We are studying the book of James and author Jeff Cavins had some interesting insights that I felt could relate to my struggle with food. James tells us that temptation comes from within. God doesn’t tempt us. The source of our temptation comes from our own desires. We need to interrupt temptation with wisdom. We need to pursue Him when we are tempted and flee from the temptation. The nature of sin is that it appears like something good. And if we are not careful, we end up choosing the “natural” and forfeiting the supernatural. For example, our desire may be to fit in, so we maybe we end up making fun of someone so we can belong to “the” group, instead of resisting the temptation to gossip and moving beyond that and growing closer to the One who can be with us that we never feel alone. We chose things that lead to comfort but those things may not be the best way to fulfill our desire. St. Augustine wrote that we want something good but sometimes we go about it all wrong. If we don’t resist temptation, we can become addicted to the easy comfort, bad habits form, we start seeing evil as good, rationalize.
That’s where God and His mercy comes into play. In the midst of our sin, or even addictions at times, He loves us so much that He won’t let us continue that way. Things may happen that cause us to look at what we have created and change our focus to the Creator.
So the next time we struggle with temptation, ask: “What is the natural good that I am looking for in these things?”
Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice the natural for the supernatural. But be assured that Divine Power gushes forth in our weakness.
And another cool things is that in the suffering of the sacrifice, God can redeem it, as we can assign the sufferings of the sacrifice to a cause.
So that brings me to my temptation with food. My addiction to food?
What is the natural good that I am looking for in food? The answers vary. Sometimes I want to just relax- sit down and EAT. Sometimes I want to escape, numb the pain of the my heart. EAT and not think. Food is my easy, natural answer. What is my supernatural answer? If I want to relax, I could sit without music, TV, both feet on the floor, meditate, pray, journal, take a cat nap. Supernatural choices. If I want to numb the pain in my heart, I could use my YL oils, I could read the bible, pray, journal, cry, actually cry. Hmmm. Lots of choices. And each time His mercy is ready and waiting. Wow. Now that’s Supernatural for you. Worth the sacrifice.
Vicki Dau and her husband Tom are the founders of TeamDau Wellness, partners on your journey to optimal health.
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