"Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom." Psalm 51:6 (NASB)

They're here.

The office celebrations.

The ugly sweater parties.

The family get-togethers.

And we all know what these festivities bring with them - the opportunity to pile plates high and stuff mouths full with every manner of deliciousness. So how exactly is a girl supposed to stay on track with her healthy eating during the holidays?

I call it having January thoughts on December days.

In other words, deciding now to think ahead about the realities of the choices we're making today.

If I'm struggling in my finances, I would do well to carefully consider the cost of the things I'm purchasing today. I can't spend, spend, spend, pretending that the credit card bill won't arrive in January. It's coming. It's a reality.

The same is true with my food choices. I can't eat, eat, eat, pretending the calories won't add up. They will. And the scale will reveal my secrets. She's very faithful that way.

Today's choices will reveal themselves. And we have the power to choose if that future revelation will be bad or good.

We have the power. Not the food. Not the cravings. Not the circumstances. Not the flow of the holiday norm.

So, how do we keep hold of this power? By making the choice to be informed and prepared in advance.

Be Prepared Spiritually.

Remember, if we know Jesus, God's Spirit is in us. And one of the powerful fruits of having His Spirit in us as revealed in Galatians 5:23 is self-control.

Does this mean we don't eat and absolutely enjoy our holiday meals? Heavens no, girlfriend. Eat and enjoy every morsel. Relish in the celebration of the moment. But be sensitive to that line that is so easy to cross. We were meant to consume food. Food was never meant to consume us. So, enjoy to the point where you are satisfied but not to the point where you are painfully full.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this. Ask Him to reveal to you when enough is enough and listen to that still, small voice inside that says, "Stop."

Psalm 51:6 reminds us, "Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom."

Oh, isn't that what we need? Truth and wisdom in our innermost being - guiding us, directing us, helping us make choices we won't soon regret.

Be Prepared Physically.

Some people are practically allergic to knowing the calorie count of food. But, I actually find it empowering to know the caloric cost of my food. I like to think of it as knowing the price tag on items I want to purchase. If I know the price, I can more easily stay within my budget. If I know the calorie count, I can more easily stay within my healthy limits.

It has worked for me.

Of course, I don't track my calories now that I'm at my goal weight. I pretty much know what my limits are within my day-to-day routines. But, I will look up certain foods when I'm going to be in a special situation - like holiday get-togethers.

If I go into meals like that blindly, I will blow my budget and wind up feeling quite powerless. But, if I make the choice to be informed and prepared in advance with knowing the caloric count of my favorite holiday dishes, it helps me stay in control of my choices. Because I want to enjoy the holidays, not regret them.

How about you? How do you plan to stay on track both spiritually and physically this holiday season? What are some of your January thoughts on these December days?

Father God, I thank You for this glorious season. A season when we celebrate the greatest gift we have ever received - the gift of Your Son Jesus. I ask You to give me wisdom as I celebrate with family and friends. The kind of wisdom that allows me to walk in JOY instead of regret when January comes. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." (NKJV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

Most of us know the "how to" when it comes to healthy lifestyle choices. It's the "want to" - really wanting to make changes and deciding that the results of those changes are worth the sacrifice - that trips us up. If you need help finding your "want to," you can get a copy of Lysa TerKeurst's book Made to Crave here.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

It is through biblical promises that we find the courage to deny unhealthy desires. What verse could you memorize this month to help you make wise choices in the face of temptation?

Accountability is a huge help when it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes. Who can prayerfully walk alongside you as you make wise choices this holiday season?



 

© 2015 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.