Day 27: GUARD (How Obedience Brings Peace)

My #1 holiday issue is food.

Well, it’s not food, per se.

It’s more like my massive insecurities about other people’s actions — and especially their reactions to me — which trigger an unconscious dash to the frig.

Or perhaps my oh-so-special ability to go from all together to completely unraveled in 10 seconds or less, which sends me ransacking cupboards for something sweet to sooth me or crunchy to chomp on.

Or even my freefall from high expectations to dismal disappointment — usually with myself, but frequently with those close to me — which ends up with an ice cream carton in one hand and a large spoon in the other.

Okay, so clearly my #1 holiday issue is the condition of my heart.

The condition of my heart is revealed in how I relate to food.

And holidays are — of course! — ALL. about. food.

Nothing but God Gives Peace

Our women’s group is wrapping up our study of Lysa TerKeurst’s Made to Crave.

I’ve been repeating one of Lysa’s go-to scripts:

“My weight loss goal is peace.”

It’s making a difference.

As I reach for the unopened package of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips because I have such a huge stack of grading and (obviously!) deserve some sweetness in my life, I remember:My weight loss goal is peace.

Will the chocolate chips give me peace?

No matter how delicious chocolate (especially Ghirardelli!) may taste momentarily, it has never once given me lasting
peace.

Only God offers — and delivers — lasting peace:

And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

Never Negotiate with a Terrorist

Another line that’s sticking with me comes from Karen Ehman:

“Define your week by obedience, not by a number on the scale.” (Click to Tweet this.)

Remember my “10 minutes on the elliptical” concept just a short week ago?Well.

This morning, I couldn’t seem to muster up the energy for even 10 minutes.

So I dinked around on the computer, internally building my case for why I didn’t really need to spend 10 minutes on the elliptical.

I don’t want to become legalistic.

It’s good to take a break now and then.

Being spontaneous is a part of becoming less rigid and controlling.

I lost 30 perfectly good minutes arguing with myself about spending 10 minutes on the elliptical.

30 exhausting minutes.

30 desperate, draining, demoralizing minutes.

Finally, frustrated beyond belief with my hard-hearted self, I marched out the elliptical, trotted in place for 15 minutes, and hit the shower.

What was all that about?

I allowed myself to get drawn into negotiations with a terrorist:

Disobedience.

The issue wasn’t exercise.

The issue was my willingness to start discussing something that God’s convicted me is an area of no compromise.

No compromise.

No discussion.

Just obedience.

Making My List (and Checkin’ it Twice!)

When I obey, the peace of God — which transcends all human understanding (and all brands of chocolate!) — guards my heart and my mind.

My insecurities dwindle.

I unravel less.

I expect less and hope more.

So I’m pray-paring my holiday “Guard My Heart and Mind” list.

I hesitate to share what’s on it, because the point isn’t the specifics. The point is responding as God convicts me.

Since my major issues involve food, my list is likely to include some foods I’m going avoid — out of obedience, not restriction or punishment — until January.

From years of experience, I know it’ll be better to simply say, “No thank you!” rather than start negotiating when, where, how much, why not, what now, might as well have more, etc., etc., etc.

But my list won’t just be about food. Sarcasm is going to make my list…the harsh, cutting, defensive kind that I use to keep others at a distance.

Staying up too late will definitely make my list…the useless, time-wasting, just-one-more-little-thing which turns into oh-my-how-did-I-just-lose-2-hours and I’m-going-to-feel-like-garbage-at-5:30 AM kind of staying up too late.

This isn’t about limitations. Rules. Don’ts.

It’s about guarding my heart and mind.

Deciding now not to negotiate with the terrorist then.

Anticipating the peace that obedience brings.

Pray-Paring for the Best Christmas Ever

My holiday goal this year:

peace.

Each day defined by

obedience.

With God on guard-duty

over my heart and my mind,

My focus:

thanks-living for the gift of Jesus.

Your Turn:

What is your holiday goal for this year?

By what measure will you define your holy-days?

What focus do you want for the holidays?

Anything else on your heart!

Start Your Holiday Ready Heart Journey Here:

2 Comments

meandmr.com says:

at

Newest follower here! I Found you through the Tuesday link up 🙂 Cute blog, I love it.
-Melanie

P.S. I’m doing a $50 Shabby Apple giveaway on my blog. You should check it out here: http://meandmr.com/post/35113285949/shabby-apple-50-giveaway

Kathleen Marie says:

at

Why is it that the end of October brings on this feeling of being behind when it comes to the holidays? Thanks for this post…on my list…not allowing what the grocery store has out to cause me stress!