Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly." Today's episode talks about how we all do the same things over and over again and this verse is calling us out on it. I also talk about how we have the power to resist the temptations, we just need to step into that power. Music:"Adding the Sun" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
I Can Resist That Cookie!
Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly."
Ok, I heard this and I just knew I had to use this verse. I mean, did you ever expect to hear such a thing in the Bible? I didn’t even know vomit was a word back then. I didn’t just pick this verse because of the colorful language though. I also picked it because it is such a true statement and it is one that applies to all of us. How many times have you done the same thing over and over again? I am not talking about something wonderful like working out, or eating salad for lunch. I am talking about something you know you shouldn’t be doing and yet you do it anyway.
I was just talking with some of my friends today about how much we like cinnamon rolls. They are so delicious. I was telling them how BJ’s has great cinnamon rolls in their bakery section. They are all in one big pan and the frosting covers all of them. Then you put one in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and it is all warm and gooey. We love them. However, we no longer buy them because if we have them in the house we will eat them all and that’s not good for our health. One of my friends said she no longer buys junk food either. She said every time she buys it she tells herself that she will be good and just have on every now and then. How many time have you told yourself that? I’ll just have one and leave the rest. I know I have done it more times than I can count.
The worst for me is TV. If I put one quick show on to watch while I eat my meal, I will wind up spending hours watching TV. It happens every time. The funny thing, that’s not so funny, is that I know this will happen. I have a conversation with myself that goes something like this, “Catherine, don’t turn the TV on, you know you will wind up sitting there for hours.” “No I won’t. I really want to get my book done. It means a lot to me and I am sure I will turn the TV off right after this show. I can watch just one episode.” “You have yet to ever really get up and turn the TV off after one episode when you are in the mood to watch a movie.” The conversation with myself goes on for awhile, but eventually I am convinced that I am just turning the TV on while I eat and I will be able to turn it off after an episode. Guess what? I do not turn it off after one episode, I watch at least three before turning it off.
Do you have something like this? Something you know you shouldn’t be doing and yet you keep doing it. Something you don’t want to do and yet you seem to keep coming back to it? This verse is telling us that when we keep doing these things that we know we shouldn’t be doing, these things that we don’t want to be doing, we are like a dog that eats his vomit. In other words, we are not being very smart. Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” So, if that is the definition of insanity, why do we do it? Why do we keep doing the same thing all the time?
These temptations are not from God. I remember hearing somewhere that God does not tempt us and so I looked it up to make sure I wasn’t giving you false information. This information can be found in James 1:13-14 where it says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” The enemy is the one who is tempting us with all those cookies, desserts, tv episodes and whatever else we struggle with resisting. Why would the enemy be tempting us? Could it be because he wants to lead us to sin? Could it be because he wants to lead us further away from our heavenly Father?
You may be thinking I am being a little dramatic right now. Are you thinking, “Catherine, eating a cookie or cinnamon roll is not a sin?” I totally agree with you, I don’t think eating a cookie or a cinnamon roll, or even watching an episode on TV is a sin. However, do we stop at one? Do we just eat one cinnamon roll, or do we eat the whole pack? Do we just watch one episode of TV or do we waste hours of our day watching TV? It is not eating the cookie, or watching the TV show that is the sin, it is what it can lead us too. I really don’t think God cares if you eat a cookie or watch an episode on TV. However, I think He does care if that action leads us to sin. The devil does not care about our well being. He would not be tempting us to something just because it makes us happy. He will always have an ulterior motive. Is he leading us to the sin of gluttony? Is he leading us to the sin of slothfulness? I don’t know what sin the enemy is leading me into but I do know he is up to no good.
Sometimes if we have been doing the same thing over and over again for a while, it can become a habit. We always watch an episode while we eat so we feel as though we have to continue this habit. We always eat the whole package of cookies, so that means we have to eat the whole package this time. This is a lie the enemy keeps telling us, but it is not true. One of the declarations I gave you the other day is found in Romans 6:14 says, “Sin no longer has dominion over me.” Jesus died on the cross so we could be free from our sins. We need to step into that freedom. We need to claim that freedom for our own.
You may not have been able to resist that cookie in the past, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat it this time. I know when we are faced with temptation we feel powerless most of the time. We feel as though we have given in every other time, and we will give in this time too. However, you are more powerful than you think. You have the power of the one who raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you. You have the power to resist that thing with which you are struggling. The enemy doesn’t want you to know this, he wants you to feel weak, he wants you to feel stuck. He wants you to feel like you are the same person you have always been. He wants you to think you can’t change. This is a lie. You can change. You can resist that which you thought you couldn’t. Is it easy, no, not at first, but it gets easier. All we need to do is lean into the Lord. Ask the Lord for the strength to say no to that thing we don’t want to eat or you don’t want to do. Just because you have always done something in the past doesn’t mean you have to continue to do it. Claim the freedom Jesus won for you! Claim the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you! You’ve got this!
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, help us to resist the temptations of the enemy. Help us to know you have given us the power to resist all temptation. Help us to claim the freedom Jesus won for us. Help us claim the power of the Holy Spirit that you gave to us. Lord, you are amazing and we love you! We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Thank you so much for joining me no this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. Thank you to all of you that have bought my book. Your support means a lot to me! I look forward to spending time with you on Monday. Have a blessed weekend.