look up for you again.” And the devil’s words ring true. After all, I failed before.
Does the devil ever discourage you with your past failures?
“I quit that project too soon.”
“I left that job when I should have stayed.”
“My marriage failed.”
“My kids are a train wreck waiting to happen.”
“I’m not a good mother.”
“I’m not a good wife.”
And on, and on, and on we spiral downward as the devil takes us into despair. He laughs; Jesus weeps.
Jesus wants us to replace the accusations of the devil with His promises. Jesus wants us to believe Him above every other voice; even our own. Jesus wants us to remember that we are in Him, and in Him, all the promises are “Yes, and Amen!” All the promises of God are true. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. So shut down that “failure” voice and rise up new today in the promises of God.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10. (KJV)
Remember, the race doesn’t always go the swift. Our race goes to the steady. God’s word will help us stay on track.
So this week if you’re drinking more water today, you’ve reached a milestone. If you’ve spent more time in the Bible, you’ve reached a milestone. If you’ve come to God in prayer with a willing heart for Him to change, you’ve reached a milestone. And I’m pleased with you; Jesus is pleased with you. Keep it up. Remember, we’re in this thing together. Share your journey this week with us. You can do that in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you.
For Our Bodies:
Let’s summarize some Tips and look at our new Tip for this week:
#Shakethesugarhabit Tip #1: As you read your ingredient labels, look for hidden sugars. “A rose is a rose…” so sugar is sugar no matter the name attached. Review our list of sugars.
#Shakethesugarhabit Tip #2. Start today to eliminate “diet” foods from your diet. Anything marked with any of the advertiser’s buzz words, like “low fat” or “no sugar”
#Shakethesugarhabit Tip #3: Choice foods high in fiber. This makes you feel fuller longer. It also helps to slow the absorption of sugar.
#Shakethesugarhabit Tip #4: This week’s tip is: Choose your “fall down” days and ways wisely.
Understand your limitations and give yourself some grace if your menu for one day is not the “ideal.” Look at what I did when I knew I was just going to eat some dessert with my husband for our anniversary. I feel good about the way I handled it. I enjoyed the time we spent together and my ability to surprise him with a nice dinner and dessert.
But, today is a new day! And as long as my days without sugary treats far exceed the days I wisely plan on some, I am getting healthier. And that’s good for me.
I want to share a post from my Grand Daughter, Rhea, she writes:
“What did you do today to reach your goals? Did you waste the day complaining about how you aren’t there yet? Or did you do something small, yet big enough, that if you did it every day for a year you’d be much closer to, if not at, your goal? Choose the last!”
Small steps are still steps that take us in the right direction.
For our Minds:
Let’s go back to our Bible Study from Exodus:
Exodus 1-2: God heard the cry of His people who were under bondage in Egypt. The land that had promised them affluence and abundance had changed and was now a place of affliction, sorrow, and hardship. The new Pharaoh didn’t know the great leader, Joseph, nor did this Pharaoh care about Joseph’s people. Because the Israelites had increased so much He was afraid they could take over his rule. Moses was God’s man. God protected Moses and so moved in the circumstances that Moses ended up living in Pharaoh’s house raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. But the man Moses remembered he was a Hebrew and he bonded with his people. Moses made a mistake and had to flee for his life to a wilderness area where he raised and cared for sheep some 40 years. As we’ll see in our study this week, Moses had a hard time believing that God could use him. He had failed. He didn’t feel worthy. He held on to guilt and shame. But God showed Moses he could not fail since God was with him.
Pray for understanding then read Exodus Chapters 3 & 4
Let’s take a look at Moses’ responses to God’s calling.
First, read Ex. 3:11. Moses basically said “I’m not worthy.” Still God chose him. Do you feel unworthy? Do you have a poor self-image? Don’t disregard God’s love for you. He created you in His image. He loves you no matter what you’ve done, or how you’ve failed. Jesus came and died for you. You may not feel worthy, but that’s not the point, God chose you. The devil tries to reduce your self-image to the point of paralyzing you so that you won’t move forward. Remember he’s the liar, the accuser who reminds us and tries to remind God of all our failures. We need to stop his voice with the voice of God’s word.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” I John s 1:9 (KJV).
God overrules anything the devil says. Moses may have thought, “I’m just a shepherd,” but God used him. And He can use you.
Moses felt unworthy of the calling God laid out for him. Have you ever felt this way? Read Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:16. What do these verses tell us about God’s plans for us?
Read Ex. 3:13. Moses wanted to know who was sending him back to Egypt. How well do you know God? Ignorance about the one who calls us and the calling He calls us to inhibits our moving forward in our journey to wholeness. The more we read the Bible the better we’ll know and trust Him. We need to abide with Him. Turn and read John 15:1-17.
Read Ex. 4:3: Moses displayed fear. So what are you afraid of? Failure. Pain. Guilt. Shame. Fear can cause us to doubt even the all-knowing, all-loving God. Take a moment and look through the verses again and note how many different ways God assured Moses.
God would be with Moses (3:12).
God would perform miracles and wonders (3:20, 4:3-5).
God would give Moses the words to speak (4:10-12).
Someone said “Fear is unbelief parading in disguise”
“The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man shall do to me” Psalm 118:6 (KJV).
“The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” Proverbs 29:25 (KJV).
For our Spirits:
Moses killed an Egyptian just before he fled Egypt. I can picture him in the wilderness night after night consumed with feelings of guilt. The devil will torment us with our past. If God forgives us, who are we to say we won’t forgive ourselves?
I don’t know about you but I find I’m more compassionate and forgiving with others than I am with myself.
I placed HIGH expectations on myself. After all, I should be Super-Woman: able to work full-time, mother full-time, clean full-time, heal all sicknesses, feed all hunger, meet every need, and be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
NOT HAPPENING!
Why? Because it’s just not real life. I’m one person. And Sweet Friend, so are you. Don’t place unrealistic expectations on your shoulders. You are not made to bear the weight of all your and your family’s needs, wants and desires. You can’t fix every problem and meet every need, so just roll all that care and burden right over on the shoulders of Jesus. He can bear the weight of the world, so He can bear your burdens.
For our spirit, be compassionate and forgiving to ourselves. Lay aside any ideas of perfectionism, and relax, just as God was with Moses, He is with us. Jesus has our back.