Words of derailment to any entity. Four little words that have spewed from the mouths of many, self included. Four little words that have led me to my current bout with high blood pressure…it’s not that bad.
It is crazy how powerful our words are. We don’t even realize the force and the energy that our words carry. For repeated in my mind has been these words which have led me to a season of very unhealthy choices for my physical body, and other areas of my life.
Just one chip, is not that bad, which usually ends with an empty bag.
Just one of those evil Ghiradelli chocolate squares, that only have 50 calories each. One only has 50 calories….ONLY?!?! So, it's not that bad, right? A few empty packets later, or after the second or third trip to those stores who housed them so beautifully during Christmas results in a few extra pounds and some not so good vitals. And they were cheap too!!! It’s not that bad, right?
Sale price, $7.99, only $7.99, so it's not that bad.
We rarely stumble and fall. More often we slowly slide to the side of error by convincing ourselves that this one little thing is not that bad. The new year ushers in waves of resolutions and heroic attempts to quickly right a year of living by, it's not that bad. The path downward happens slowly and ever so slightly. As subtle as the earth’s rotation and night changes into day, so is our battle with those things that are not necessarily beneficial to our lives. So, without knowing, our resolutions rotate into the night, for next year.
While we cannot live perfectly, I feel it behooves us to live a little more conscientiously.
As I climb out of this self-dug hole, I must take ownership of my own actions. I can easily blame my current state of affairs on having to take care of preacher, taking care of Asher or to my growing business. Trapped in the sins of our parents in The Garden, we often set the root cause to our issues to causes other than ourselves. I’m sorry my friend, the devil did not make us do it. We did it and we did it because we are drawn away by our own insatiable desires. Ultimately, my dilemma has been caused by my own powerful thoughts, originating often in the phrase…it’s not that bad.
Yet, all hope is not lost, for out of ashes we can arise. We have a Resurrected Savior who is acquainted with all of our griefs, and in HIM and through HIM we are victorious. He tells us, as HE told the woman taken in adultery, go and sin no more.
Patience for the process is what is needed. Little by little, precept upon precept, deliverance will come.
To coin a phrase, how do we eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And while I have started on the road to reclamation in many areas in my life, the results will not be immediate, nor should they be. For successes are most appreciated when there is some skin in the game, after we have suffered a while. Financial success is most appreciative after a time of struggle. Physical fitness is most treasured after months and even years of righteous eating, exercise and rest. Success from most of our battles are better preserved when there has been true effort to get there.
So, my friends, let us toss away from our vocabulary, it’s not that bad. Let us roll up our sleeves, get back on the wheel and let’s do this thing called life!
Yes, we can all declare victory over these things that have caused us to stray. Little by little, precept upon precept, we can put our gaze back upon HIM who supplies strength and allow ourselves to live abundantly.
James 1:14 (AMPC)
14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).
Deuteronomy 7:22 (AMPC)
22 And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you.
Proverbs 13:11 (AMPC)
11 Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].
Romans 8:2 (AMPC)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.