Encouragement for Today - Jan. 24, 2011
January 24, 2011
Made to Crave
Lysa TerKeurst
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
Devotion:
I was walking through the airport when an incredible aroma suddenly grabbed my attention and taunted, "Do you know how happy I can make you?" A candy shop had just made a fresh batch of nutty, caramel popcorn.
There's nothing wrong with caramel popcorn except that it definitely wasn't on my healthy eating plan to which I'd committed. I felt my knees get weak, because I love caramel popcorn. I started to rationalize buying this special treat, thinking, "I can't get this flavor at home, and I'll take half home to my kids. What harm will a little caramel popcorn do?" I felt an extreme gravitational pull straight to the object of my desire in that moment.
The only thing that stopped me was redirecting my thoughts away from the popcorn and onto a new truth God had been teaching me: desperation breeds defeat. This truth was the perfect match for my temptation and helped me walk away.
In the book of Genesis, the Bible tells an interesting story about twin brothers who illustrate this point. The elder son, Esau, was favored by his father, Isaac, because of his prowess as a hunter. In contrast, the younger son, Jacob, was a quiet homebody.
One day, Esau returned home from an unsuccessful hunting trip totally famished, and demanded some stew from his brother. "I'll give you food," agreed Jacob, "but first, trade me your birthright." Esau replied, "Okay, I'm so hungry, I'm about to die." So Esau traded the honors due to him as the firstborn son for a simple meal of stew.
Upon first glance, it's easy to ridicule Esau's decision. I cannot imagine selling my whole birthright for a pot of soup. But I had to look at my own life and ask, "What great thing have I traded for so little in return? How often do I trade healthy food for junk food? What temporary pleasure have I craved so much that I gave up lasting victory?"
Desperation does indeed breed defeat. But God promises answers for desperate situations in 1 Corinthians10:13, which is the key verse in this devotion.
The "way out" that God provides is the ability to decide in advance what I will and will not eat each day.
I plan my meals right after breakfast when I'm feeling full and satisfied. The absolute worst time for me to decide what I'm going to eat is when I've waited until I'm depleted
and feeling hungry. So I prepare a healthy snack to have on hand or keep in my purse.
When I'm unprepared or I've rushed through a proper meal, my stomach screams for something quick. And quick options usually come in a variety of unhealthy temptations, just as I experienced at the airport. However, that day I had decided ahead of time that I would keep an apple in my purse for a snack, rather than trade my healthy
progress for something like caramel popcorn.
Let me be clear. I'm not saying that we should flee food. However, we must prevent the control that food can take over our lives. In my book Made to Crave, I unpack the reality that we were made to crave God, not food. To crave means to desire greatly and to think about intently. Interestingly, we are reminded in Matthew 6:33 to, "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…"
I was shocked to discover the original Greek word for seek is "zeteo," which means, "to crave." In other words, we were made to crave God first and foremost. In a practical sense this means consuming food without letting food consume me. It means never trading my identity- my birthright -the victorious woman I'm meant to be, for any kind of temporary physical pleasure.
If we purposely begin to think before we eat, we'll be better able to see the "way out" that God promises when we are tempted. And keep our cravings centered on God alone.
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I need You. I need You in my times of desperation and I also need You in times of jubilation. Help me to think ahead so I won't be weak when I am faced with a desperate situation. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
A great step to encourage you on this journey would be to sign up for a FREE webcast Lysa is offering every Monday night now through February 14th. Join us tonight! For more information, click here.
Visit MadetoCrave.org to read success stories of people who have found victory with their food issues using Lysa's new book, "Made to Crave."
Order your copy of "Made to Crave" by clicking here.
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
Application Steps:
Visit Lysa's new "Made to Crave" website to download free resources and watch her inspirational videos by clicking here.
Reflections:
What is a temporary physical pleasure you crave?
How does it inspire you to learn the meaning of "seeking God" is actually "craving God?"
Power Verses:
2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (NIV)
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (NIV)
© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
