Thursday, March 10, 2011

Need A Break?

I can not count the number of times I have told my kids, "hold on, mommy needs a chocolate/pepsi break!"  When I am feeling tired, stressed, sad, angry, or anxious, I feel I need that chocolate or sip of pepsi to get me through.  Even when I am happy, I feel I need that chocolate break as a reward for being happy.  I am so that girl on the Dove chocolate commercial that closes her eyes and relishes in the chocolate as the world fades away.  Yep, that's me. 

This year I have been doing the Made to Crave study with my Bible study sisters.  Through this I have been able to "re-train" myself to take Jesus breaks, not chocolate breaks.  It has been quite a process, let me tell you!  But God honors it when we turn to Him and it is far more rewarding than a piece of chocolate could ever be. 

"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns and even faints for the courts of the Lord.  My heart and flesh cry out for the Living God."  Psalm 84:1-2

That is how I felt for a glass of pepsi or a bite of chocolate.  But that is not what God made me to yearn and faint for.  He made me to yearn and faint for Him. 

Yesterday my daughter had a check up at the doctor and we found out another surgery may be in our near future.  Normally that would result in me running home with a king size candy bar and super size pepsi.  But yesterday, I just felt like running  to God.  Normally I would feel empty and stressed moments after the taste of chocolate and pepsi were gone.  Yesterday, I felt a sweet peace. 


Friends, when we turn to Christ, we are satisfied.  When we turn to the things of the world, we are left empty and alone.  When you feel you need that chocolate or coffee or cigarette break, don't.  Take a Jesus break.  Worship, pray, turn it over to the Father.

Sweet Blessings~

9 comments:

  1. amen sister, I'm also learning to turn to Jesus instead of the things I've taken comfort in for so long. It's a painful process for me but God is just so much sweeter than anything else we could ever hope to take comfort in. Thank you for this sweet sister I'm so glad you found your victory over chocolate and pepsi!

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  2. If everyone just knew the sweetness of the Lord everyone would feel better, that goes for me. I need the Lord and I do crave Him, I am working on craving Him all of the time and knowing He will still be there for me when other things aren't. Thanks for the reminder. Blessings and love you.

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  3. If anyone would have asked me in these past couple of years what/who I run to in time of need...I would have said God. In these past few months...doing the Made to Crave study, I have learned that I really didn't run to God. I've been a Christian for 30 years...I thought I ran to God first...but I see now that I really didn't. I am making that change...slowly, but determined! I am beginning to see that I never really craved God the way I am now! I love that scripture Psalms! Thank you for this gentle reminder that we are made to CRAVE God!!

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  4. Oh Jen, I love this!!! All we really need is JESUS! That is SO true! People who have never tasted of His great love and grace do not know what they are missing, HE really is what we ALL need and more of.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  5. I want to run to Jesus before I turn to anything else. I feel like Debi. I've been a Christian for a long time, but I'm drawing closer to Him now than I ever have before.

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  6. 'Take a Jesus break' love that! He is the most refreshing thing I can find

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  7. The closer my walk with Christ, the more I find myself doing exactly the same thing Jenifer. His comforting embrace is far more calming than any earthly respite.

    I'll be praying for you and your daughter.

    Have a Blessed Day!

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  8. I'm with Mandy, it's been a painful process for me too, but with the sweetest reward! I'm still learning... and I guess it will be a progression that will never end. Praying for you and your daughter!

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  9. I LOVE this post!! I can definitely relate to a chocolate break! It is so true that only Jesus can give us the peace that we truly crave! I will pray for your daughter!!!

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