like I've been battling this problem all my life. I can't count the amount of times I've started
a diet...some with success, others with failure. Not only is excessive weight a physical
problem, it is also one of the most prevalent spiritual problems. In fact God admonishes
His children many times to take care of this problem that greatly hinders our spiritual life.
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
I don't know about you, but added pounds make everything you do just a little bit more
challenging. Things take more effort and time. Our spiritual life is no different. When
we are carrying around unwanted weight, it is harder to do the work of the Lord, we
are hindered from giving of our best to the Master! Just as we tend to make excuses for
our physical weight problem, we do the same with our excess spiritual weight. There is
always a reason we come up with for sinning. Always a reason we can justify being
angry, bitter, covetousness, speaking evil of others...but it's just an excuse.
Anger: James 1:20 "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the
bosom of fools."
Bitterness: Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice:"
Hebrews 12:15 "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God: lest any
root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"
Covetousness: Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation (life) be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have:"
Ephesians 5:3 "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints;"
Evil Speaking: 1 Peter 2:1 "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,"
James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his
tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
You can easily see from just the few verses mentioned above that these four "weights"
are just a few in a long list of what we need to lose on our spiritual diet. Just as unwanted
pounds hinder our physical health, so these unwanted spiritual pounds will greatly affect
our spiritual well-being. We might reason with ourselves that this one little bitter thought
about our neighbour is harmless! Well, let me remind you of how easily those pesky pounds
can creep back on without our notice, until all of a sudden we find ourselves with ten or
twenty pounds to lose all over again!
When we "feed" on the good things of God instead of the calorie-filled junk food of this
world, we will be spiritually strong and healthy! Take the time to eat healthy, Galatians
5:22 & 23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
And above all, remember that we have a Leader Who is better than any Weight Watchers
group can boast...Jesus Christ is with us, ready to give us all the encouragement and
strength we need on this journey! There is no membership fee, in fact, He paid the price
for us! He can help with any temptation we face!
I Need Thee Every Hour
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
Annie S. Hawks
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