The Ultimate Challenge–Taking Care of God’s Temple

For my devotions, I’ve been reading through the book Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, by Donna Partrow. I recommend it to all you ladies out there who look at the Proverbs 31 woman and say, “How in the world did she get it all done?”

This book explores that question in great detail. It is a 90-day journey to becoming the virtuous woman spoken of in Proverbs 31. Each day’s lesson contains Scripture memorization, Scripture reading, a short devotional, a daily affirmation, and some practical steps to take that day in becoming “the new you.” I’ve really enjoyed it … until this week.

This week, the author had the nerve to talk about our eating habits. Not a good topic for me! My idea of a balanced meal is a Reese’s cup in each hand. I struggle constantly with maintaining healthy eating habits. Now, before I go any farther, I know many of you are saying, “Yeah, right. You’re so skinny.” Well, I’m not as skinny as I used to be. Plus, health is not always about the way we look. Often, it’s about how we feel. That’s where I suffer the most.

You see, I’m not one of those people who just can’t stop eating. In fact, I don’t usually eat that much. My problem is not how much I eat, but what I eat. There should be a Bible verse that reads, “Man cannot live by chocolate and caffeine alone.” And, the really bad part is that it’s a vicious cycle with me. When I don’t get the foods I want, I become depressed. When I’m depressed, I eat the foods I’m not supposed to have. Around and around we go!

So, you can imagine my response after reading this morning’s devotion, in which Donna points out that the very first sin was caused by a woman being tempted by something that looked good to eat. OUCH! How many times have I fussed at Eve and wondered ‘Why did you have to eat that fruit?’ Now, I see that if it had been me, I would have probably failed just as Eve did. Now, every time I sit down with my chocolate cake, I’m going to feel guilty. Stupid book!

No, I’m just kidding. It’s actually a very good book. I just don’t like having my security blanket taken away from me. I don’t like being told, “No! That’s wrong!” Now, I’m not saying that we should never eat sweets, but I know that I would certainly benefit from replacing some of my sweets with fruits and vegetables. No, they don’t taste as good, but they are much better for me.

I need to constantly remind myself that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. I must take care of it. Feeding it unwholesome foods is just as detrimental to it as smoking or drinking. For me, this is the ultimate challenge, but it is a challenge I have to face. Who will face it with me?