Y’all remember the movie Fighting Temptations? I don’t remember the plot of the movie, but the title was perfect for this blog.
My pastor preached a sermon yesterday titled Recipe of Regret. He talked about the story of Jacob and Esau and how Esau regretted his decision he made of selling his birthright to Jacob his brother for a bowl of soup. I encourage you to read Genesis chapter 25 and 26 for yourself.
Aside: Get comfortable reading stories for yourself, so that God can speak to you directly.
In the sermon, he gave us 3 points for a recipe for regret which I will share below. When I was listening to the sermon, I realized the points could also apply when you are making decisions about eating food, particularly when you have decided to eat healthier. I thought about the scripture there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) – meaning, some of the same things experienced in the bible, we experience today like the temptation of food. Also, see the story in the Bible in which Jesus was tempted with food by the devil after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. (See Matthew 4:1-11)
Okay back to the story, here is the list shared, renamed My Fighting Temptation list.
3 Ways to Fighting Temptations
- Don’t decide in isolation. You need council.
- Don’t decide tired. Cultivate a rhythm of rest and have healthier options available to make your decision easier.
- Don’t make a decision which provides immediate gratification. Think long term.
I hope this list helped and it is something you can come back to often and utilize when you are fighting temptations. One of the things I am considering to fight temptations is ordering my food online. I need healthy food sent straight to my home whether it is juicing or meal kits. This way I have less decisions to make and when I am tired, healthy options will already be available for me to consume; therefore, I am more likely to eat healthier.
What is one practical way you plan to fight temptations in your life?