Treasures in Darkness

"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." ~ Isaiah 45:3

photo credit: www.nasa.gov

In the struggles, the difficulty, the hard times, the trials, the pain, the loneliness, the moments of self doubt and self deprecation - even there.  The places we might never think to look for it. The secret places.

Even in the darkest places God has treasure for us.

Buried somewhere in that darkness are nuggets of truth and wisdom. Lessons to be learned.  Leading us to where he stands calling our name and waiting to shower us with the riches of His love and peace.

This gives us a choice.  In our darkest moments.  We can lose ourselves to the darkness... or we can listen for His voice calling our name and seek the treasures.

Learning To Tell Myself No

I have been working my way through the Made to Crave Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries.  I was getting it.. but not "getting it".  I mean... my head was in it. It was logically making sense, the things I was reading. But something still wasn't connecting.

Then I read this one line...

"It's really is about learning to tell myself no and learning to make wiser choices daily" (Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst)

Whoa!!!

Sisters, let me tell you -  I was hit by the proverbial lightening bolt at that.  If I was a cartoon me, there would have been a big ol' light bulb sparking up over my head! 

Sometimes I'm a little slow to catch on to things. But, finally... I felt like I got it. That realization of how this applies to not just my food and health, but to my life.

It's not JUST about food!

It's about making wise choices every day.  It's about learning to deny myself.  Not to give in to earthly, sinful impulses.  To humble myself.  To practice self control.  To rely on God's wisdom.

That goes for what I am choosing to put in my mouth.  It goes for whether or not I choose to exercise.

But saying no to unhealthy food and unhealthy practices is the beginning.  Practice.  The launching pad.

Because it also applies to so much more!

What's Eating You?

Every year for as long as I can remember I make some variation of the same New Year's Resolution.  THIS will be the year I lose some weight and get healthy.  Only to reach December the same (or heavier).  Making the same resolution again, and again, and again the next January 1st.

This week I began a new online Bible study through Proverbs31 Ministries based on the Lysa TerKeurst book "Made To Crave".

I have to confess... the first time I sat down to try and read this book I had a Snickers almond bar in hand and a bottle of Dr. Pepper sitting next to me.

Um... yeh.  Not the best way to begin a study about satisfying your cravings with God rather than food.

Clearly I still wasn't getting it. As Lysa says in the introduction: it's about the "want to". Something I was missing.

God created us to have cravings.  A longing.  A desire for something to satisfy us.  A great want.

For Him.

Satan wants to replace our cravings for God with something else.  An idol to displace God in our hearts, minds, and lives.

For some it may be food.  For others it's material objects.  Money.  Or the approval of other people. Fame. Or an emotional or sexual relationship.  In some cases it becomes alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

It becomes the thing we work for, strive for, seek.  Our lives become focused on getting that thing we think will satisfy us. We may ignore things that are truly important in life to get it.  We find ourselves in a cycle of excuses, rationalizations, or promises to start (or stop) at some later time/day/month/year.  In some cases it may destroy relationships, our health, or entire lives.

But somehow when we seek fulfillment through something other than God, we always come up feeling empty.  Needing more.  Wanting more.  No matter how much we get or have, we are always left unsatisfied. It's like a raging battle.

This has given me an entirely different perspective on my plans to get healthier and get back to a healthier weight!

This time it has to be about more than just me.  It has to be about more than a smaller clothing size or number on the scale.  I have proven over and over again that I CAN'T DO IT. Not by myself.

I have to replace my cravings for the chocolate and Cheetos with something healthier.  Something that will really satisfy.  By getting closer to God in the process.