Are you in the process of learning to live healthier? Join us for the next few days as we offer scripture, insight, and encouragement to help on that journey.
Today’s scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robin Herman):
This time of year everyone is making resolutions. (It may be late enough in the year that we’re breaking those resolutions.) Exercise, eat better, lose weight, quit smoking. . . All the fitness places have deals and the commercials are clearly leaning towards the new year.
I’m not much for healthily eating or exercise. A balanced meal for me too often is a bowl of Fruit Loops. I worked at McDonald’s for 28 years and ate nothing but, and smoked for 17 years. As I get older, though, I am having more of an appreciation for taking better care of myself. But I’m also understanding how important some other ways to take care of myself can be.
I wonder what would happen if we put as much energy towards the other fruits of the Spirit as we do toward self-control? And as I read over each one, I don’t know how we do one without the others. I think that’s the mistake we’ve been making, we’re just concentrating on one thing and not all of them.
Do an inventory of each one.
- Love? Joy? How much joy is in your life? Real joy, just not giggles or fun, but the joy that tickles you to the point that you’re amazed. The peaceful moment when you’re playing with a puppy, or your baby niece.
- Patience. OK, my friends are giggling – I have no patience.
- Kindness. Kindness to those we choose to be kind to is easy, but what about those who make it difficult? The excuses we make to not have to be kind!
- Generosity. Not just of money, but of time and resources. Generosity of yourself to others.
- Gentleness. I thought that one was interesting in this mix, but appropriate. Do nothing hard, do nothing in a rush.
- Self-control. All the qualities above embody self-control, at least for me. None of them come naturally. Depriving one’s self and letting the simple things be good enough is hard.
Church helps me. It makes me remember that we’re not alone and there are things out there much greater than my little troubles. If I focus too intently on my day, I can find a million reasons to not be satisfied or happy. When I look around at the world, I realize how lucky I am and allow myself to delight in the simplicity of the day.
Thought for the day: Where do you make space for these blessings? What can you do to make them as important as everything else in your day?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.