Are We There Yet?

 

 
If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear. Job 11:14-15

 

When the journey seemed long when we were children, we probably all remember asking the question, "Are we there yet?" Back then the question was about reaching an actual destination, a place such as Grandma's house for Sunday dinner, the park for a cookout, or maybe just the ice cream parlor. Did you notice food is involved in each of those scenarios? Food seems to have been on the mind of many the last couple of weeks as we crucified the flesh, fasted, and prayed to make good choices not only food-wise but also faith-wise.

In this final week of this portion of Fit Faith Fast, the journey is seeming a bit long. We all heard Pastor tell the story Sunday of one runner picking up a cookie and eating it simply from force of habit. They honestly thought nothing of it until the last sweet crumb was consumed. 

This reminded me of this story I read: A vegetarian friend of mine went to a party and was handed a plate filled with wonderful appetizers. He selected one, took a bite, and then to everyone's surprise-he threw the remainder across the room with all his might. He stood with a stunned and bewildered look on his face. The appetizer had been filled with meat, and his immediate reaction was to throw it as far away as possible.

No matter how much effort we put into our resolve to avoid certain foods, old habits such as consuming cookies die hard. And even when we fearlessly conquer a habit, some seem to do a sniper attack on us like that meat did in the appetizer from the story.

Now I don't know how much food you have actually thrown across the room in the last couple of weeks, but I do recall chunking a week old half bottle of Dr. Pepper I found under my car seat as far as the east is from the west. When I did that I thought of how easy it is for our greatest temptation to suddenly be right in our hand. If we can put this much will power and steadfastness into putting away foods that tempt us during this Fit Faith Fast how much more effort should we put into putting away all temptations that the enemy puts right at our fingertips every day of our lives?

Think about what you are consuming physically, spiritually, and mentally always. May we learn to put all temptations far from us.

No, we aren't there yet, but we can do it!

God will fill all your empty places.