Recently I wrote about idols and prayed, "Lord, take away the things I love if I love them more than you." Well, He did.
He quickly revealed food as an idol in my life. While we do have food here in Honduras, and I haven't been called to fast all month (praise the Lord), He is still giving me what I need by taking away what I don't need.
Let me explain.
Upon arrival in Honduras we were all hungry… 16 hours straight on buses without any substantial meal all day will do that to a person. (Or 59 people.)
Waiting for us at our host Zion's Gate (La Puerta de Sion – check them out!) was a delicious vegetable soup, which had me praising God at first sight of a carrot. After I finished the small bowl, however, I was still hungry. There was no mention of 'seconds', which we had gotten so used to in Guatemala, so I went to bed wanting more food.
The following days I noticed the same thing over and over. While the food always tasted good, it was never enough (with the exception of one lunch which some people didn't like, resulting in me eating way more than my share and feeling sick until dinner).
So the Lord, without starving me, took away the satisfaction of food.
Of course I didn't get it right away. Between meals I ate snacks I still had from the travel days, Guatemala, and home. I was on a hobbit's diet of first breakfast, second breakfast, etc.
But the Lord loves us too much to leave us as we are. He won't let us sit in our filth.
On Monday He convicted me, and challenged me to cut out snacks in between meals on weekdays this month…and guess what? After the first week, I am feeling full after eating the same amount of food as the same meals last week! Also, I'm not thinking about the next meal all the time, and can more easily focus on the task at hand. Hallelujah!
It's not easy – the donut lady comes by every day while we work, and the fruit truck morning afternoon and night with juicy mangos and bananas, but it will be worth it. Perseverance for the win! Right?
Let's throw a verse in there to remember when the metaphorical donut lady in life comes around:
"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
P.S. Maybe this hunger is a taste of that in the lives of those with whom we are working this month.
P.P.S. Pun intended. 😉
