Appetites

Recently, I wrote on a 3x5 notecard "practice saying no to your appetites." Now, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty during the holidays, I'm simply reminding you (and myself!) that you don't have to give in to your appetites just because they're powerful.  You can say no to overspending, you can say no to "over-drinking" and you can say no to overeating.  Not because it's wrong to be decadent every once in a while, but because we have a tendency to over do it during the holidays and then be miserable paying the consequences in January. But this does not have to be true.  We have help; we have the Lord.

Psalm 142:6 says "Listen to my cry because I am helpless."  What's your area of helplessness?  Identify it and ask the Lord for help.  Then rest in the promises of Psalm 18:  "The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety.  He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.  I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise and I will be saved from my enemies."