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How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (NEV)
One day this week, I had to go to Orlando for a workshop. When I picked up the office car to take, the person who used it before me did not replace the gas when they were done. At 6:30 in the morning, I stood by the gas pump filling the tank. I was annoyed to say the least. But, it did get me thinking about what fuels me. Just as I would not have gotten far without gas in the car, I don’t get very far when my own “gas tank” is not full. I usually try to run as soon as I get home from work and before I fix supper. I’ve noticed that on the days when I have not eaten right throughout the day, the workout is much harder. If I “fuel” my tank with a handful of candy and a corn dog, I don’t get as far as if I eat a salad with some chicken or fish. I am a sugar addict and lately, it has been difficult for me to stay away from the sweets. Between the discovery of Gigi’s cupcakes, Sheila G.’s Brownie Brittle http://browniebrittle.com/(YOU HAVE TO TRY IT, EXPECIALLY THE SALTED CARAMEL, BUT BE FORWARNED, IT IS ADDICTIVE) and a gift of a bag of Smarties (which I am convinced should be a suitable substitute for fruit as they are flavored with banana, grapes and pineapple), I have been on a sugar binge. It started when we were on vacation when I put my eating plan aside “just for a week.” Not smart for a sugarholic to think she can handle. That week has gone into more than a month. I am sure that I run only to counter the carbs I have already ingested. Not to mention that I am weak and weary before I complete my first lap. Just like my car would not run on sugar water, neither will my body. I need an intervention. My spiritual life is often low on fuel as well. If I do not do the things that will keep me connected with God, I find myself just as depressed, grumpy and irritable as I am when coming off a sugar high. Lately, I have been reading a lot of books about God and my relationship with Him. They challenge me, but I read them at the expense of spending time with God and reading His Word. Philosophy and self help books about why we can know that there is a God, how to find His vision for my life, how to be a better disciple are all good, but the best way to know about God is to read the letter that He sent to me. Last night, I started a Bible Study by Kelly Minter on the book of Nehemiah. At the beginning of the book, Nehemiah is at the King’s winter palace in Susa. He is on vacation surrounded by luxury, good food and wealth! Kelly points out that most of us live our lives like we are on vacation, and we are compared to the rest of the world. It is time for me to get back into the reality, to eat sensibly and to partake of the one book that can permanently change people’s lives. So, what are you using to fuel your life? Is it good for you or is it mostly fluff? Try some meat of God’s Word instead of the sugar of this world.
I feel that sugar pain… I am making the effort to cut it out and eat more sensibly and it seems to be working. At the moment though, I feel like God and I are doing pretty well together. It's not always like that, but for now my spiritual life is working.
I hope Nehemiah helps you. It sounds like it is talking right TO you!