Sin's Desire
“…if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” -- Genesis 4:7 (HCSB)
Being overweight has been a struggle for me, and I know that taking control of my fleshly desires is the key to sustaining a healthy life. Knowing it and doing it, however, are two separate things. For example, I know sugar is an addiction for me. I can’t have an occasional sweet treat because the first serving will lead to a craving for more. That’s when the excuses start, “I need this to get through my busy day.” “I deserve this because of ....,” (fill in the blank). I realize that the sin of gluttony was a battle that could only be won with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We don’t often hear of the sin of gluttony. Christianity.com defines the gluttony of food as an overindulgence in food and a lack of self-restraint. If I am honest, this is my struggle. I know that God provides me with food to fuel my body, however, I surpassed this use and extended it to comfort and reward myself.
The battle has become easier as I allowed God to be my comfort and let the satisfaction of a job well done be my reward. I have also memorized Genesis 4:7 “…if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” It’s a stark reminder that I must rule over the desires of my flesh that want to consume me (Galatians 5:17). Daily, I must bring it to the Cross and ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen my self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
In addition to reaching out to the Holy Spirit for help, I have put a practical plan in place. I make weekly meal plans based on the week’s appointments. Then I prep meals on Saturday. If I know there’s a quick turnaround between work and an activity, I’ll either make a freezer meal that’s ready to pop in the microwave or prepare a grab-an-go healthy option. Instead of sweet tea, I have found unsweet tea with orange slices to be a delicious choice. When I’m attending a party or get-together, I eat before I go, and take a sugarless treat.
Preparing healthy options ahead of time is not always easy, but I know the sin of gluttony is crouching at my door. I refuse to let it win, and I prepare to rule over it each day by putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). You see, the moment I accepted God’s gift of salvation, my life stopped being my own. It was bought with the price of Jesus’ blood. On the day of my salvation, my body became God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), and He has work for me to do. I want to be healthy enough to complete it so that in the end I will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23)
Question for Reflection: We all have a particular sin that crouches at our door waiting for us. What sin crouches at your door? Is it pornography, lust, food, or something else? How can you prepare ahead of time to rule over it?
