It's the Little Things

I recently completed a 30-day eating program that helped me determine which foods produced a negative impact on my body. At the end of that time,

I was sleeping better, felt better with less inflammation and achiness, and had significantly more energy. I am amazed at the foods, some even consider “healthy”, that have a negative impact on my body. This awareness has led to improved eating habits that motivate me to eat better because I know I will feel better.

This whole process has me thinking about my spiritual life. Are there seemingly harmless things I am allowing in my life that are producing negative results in my walk with God?

I am currently taking inventory and asking these questions:

1. Is there anything in my life that I need to remove? This could be anything that is keeping me from doing what I should be doing. It may not be wrong to do those things, but are they distracting me from doing what I should?

2. Am I doing too much of some things? Is there an improper balance in what I am doing? Maybe less of something or more of something else?

3. Is life keeping me so busy that I have lost my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit when He speaks or directs me?

4. When God asks me to do something, is my first reaction to argue or defend why I can’t say yes?

5. Has laziness or slothfulness crept into any area of my life?

As I ponder these questions, I’m reflecting on Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

A message my pastor gave years ago provides an example regarding the things that trip us up in our walk with God. He mentioned a man who realized reading the newspaper was causing him to stumble. Reading the newspaper is, of course, not sinful. However, this man determined that reading the newspaper so faithfully each day was causing him to sin. He was more anxious and fretful, and he spent so much time doing it that he was neglecting his Bible reading and prayer. For him, the best thing he could do was to stop reading the paper for awhile until it returned to a proper place of importance in his life.

This example was specific to him and would probably not be relevant for most others. Each of us struggles in different areas, yet we all need to determine what is out of balance in our day. What are the areas that need to change to create the most impactful lives for God’s kingdom and for our own health and well-being?

Will you join me in reflecting on these questions, or ones of your own, to determine if there are any changes the Lord is asking you to make? As my nutrition plan demonstrates, you will end up feeling better, stronger and healthier as a result of making life changes. It is worth the effort!