Hiding The Sweets

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Psalm 119:37

My husband enjoys going to the grocery store, but it is not on my list of favorite things to do, although I do love to eat the food goodies we buy there. And sometimes the treats are big temptations.

I teasingly call Mark “My Snack Man.” When he goes to the grocery store, he stocks up on the sweet and salty snacks we both love. I recently asked him to hide them from me in a place where I could not readily see them. He has more self-control than I do. We don’t nag each other about dieting at all, but since I am trying to eat healthier, I don’t want the sweets staring me in the face.

I’ve never been tempted by lima beans, chicken livers, or any piece of meat that is an appendage. But put a cookie near me, and a little voice inside of me says that if I eat them all, there won’t be any left to be tempted by. I confess that, in a weak moment, I have succumbed to eating half a pack of Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies.

To try to avoid junk food, I tell myself that sweets are worthless to me. Of course, cookies are not totally worthless, but when I mentally place them in that category, it helps me maintain my focus on what’s best for me to eat. My lack of self-control makes it clear that I need God’s guidance in all parts of my life.

In the context of this psalm, the worthless things could be anything that distracts us from the Lord and His Word.

Through His Word, God not only instructs me but motivates me by His Spirit to make better choices in all things, not just food, and to minimize the distractions. We all struggle and are tempted by “worthless things.” God knows our weaknesses and tendency to depend on things for comfort and satisfaction. He will guide us by His Spirit to implement changes in areas of our lives when we submit ourselves to Him.

Let’s not be afraid to ask our family and friends for help, too, in turning our eyes from “worthless things.”