Welcome Friends,
Can I get an Amen for this truly wonderful day that the Lord has made.
Today is a great day to take a small step toward a positive change in our lives.
Whatever that change might be, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and inspire your heart.
As we get out of bed and start our day, let’s focus on the Lord so that the rest of our day may
be center around His desires and what He intends for us to achieve.
Recently, I received my A1c test results and discovered that I am prediabetic for type 2 diabetes.
I started checking my blood sugar 2 hour after each meal so see what is going on.
I did switch my bedtime cereal snack to Cheerios, since the packaging suggests it’s a very healthy cereal and only 1 gram of sugar.
I felt reassured by the healthy claims on the outside of the box.
But when I checked my blood sugar afterwards, it told a different story.
There were hidden dangers lurking inside what seemed to be a healthy option.
This experience made me think back on my own life.
I have always considered myself a good person just like the box of Cheerios is said to be good.
As a follower of God-no matter how good we think we are, we all have room for improvement as
there might be sins we overlook within us, just liked I overlooked the amount of carbs in the cereal.
I had someone once tell me…….I follow all the 10 commandments, so I am good
From the time that Moses came down Mount Sinai with the 10 commandments and
throughout the Israelites’ 40-year journey in the wilderness to the Promised Land,
they received 613 commandments known at the Torah
248 positive commandments -things that one should do.
365 negative commandments -things that one should not do.
With this being said, there is a lot more to being good than just following the 10 commandments.
Many ethical and moral principles from the Torah’s commandments continue to have a significant influence and are followed
today by many people outside the Jewish faith.
They are the foundation of numerous legal and moral systems around the world.
Throughout my journey, I have faced many trials and errors, similar to the trial and error involved in finding the right foods
to stabilize my blood sugar levels. Each meal has been a learning experience, guiding me toward better choices and a deeper
understanding of what it takes to achieve and maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
The same is similar with our walk with the Lord, each day is a new day and a new chance to make better choices.
Just as with making healthier food choices, every single positive change you make in your lifestyle matters. no matter how small, will add up
Colossians 1:10:
“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
This verse affirms the idea that spiritual growth and self-improvement are ongoing processes that require intentional effort.
It’s not about achieving perfection but the ongoing process of deepening our relationship with God.
The more we learn about God—His nature, His ways, His will—the more we can reflect Him in our lives. It’s a life dedicated to God’s will rather than our own.
Just as with every decision we make regarding our food choices, it represents a vote for or against the person we aspire to be,
so be patient with yourself a celebrate progress over perfection.
Just like I need to lower the insulin in my blood, I also need to lower the sin in my life and change my habits for the better.
With prediabetics–I have the choice to do nothing or to do something.
If I do nothing, my life will become worse
If I do something, my life will become better
Same holds true for followers of the Lord-
If we choose to ignore God’s presence, remain distant from His word, and live without His guidance, our spiritual well-being will deteriorate.
The choices we make daily can leading us either towards a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God
or towards stagnation and spiritual decline.
It’s in our hands to decide the path we take.
I’m not the type of person who can simply be instructed to eat this and not that. I prefer to understand the reasoning behind how insulin works in my body. The more I comprehend, the more motivated I am to make healthier choices.
Similarly, in my walk with the Lord, the more I understand His nature and His will, the more I am drawn to Him and desire to live in a way that pleases Him
2 Peter 1:5-8:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,
self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I’d love for you to join me in this challenge.
As we reflect on our own goodness, let’s remember that there’s always room for growth and improvement—both in our health and in our spiritual walk.
By changing ourselves first, we can create a ripple effect that transforms the world around us.
Let’s not settle for just being good—let’s strive to be better today than we were yesterday.
Let’s seek to please the Lord with every step we take.
Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,
I understand that life is not about achieving perfection, as true perfection will come when I take my last breath.
However, I do desire to avoid stagnation and not to settle for merely being a good person.
Help me to see the areas in my life where I may think I’m doing good, but in reality, there are hidden dangers that hinder my growth–
just like the box of Cheerios with ingredients that harm my body.
As I examine the ingredients in my food, I pray that You also help me examine my life, my thoughts, words, and actions.
Make me aware of anything that doesn’t please You.
Teach me to look deeper than the surface and remove any spiritual “hidden ingredients” that keep me from being all that You’ve called me to be.
Help me to continue striving for better today than yesterday, drawing closer to You each day.
In Jesus name, Amen
Join me today as we change ourselves first to change the world around us
https://echosofmyfootsteps.com
How often do we truly examine our hearts to uncover these hidden faults?
