Day 7

Word of the Day is strong!

You and I are stronger than we know, physically and spiritually! Mostly because we don’t test our strength very often.  We may even have a tendency to sit in our comfortable lives and remain stagnant.

But what happens when we make that choice? We get weak and stiff, then we move less and eat more. If we’re not careful moving becomes harder and harder, then just walking to the car and into the store is a chore.

However, when we push through doubt, fear of failure, and just plain laziness to do the hard stuff. . . like giving up sugar for 30 days. . . we feel stronger mentally and physically.

So, don’t give up! You can do this and you do have support here!

According to a narrative review in PubMed, your body will thank you by lowering inflammation, reducing fat in your liver, making your cells more receptive to insulin, and improving your mood! (6)

Scripture

Caleb, in the Bible is a perfect example of strength we can emulate. He was one of the two spies who scouted out the promised land and gave a good report. A disturbing fact for us to stop and think about for a minute is:

Out of over a million people who left Egypt, only two of the original crowd entered the promised land! They were Joshua and Caleb.

My friend, faith does play a role in our livelihood. When we trust God to provide, protect, and keep us strong, we automatically love him and obey him with a grateful heart.

Caleb has a word for us today about being strong.

Joshua 14: 10- 11

“As you see, the Lord has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.”

WOW! My friend, I want that kind of faith and strength!

Prayer:

Father God, you see our weaknesses, our excuses, and our strength. Help us put aside the fears that leave us behind and draw on the strengths you have gifted us with today so we can complete this challenge now and forever more. Thank you for being with us each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Call to Action:

Drop a heart below if you needed this today and list in the comments your top three strengths!

Digging Deeper In Study

If you would like to explore more about the biblical character of being strong, let’s dig in!

Please read the following passage and get your designated notebook ready to answer some questions beneath the passage.

Psalm 27

King David is calling out to God in his difficult circumstances. We see faith overcome fear, confidence overthrow doubt, and humility give way to worship.

What is the emotion gripping David as he begins this Psalm? (vs. 1)

What is he up against and who is he facing as he calls out to God? (vs. 2-3)

What is his heart’s desire as he faces his enemies? (vs. 4)

Despite his fear, he makes a proclamation about God, what is it? (vs. 5)

What does his worship of God look like in the midst of his fear? (vs. 6)

I get the sense his fear is about to take over when he pulls deep within his soul and makes the next declaration. What does he say? (vs. 7-9)

We can lose the most loyal of friends when we choose to follow God. David is so sure of God’s love that even if his parents abandon him, God wont. However, being strong does not come automatically to David any more that it does for me or you.

Like him, we have to go through trials and tests to peel away fear and doubt as we learn who is truly in control of our lives. Sometimes the wait seems more than we can bear. However, as we surrender that last bit of control to him in our fear and doubt, he always comes through.

How does David’s confidence outshine his fear? (vs. 13)

What is his direction to us as we face our own fears and doubts in life? (vs. 14)

Perhaps we indulge in excess sugar and treats because it gives us pleasure, we are lacking in life. Not only is it a socially acceptable form of celebration, it is a form of comfort we enjoy when we fear we are not loved.

If you and I take a moment to internalize the facts we are learning about excess sugar in our lives we soon see how it can become our enemy. So, please take a moment to reread this Psalm and picture excess sugar as the enemy after your flesh and your life.

Please journal your thoughts in your notebook and write a prayer to God about how you will face the enemy of addiction to sugar (or any other substance) in the future.