Just a Little Bite of Brownie
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14
Recently we arrived home after basketball. It was late and we were all very hungry, eager to fill our rumbling tummies. I could have just grabbed some frozen pizza and made a quick dinner but I wanted to feed everyone a healthy meal even if it was more work and made for an even later supper. I got dinner going and then worked a bit in kitchen while waiting for it to finish cooking.
It was at that moment I saw them. Leftover brownies. You know, the kind that melt in your mouth and make your taste buds sing, "Hallelujah!" Yeah. That kind. Or at least that is what my mind told me. They were calling out to me. "Erica, you are so hungry. Just one bite won't hurt."
So, now it was time to make a decision. You see, for the last year, I have been off of sugar except for a rare special occasion. It is one of the goals I set to help me get healthier. Eating the brownie would go against my goals. Not only would I know if I ate some brownie, I would have to tell the group of ladies that are keeping me accountable!
But, I was SO hungry and I told myself that one bite wouldn't hurt.
So I took a bite. Mmm. That was good. But the rest of the brownie was still there, calling my name.
So, I took another bite. And another.
By the time I had a few bites, I told myself I might as well eat the whole thing. So, I did.
Ugh! Now how did I go from my resolve to cook a healthy meal to the point where I consumed the whole sugar filled brownie? It happened so fast. One bite...then another. What a slippery slope!
Isn't sin just like that? We give in just a little. Then a little more. Then a little more. Next thing we know, we are in deep and we can't figure out how we got there.
I love Psalm 1. Verse one shows the quick progression of how fast sin can take hold. "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!" First it is just walking. Then standing. Then sitting.
Sometimes when tempted, we choose to sin just a little but we keep moving. The next time we are tempted again and go deeper, hanging out (standing) in that sin a bit longer. Next thing you know, we are just sitting there, stuck in deep, life sucking sin. We need to be so careful. Don't give in to the "little" sin. Don't give up a "little" ground in your standards. Once you give the enemy a foothold, it is much easier to give him more ground in your life.
Verse two gives us counsel as to what we should do. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." Be passionately pursuing God all the time. Know Him. Know His Word. Delight in it. Resolve to do what is right and not give an inch to the enemy.
Verse three then tells us what will happen when we do delight ourselves in the Lord. "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."
Take some time to ask the Lord where you have slowed your pace. Where have you given up ground to sin? Are you standing or sitting around in sinful ways? Ask God to show you where you have given up ground spiritually. Ask Him to help you regain that ground. Purpose to delight in Him and in His Word today!
And oh, don't eat the brownie! 😉
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14
Recently we arrived home after basketball. It was late and we were all very hungry, eager to fill our rumbling tummies. I could have just grabbed some frozen pizza and made a quick dinner but I wanted to feed everyone a healthy meal even if it was more work and made for an even later supper. I got dinner going and then worked a bit in kitchen while waiting for it to finish cooking.
It was at that moment I saw them. Leftover brownies. You know, the kind that melt in your mouth and make your taste buds sing, "Hallelujah!" Yeah. That kind. Or at least that is what my mind told me. They were calling out to me. "Erica, you are so hungry. Just one bite won't hurt."
So, now it was time to make a decision. You see, for the last year, I have been off of sugar except for a rare special occasion. It is one of the goals I set to help me get healthier. Eating the brownie would go against my goals. Not only would I know if I ate some brownie, I would have to tell the group of ladies that are keeping me accountable!
But, I was SO hungry and I told myself that one bite wouldn't hurt.
So I took a bite. Mmm. That was good. But the rest of the brownie was still there, calling my name.
So, I took another bite. And another.
By the time I had a few bites, I told myself I might as well eat the whole thing. So, I did.
Ugh! Now how did I go from my resolve to cook a healthy meal to the point where I consumed the whole sugar filled brownie? It happened so fast. One bite...then another. What a slippery slope!
Isn't sin just like that? We give in just a little. Then a little more. Then a little more. Next thing we know, we are in deep and we can't figure out how we got there.
I love Psalm 1. Verse one shows the quick progression of how fast sin can take hold. "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!" First it is just walking. Then standing. Then sitting.
Sometimes when tempted, we choose to sin just a little but we keep moving. The next time we are tempted again and go deeper, hanging out (standing) in that sin a bit longer. Next thing you know, we are just sitting there, stuck in deep, life sucking sin. We need to be so careful. Don't give in to the "little" sin. Don't give up a "little" ground in your standards. Once you give the enemy a foothold, it is much easier to give him more ground in your life.
Verse two gives us counsel as to what we should do. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." Be passionately pursuing God all the time. Know Him. Know His Word. Delight in it. Resolve to do what is right and not give an inch to the enemy.
Verse three then tells us what will happen when we do delight ourselves in the Lord. "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."
Take some time to ask the Lord where you have slowed your pace. Where have you given up ground to sin? Are you standing or sitting around in sinful ways? Ask God to show you where you have given up ground spiritually. Ask Him to help you regain that ground. Purpose to delight in Him and in His Word today!
And oh, don't eat the brownie! 😉
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