Teachings from the Trail Blog

I’m human and therefore have habits or addictions I’d like to give up. Diet Coke. An insatiable desire for sweets. Chewing gum. Chips. Do you know how many times in my life I’ve given up caffeine only to go back to it later?

Er. It’s so frustrating. Why don’t I have the willpower to just quit?

I realize I am just like Eve in the garden.

“Did God really say you must not” [fill in your vice here]?

Well, no God didn’t say I must not drink Diet Coke. I’m imposing these restrictions on myself. I think “Why am I so hard on myself? What harm could Diet Coke do to me”? But it certainly isn’t doing me any good since there’s nothing of nutritional value in Diet Coke. What kind of fuel is artificial sweeteners, caramel color and other chemicals for my body?

“You won’t die.”

You’re right, I won’t die as soon as I drink a Diet Coke or eat a malted milk ball. What are the long term effects though? Those malted milk balls won’t look so good on my hips.

“God knows your eyes will be opened.”

That’s where the entitlement comes in. I deserve my vices because God wants us to enjoy the pleasures of this life. I deserve them because I’ve been good in so many other ways — I went running or I didn’t eat that piece of cheesecake for dessert last night. I’ve had a hard day, I should be “kind” to myself by buying some chocolate. As soon as I think about foregoing my morning Diet Coke or malted milk balls in the bulk candy aisle, I begin to rationalize why I deserve my vices. It’s almost laughable the way I justify giving in.

Oh, I’m so Eve.

This changed for me a few weeks ago when I read Romans 13:14: “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” (NLT)

That verse has stuck with me. In another translation, that verse says “make no provision for the flesh.” I’ve been providing for the flesh every time I buy Diet Coke. Geez, don’t buy it and I won’t drink it. Don’t go down the candy aisle every time I’m at Target and I won’t buy the malted milk balls. Seems so simple. I took that approach with chips – I stopped buying them a long time ago.

Now when I’m at Target I find myself quoting the verse from Romans to help me avoid the candy aisle and not give in to the temptations. And you know what? I feel a sense of victory when I leave without my entitlements. It’s gratifying. Like I’ve won a prize. Each time gets a little easier.

Course, now that I’ve aired my temptations here, I really have to avoid the candy aisle. Accountability. It’s wonderfully challenging.

What is it that you have been accommodating in your life? How could you weed out the vices in your life by changing your thinking? How could you turn to God for strength to overcome?