Fruits and Vegetables

My daughter and her husband, along with my husband and me just completed 21 days of the Ultimate Reset Program.

The last few weeks, we have primarily been fueling our bodies with fruits and vegetables!

Confession!  My husband I did go out to dinner on Mother’s Day, but we ate pretty healthy…adding a small steak to our lunch that day!

Second confession!  We each had a Texas Roadhouse roll too!  Seriously, they were warm and literally melted in our mouths…we just couldn’t resist!

Other than that one day…we have been following the program faithfully!

By the end of the program…according to the experts at www.beachbody.com...you will have a better sense of your emotional, as well as, physical well-being and improved mental clarity due to the lack of toxins in your body!

And honestly, I have felt pretty good throughout the program!  I’m not sure I can or cannot confirm the improved mental clarity…ha!

On occasion, I have felt a little hungry…and sometimes I just wanted something different to eat, but overall…the program has went much better than I anticipated!

As we were nearing our last day, I thought of Daniel!

God’s word tells us that in the third year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

He also ordered some of the Israelites from royal families and of nobility to be brought into his service.

He wanted handsome young men…without physical defect… who had an aptitude for every kind of learning…who were well informed…quick to understand…and qualified to serve in the king’s palace…to be brought to him!

There were going to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians.

They were going to be trained for three years, and during this time, the king was assigning them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table.

Among them chosen were Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego).  The chief official gave the young men new names (listed in parentheses).

However, Daniel asked the chief official for permission to not defile himself with the royal food and wine.

And though God caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, he was afraid that the king would find these young men looking worse than the other young men their age.

The chief official told Daniel…”The king would have my head because of you”…Daniel 1:10.

Daniel than told the chief official…”Please test your servants for ten days:  Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see”…Daniel 1:12-13.

The chief official agreed to test them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days, these young men looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

So the guard took away their choice food and wine and gave them all vegetables instead.

As I thought of how healthy Daniel and the other young men looked, I realized how important it is to fuel our bodies with nutritious food choices!

Not just to look good…but because those foods are so good for us!

I love fruits and vegetables, but it is so easy for me to grab something different to fuel my body…a piece of candy…a cookie…something that is quick, easy…and so tasty, but has no nutritional value at all!

However, when my home is only filled with healthy foods…fruits…vegetables…lean meats…that is what I am going to choose to eat because there is less temptation!

I desire to fuel my body with healthy foods…and it’s a choice that I need to make in the future…even when there are tasty treats in front of me (and yes, the occasional treat will be tasted…but hopefully, in moderation)!

However, there are other important choices that I need to make in addition to my food choices?

If I am choosing foods that help my body to be stronger, shouldn’t I also be making choices that help me to grow stronger mentally and spiritually as well?

It’s important for me to choose books…television shows (and yes, that is quite limited)…movies that help me to grow stronger each day!

It is also important for me to surround myself with other Christians, who share the same values and morals…that will encourage me in my daily walk with the Lord!

And though I have those dear friends close by…God still calls me to be in the world…where the temptations are!

In today’s world…it is impossible to completely alienate ourselves from all temptations…but in God’s strength, we can choose to turn away from things that are not good for us…and choose what is best for us physically, mentally and spiritually!

I don’t know what you are easily tempted by, but I pray that you know that you can do all things through Christ Jesus… (Philippians 4:13)…which includes turning your back on sinful indulgences…and walking uprightly before the Lord!

Dear Heavenly Father…Like Daniel…I desire to feed my body, my mind, soul and spirit with what is pleasing to you!  It’s not always easy to turn our backs on things that look inviting and good, but in your strength we can do just that!  Help us to make good choices each and every day…help us to make choices that are pleasing to you, Lord!