Years ago, with the luxury of working for myself, I began the habit of waking when my body said, “get up.” A natural alarm clock is the best way to live — not always possible, and for sure when I have appointments in the morning I set one — but still, a natural awakening is best.

So as the years of fatigue and feeling not my best crept in, rest was the solace I turned to for energy, along with false nutrition. Learning some lessons is harder than others. Most of my life, I’ve gobbled down food quickly while doing something else or in a hurry to get to the next thing. Eating fast has wreaked havoc on my natural system and I’m paying the price. My body is telling me, “Stop!” 

I’ve been aware for years that poor eating habits is slow suicide and I didn’t care. The life I expect in heaven will be a welcome relief to the woes we experience here on Earth. In a way I was in a hurry to get there. But God’s not through with me yet and if I don’t take care of this body, I will thwart the days on Earth or be miserable.

Today really isn’t about a natural body, it is the spiritual one. Taking care of our spiritual body is not just about reading God’s word to know his character and principles. It also means connecting, nurturing, taking care of the Body of Christ, one another, holding each other in prayer or accountability.

Christians have a very bad habit of interjecting their beliefs, values and principles on an unbelieving world and at the same time, ignoring the sin in our own camps, our own lives. Something I read this week reminded me of confessing sin. The world doesn’t like to hear that word because they, too, would have to be responsible for unhealthy actions.

Anything that would hinder my relationship with God, I want out of the way. If something I do, say or even eat, is holding me back from the pure joy of walking with Him fully every day, why would I want to continue doing wrong? If I truly know what it means to walk in His presence, like Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden before they disobeyed, I will long for Eden. 

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The evil one uses all sorts of ways to deceive those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.

Temptation is just one way to fulfill the lust of the flesh. There are many ways Satan uses to rob, kill and destroy our lives.

God made us with free will. Like Adam, he gives us instruction. Our choices result in consequences. Without believing, without faith, obedience means nothing. With faith, we understand that discipline is a part of love. If we do not love ourselves enough to discipline our own actions, then how can we show others a better way?

When you believe in an Eternal God and the prospect of a spiritual life that will never end, you choose not to spend time “where there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth.” Believers will take their place at the feast in the kingdom of God because Jesus paid our admission to the biggest party ever. That’s a meal I want to partake in. By sharing the gospel of Jesus, I can invite others to make their reservations, too. 

VICKY BRANTON is the Teche Life Editor at The Daily Iberian.