“Walk by the spirit”

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

 

Verse Reflections:  This verse nails our journey to eating healthy.  If we walk by the Spirit, with the Spirit, in the Spirit we will not need to gratify the desires of our body.  We won’t need to eat unhealthy foods. And yet, every day my body argues with my spirit.  This battle, my battle reinforces my personal need to walk with Christ daily.  Again, I can’t explain it but if I walk with God, I have a power that I do not have when I don’t walk daily with Him.  This is the reason I searched the Bible for 365 verses that I can cling to every day.  I need to walk by His spirit every morning so that I will not crave foods that are not good for my health. This verse confidently states what I am just now learning… that if we stay close to God we can resist our cravings (“the desires of the flesh”).  Why has it taken me decades to learn this easy fact?  Why do I still rush out the door some days without time with God and then wonder why my brain begins turning all the enticing flavors of crazy foods through my mind until I indulge?  I have to create healthy habits that also gratify the desires of the flesh for the long term not the short-term quick indulgence that literally destroys my health.  Today we can start an entirely new journey to walk with the Spirit and not indulge in the quick fixes on healthy foods that our body can crave.  Let’s eliminate those cravings and indulge in amazing, healthy foods early in the day.  Let’s start our day with God and depend on Him to help us eliminate the cravings for processed foods.  We have this if we walk by the spirit of God.

Prayer:  Father, I ask for Your spirit to literally walk by me today.  Just take my hand and let’s go on a walk through life.  I know the foods You want me to eat.  You made them.  You created gorgeous vegetables, fruits, nuts, meats, and herbs that taste delicious.  Walk with me today and erase the desires of my flesh that do not treasure this body You created.  Erase the cravings that do not feed me vitamins that my body needs.  Erase the cravings that over tax my liver or kidneys.  Erase the cravings that add empty calories and create excess weight that destroy my joints, my hormonal system, my heart and everything else You trusted in my care when You created me.  God You are giving me a clear message in this verse.  IF I walk by Your spirit I will not give into these cravings. So today, God, I am going to walk by You, with You and in You.  We are going to easily kick the butt of all these cravings together.  You have power that I do not have.  You promise that You will grant me the power to NOT gratify my cravings.  So, I am naming it and claiming this power today.  We have this.  Today we will eat God foods and close our eyes when tasting to enjoy new, gorgeous tastes that will change our health today and tomorrow.

Did you know?  When you go on a restrictive diet you are more likely to reach for unhealthy high calorie foods as a splurge.  (University of Toronto study)