I read a statement the other day that jogged my memory about something else I had also read recently. The first article was talking about all the poor options we have before us when it comes to the food that we put into our bodies. In that article the writer said “Americans are eating themselves to death”. That statement reminded me of the second article where someone else wrote about all the horrible things that are vying for our time in the entertainment realm and that writer asked “Are we entertaining ourselves to death?” We’ve all heard of someone that is burning the candle at both ends and that is often referred to as eventually killing themselves.
I know I’ve done a lot of stupid things in regard to my health in my half a century of life. I guess I’ve always thought about my health, but never considered it in the way that I am today. I'm sure I’ve done my share of eating, working, and worrying myself to death. The sad part is that we cannot go back and change the poor choices that have already been made. The great part is that we can choose to make better choices now and in the future. Even though we cannot turn all the negative effects of our past around, we can hold back the tide of death that is coming for us all (that came out way more dark than I intended). Honestly though, it's not our physical health that should concern us the most. Even after this life is over, there is still an eternity to spend somewhere. We more importantly must watch out for the poor choices that we have made concerning our spiritual life. Far too many things have been done along the way that lead to death and something must be done to turn that tide. I want to be led to spiritual life, not spiritual death. I need to be lead to spiritual life, not spiritual death. I must choose to be lead to spiritual life, not spiritual death. Sadly, just as in our choices in the physical (poor choices in sustenance, time management, and work decisions), we also are barraged with way too many unholy alternatives to our spiritual life. We must make choices that lead to spiritual life, not spiritual death. Here’s a few things that can be done spiritually, that will never end in regret: 1. Make church and worship a priority: We cannot forsake coming together in the house of God and giving our all when we are there. If the joy of the Lord is my strength (and it is), then I must get into the presence of God where there is fullness of joy. 2. Make and keep a regular prayer time: It’s easy to say we pray or we’re going to pray, but your life will show whether you actually do pray. Prayer puts us and keeps us in contact with the One who knows all, but it also keeps us in the right spiritual state of mind. This way the One who knows all can actually speak to us and we will actually listen. Sometimes we think we know better, but prayer reminds us we don’t. 3. Read and study the Word of God: If you are not already reading the word in conjunction with your prayer time, then start. Don’t lie to yourself and say you don’t have time! Just get rid of some of the useless annoyances that are taking your time. If you will hide the Word of God in your heart, it will help you be holy. Don’t just read it, but dig out its truths so that you have an arsenal to fight against the enemy of your soul. 4. Make witnessing purposeful: We don’t need to wait for a door to open so that we can talk to someone about God. Open up the conversation and you’ll be surprised how many people will willingly talk to you about God. It will surprise you how many need something from God (we all do). We cannot go back and change any of our wrong spiritual choices, but we can repent of the wrong and then choose to make right choices. There is always space to turn around and do right with God. We can choose to do right and the Lord has promised his Spirit will give us the power we need to help us in doing that. We make a lot of choices. Will you choose to death or to life? Pastor Hoffman
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