Spiritual Diet

So, I am on a diet. According the BMI charts, I need to take off about 30 pounds. I am looking for a happy medium.

For this week, I have started tracking everything I eat. My calorie count has been good but I noticed that my sugar intake is off the wall. Then I realized that I had been real grumpy that day and a bit anxious. I made the connection between the amount of sugar and my mood.

This got me to thinking about how important it is to watch what I am putting into my body as it has great consequences. I may be losing weight but the side affects are not desirable. So, now this got me to thinking about my spiritual diet. Sometimes, I notice that my prayer is great but my scripture study is non-existent. Not a recipe for a healthy spiritual life.

At different times, you may crave different things. That's OK. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and where he may be guiding your spiritual life.

When we eat too much, we feel lethargic. The same thing can happen in our spiritual life. When we have too many devotions, we can become lethargic in our spiritual life. The very things that we want to feed our spiritual life are what is dragging us down.

What are the spiritual sugars that I am putting into myself? Are these affecting me in a good or bad way? Do I have a healthy, balanced spiritual diet? Am I covering all of the food groups; prayer, sacraments, service,  and scripture?

Bottom line, we need to keep our spiritual life balanced and our physical life. Let's pay attention to our diets, physical and spiritual.

Gluttony

I live life to the fullest. Because of this, I have a tendency to go a bit overboard at times. Often times my saying is; "Any thing worth doing is worth over doing"

Ever have that happen?

This can be more than just food. A new interest comes and suddenly it consumes you. This can even include your religious life. We get so into different devotions that we ignore friends and family. 

My issue right now, though, is good old food.  I have assumed the role of family garbage disposal. I  spend each evening cleaning up the leftovers. My wife and children like to make deserts and I am always willing to help eat them. Easter has just come and gone. I am busy getting rid of all the candy so my children won't eat it. I don't even like candy!

Fasting is sound from a biblical standpoint. My wife and I both see the benefits of fasting. My gluttony is a bad habit. I pray for the strength to practice self control in my eating and other areas of my life. For now, I am looking to lose 10 to 20 pounds. I also pray for God's blessing from this practice of self control.