Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Thursday reading

Since our reading and scripture verse is just this one verse, I decided to add the graphic and go right on to the "O" part.

O: This reading is an interesting one. This is where mans downfall happened. We see Eve giving Adam the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, of which they were not supposed to eat. The serpent promised Eve that if she ate this, then she would be as wise as God. What a mistake! But, Eve, human as we, gave into the promises of more. 

How many times have we eaten something that we just knew that it wasn't good for us? But it just looked too good to pass up. Hence, Eve's dilemma. Oh, that apple looked good. The serpent promised her it would bring wisdom. Oh... just one bite. 

And so the fall of mankind happened. All because of an apple. That's all it takes. Just that one thing that is forbidden. And the more we are told we can't have it, the more we want it.

I've been learning a lot about addiction lately. It's just that one hit, that one toke, that one drink that starts it all. It's all downhill from there. The addict KNOWS it's not good, but they do it anyway. It's fueled by emotion and sensation. It's a way to not feel anything for a while or to forget for a while. They don't think of the long term consequences. They don't think of the people and the life they will lose. 

It's like that a lot in our earthly lives. The promise of better, younger, thinner, richer. It's all of what the flesh says we want. But it's not what God wants. We don't consider the consequences. We're willing to give in to that craving. It's Satan whispering in our ear. In that one moment we fall from grace.

We don't have to give in to that temptation. We can be stronger than Satan's whispers and promises. It's not worth that fall. It's not worth the guilt. When those promises of more start, pray. When Satan starts tugging, cast him out. Tell him to go. Ask Jesus to make him go! It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

A: This is a good lesson to remember. Change doesn't come easy for me. It fuels my anxiety. It makes me feel uncomfortable. But it is in those times that I need to hold onto my faith, the promises that Jesus made for me. Those are the only ones I can believe. 

Everything in my life has been a struggle, a fight. But all of that has made me stronger. It made me rely on Jesus a whole lot. 

I will take things one day at a time. I won't believe the lies that I play out day-to-day in my head. I will believe in what Jesus has promised me! (And, if I'm lucky, as I repeat that over and over, maybe I'll even believe it! lol) And if I do fall, I know Jesus will be there to pick me up and make me start over. 

P: Lord Jesus, You never promised us that it would be easy. This life we are given is precious. You told us how we are to live it,  yet sometimes we fall into the trap of believing the lies we hear. When those negative thoughts start, when the promise of more and better are thrown at me, I pray for You to give me the strength to turn away from them. You are the rock on which I stand. It is through Your Holy Grace that I am still here. I have come too far to give up now. Jesus, give me the strength to stare temptation in the face and say no. I am Your daughter. Your creation. I want to live as You taught us to. I know with You I can do all things. And all the people said AMEN! 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Wednesday Reading

Read: Philippians 3:15-21
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

S: Philippians 3:19-21
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

O: In this, Paul's letter to the church of Philippi, he is telling them that those who live "of the flesh" will be their own destruction. "Their god is their belly "..they fill themselves with all things unhealthy. They are ruled by their sinful nature. They live as they want, without regard to what God intended.

Those of us who keep ourselves in Christ and who obey God's word, He will help us to transform ourselves into beings that He created. No matter how out of shape we are or how broken we are, He can fix us. 

We need to do some of the work, however. We are told that if we do our part, then Jesus will help us with rest. If we look back earlier in Philippians, it says "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Philippians 2:13) We want to look good and feel good because we know it pleases Jesus. When we know we are doing it to glorify Jesus, then it becomes infinitely easier. 

A: As hubby and I embark on a healthier lifestyle, it will make it easier if we remember that we are not only doing it to keep ourselves healthy so we can enjoy a long life, but we are doing it for the glory of the Lord! Perhaps I should write the verse from above and put it on the fridge so we can remember always why we are doing it. 

P: Lord, we need to remember that when we are taking care of our bodies, we are not only doing it for ourselves but for Your glory! Remind us, oh Lord, that You gave us our bodies and we are to take care of it as You take care of us. Help us to remain steadfast in our quest to stay healthy. Help us to remember our bodies are not our own, but are Yours. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Bodies Tuesday reading

I think this is a touchy subject for all of us. But this is a good reminder that we must treat our bodies well, as God intended.

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own body, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 


S: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own body, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

O: If our body is a temple, then I am really in trouble! My temple is falling apart! I think this is something we are all guilty of. The chips, soda, unhealthy snack, junk food, fast foods. The list goes on and on. Our temples are in disrepair. 

We have good intentions. We all know we have to excersize more, eat better, and get enough sleep. Yet, we always have an excuse not to do these things. We don't have enough time, we don't have enough money. The list goes on and on. 

God tells us we need to treat our bodies better. He made us and He doesn't want to see us fall apart. We need to make a plan to treat ourselves better. We need to remember why we were created. We need to remember that when we take care of ourselves we are taking care of God's creation.

A: My husband and I are going on a diet. He needs to lose weight because of the swelling in his legs. I just need to lose weight because I have arthritis in my knees and back and all this extra weight isn't helping things any.

It's never easy when you go on a diet. But this is something we both need to do because we HAVE to. God's temple is falling down around our ears! Just like any building that is falling apart, it can be rebuilt and redone to any way we want. So, we'll set some goals and try our best to lose the weight and remember we are doing it for our health and to glorify God.

P: Lord, You have given us our bodies to glorify Your works. We are built in Your image. But sometimes we forget that. Help us to remember that we need to take care of our bodies that You gave us. Our bodies are a reflection of You. Help us to be strong while we renew our bodies and our souls. Fill us with Your love and peace instead of empty calories and empty food. Our food comes from Your word and Your love. Let us strive to be as You wanted us to be. Amen.