Day 12 - Being Grateful for God's Provision

For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives. And when someone serves Christ in this way, he pleases God and is approved by others. Romans 14: 17-18

March 20, 2011

I realize better than anyone how limited -- and limiting -- my food and drink choices are right now, but it's all part of this process. Would I want to eat like this every day for the rest of my life? Well, no! But this is for a specified time period, with a definite ending. 30 days total. That's just two days over four weeks in duration.

Then, when I start introducing other foods back into my system, if I have an adverse reaction, they'll be GONE on a permanent basis. It won't be a matter of how good they taste, how much I've enjoyed them in the past. If they're bad for me and making me ill, why would I want to continue eating them?

Remember, this is NOT just about losing weight. This is about HEALING so that I can properly process the food I eat. If I'm in ill health internally, then it won't matter how much "diet and exercise" I endure, it won't matter how many fad diets and quick fixes I subject myself to.

This is a lifestyle change. And it involves discipline as well as accountability.

What gain would I have -- except for more unnecessary and unwanted poundage, as well as a lot of guilt and disappointment in myself -- to cheat on this diet? What good would it do me to whine and complain about the difficulties? This is something I need to do, but more importantly, it's something I have chosen to do.

It's not a matter of what food I cannot have, it's what I can have that matters. So I shall seek to make the most of what is available. I shall be grateful for what I now have and what is yet to come, not dwelling on what has been taken away.

This attitude has helped to get me through the hard and painful years past, and it should serve me well with my 100-Day Journey. Thankfulness for the blessings of God's provision -- be they shelter, transportation, food and water, friends and family, even life itself. Especially life!

Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22