I am not overweight. However, if I want to continue wearing the same clothing I'll have to do something! Today, once we arrived home, I typed into a calorie tracker program not only what I had for lunch but what I was going to eat for dinner. My parents had loaded us up with fresh garden veggies which I wanted to start using. Ryan would be sleeping so I was just going to have a salad... Much to my dismay ALL of the dressings I like were loaded with calories. So, in my frustration, I ate a granola bar that had MORE calories in it than a single serving of any of the salad dressings... And the worst part was I ate it because I was frustrated and NOT from hunger.
Frustration leads us to make bad decisions, but the decisions are still our own. I've heard people say "the devil made me do it," which is just an excuse. We have free will and are therefore responsible for all our actions and decisions. Why did I "fall off the wagon” when I got home today? Frustration lead to temptation. When your mind is no longer focusing on Jesus, bad decisions happen. This is true not just for food consumption but also in living our everyday lives.
We will meet people on both sides of an issue. How do we represent Christ to those we agree AND disagree with? Titus 3:2 "speak evil of no one, be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." The Bible doesn't say we should agree with everyone but it does say that we shouldn't talk bad about them or treat them poorly. When you get frustrated with a family member, a friend, a coworker, etc., do your words and thoughts represent Christ? Is it something Jesus would have said to someone else? You can share with the people around you discussions you’ve had with someone you disagree with, without belittling that person. Speak about others the way you would want them to speak about you.
As much as I'd like to stay aware of what food and drink I'm putting into my body, I need to be more aware of what is coming out of it. James 3:8-11 "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?"
Friends I leave you with this thought/challenge, pray to God to help you be aware of your frustrations BEFORE it gets to the point where you lose focus. Pray to God that He will lead you in your conversation with others, not just outside but inside the home as well. And do not let your frustration win, if you fall off the wagon ask Jesus to be with you even more each time you get back up. If you ask Him in sincerity to help you then you will find improvement in your thoughts and words.