Day 5

The word of the day is choices.

God gave Israel the law and the choice to follow Him faithfully or live for themselves and follow other gods. He also clearly defined consequences to the path they choose.

Prosper abundantly in all the work of their hands as He delights in their good fortune, or perish and not live long in the land they are entering. If you and I pay close attention we will see the evidence of these choices continuing today.

Spiritually we need fulfillment, so we seek activities, people, places, or things to fill the void buried deep in our souls. We may or may not be ready to accept the peace Jesus offers, so along the journey we try filling this unknown yearning with various pleasures.

One of those pleasures is food.

As we know, the choices we make in this area have the power to reap great benefit or cause harm. Our knowledge and understanding of how excess sugar, sweets, fried foods, and sodas damage our brains, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and heart is clear.

Yet, we still choose them time and again.

One of the reasons I love coaching people is to get into their heads on the “why: behind the choices they make.  The frank honesty of my clients is refreshing and identifies the true struggle we all face.

One of them, who attends the MetS Busters program puts it this way:

“The truth is I’m stubborn and I like the convenience of how I live. So, I’m not willing to give that up.”

At the heart of this honest assessment is if we give pleasure full reign, it has the power to trump knowledge every time. My friend, that is exactly why 88% of Americans are metabolically miserable and don’t even know it.

In our brain, and Israel’s, prosperity and abundance sound amazing. However, obeying the guidelines to get there are difficult. Entrenched in our being is the desire to satisfy our pleasure-seeking natures, first.   

You and I are challenging this phenomenon during this 30-day sugar fasting journey day by day. We are looking for long-term reward and finding a deeper satisfaction in feeling better.

Scripture:

“The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands with children, the offspring of your livestock, and your land’s produce. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as He delighted in your fathers, when you obey the Lord your God by keeping His commands and statutes that are written in this book of the law and return to Him with all your heart and soul.”  

Deuteronomy 30: 9-10

Prayer:

God, you have blessed us to be born in the most abundant land of all time. We have everything we need to survive at the tip of our fingers. Please help us choose wisely and be humbled by your loving provision. Strengthen our resolve and renew our focus each day as we trust you for true satisfaction. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Call to Action:

How does digging deep into your “why” strengthen your choices today?

Fasting Challenge Bible Study–Digging Deeper

If you would like to go deeper and study with me, please Read Deuteronomy 30 and answer the questions that follow on a piece of paper.

After reading the chapter what attributes of God are clear to you? (Ex: Giving/Loving/Honest/Omnipotent/Omniscient/Just/Generous etc.)

What is the requirement for receiving the blessing? (vs. 2)

What is God’s plan for Israel and what does it reveal about his heart for all mankind, including us? (vs 4 and 5)

What do you think “circumcise your heart” means? (vs. 6)

How is the message portrayed for Israel? (vs 14)

What is the command Israel needs to follow in order to receive blessings? (vs. 16)

What are the consequences Israel must face if they fail to obey God’s commands? (vs. 17-18)

Who is a witness to this covenant and why is it important? (vs. 19)

What is God’s plea to Israel (and eventually us through our faith in Jesus)? (vs. 20)

God never makes us bow down. As the old hymn states, he woos us softly and tenderly. He is never vague in His communication either, he is clear and spells out the consequences of what will happen if we choose unwisely. The explosion of sin at the very beginning of time set the pace for our world of suffering. Choosing their own way, Adam and Eve walked away from the perfect life God offered them (and eventually us) in the garden of Eden. Sin grew and flourished as mankind became more greedy, self-serving, and separated from God.

We have a hard time coming to terms with a Holy and righteous God, but the truth is he cannot stand in the presence of sin or tolerate it forever. There are always consequences that damage us spiritually and physically. It’s sad, but the love of sin is what keeps many people away from the abundant life God has planned for them. Thankfully, for us, Jesus came to conquer sin and pay the price for our sin. He suffered and died on a cross to take the wrath of God from us and place it on himself. All we have to do is believe it and place our trust in him to reap the full reward of his sacrifice.

Knowing he has gone to great lengths to give me peace of mind, a strengthened heart, while providing everything I need, makes me appreciate and love him in return. Sugar has a place in celebrations, but understanding its excess consumption plays a huge role in disturbing the abundant life God has for me and you is very important, too. We avoid the vicious cycle of pleasure-seeking behavior when our souls are satisfied and full. After all, He is what we are truly seeking to fill the void.

I pray this message helps you in your daily walk, spiritually and physically. I’m here for you!

Please write a prayer for yourself and your family below.