You have to set your mind. Your mind has to be seated firmly on what you have decided to do. You need a plan. If you haven’t prepped your food, you are probably going to fail unless you have a place where you know you can eat safely. You have a plan in which you know what you are going to eat and when you are going to eat it.

I have been failing a lot this past week. I think it is because I don’t have the food prepared. In my mind, I think, “I’ll eat this or that. I can stuff something in at the last minute.” It doesn’t work. When you don’t have the food and you aren’t sure what you are going to eat, you allow temptation to breed. My pastor today preached a great message. He said temptation is an invitation to trust and rely on God, not to fall into temptation.

I cannot tell you how many times I have fallen. I’ve truly convicted myself of that today. I knew it wasn’t right. I am not going to live under guilt and condemnation, but I am not going to be a slave to sugar anymore, either. I’m not going to be addicted to it. I have come to recognize that I went from one slavery to another. There is a middle ground, and I am going to find it. The Lord and I are going to find it.

I want to encourage you. When you are in bondage to something, it is important you have a plan. Prep your food to meet the plan. Know what you are going to eat and know where every meal is going to be. If you are going to give yourself some grace and some bites here and there, decide when they are going to be in advance instead of letting your taste buds and desires lead you to eat on impulse. This is what gets us in trouble—impulse eating and gluttony.

I want to encourage you not to be slaves to anything. Good or bad—don’t be in slavery. You were bought at a price. You are a bought servant of Jesus Christ. That is the only true thing you should have. The one and only God should take the God role in your life, not anything else. Be careful. Tread on the water carefully. Make sure you can endure this race. God has to be in His rightful position. It cannot be the constant, everyday, continual placement of food first. Don’t let that be an excuse not to take care of your temple.

I want you to know where I am. I am in a struggling season right now, but I am an overcomer. My mind is strong in the Lord. I take my thoughts captive. It is right here. It’s not tomorrow. It’s today. I am finding my way through this every day, step by step, in Jesus’ name. I praise Him for that.

If you need me to pray for you to break free from any addiction, note it below and I would love to do so. Thank you.