I think about food often. Lately, I’ve been thinking about food in a different way.
I realize I need to make some better eating habits. As I’ve been reading and researching, talking to friends, and thinking about this, I realized I do a decent job with dinner plans, but breakfast and lunch get me because I am not intentional about what I’m going to eat those times of the day.
I’ve been reminded I eat too much sugar and don’t drink enough water. And I choose food according to my mood.
Sure, I can – and will – make new choices in this area of my life, but I have to remember my eating habits will never be perfect. And they don’t have to be for me to dive in and try. I have to start somewhere.
Even so, as I consider what’s best for me, I want to dwell on God more than I dwell on food.
I’m a perfectionist my nature, but God is teaching me {yes, still …} about how life doesn’t have to be about holding on too tightly and wanting to control every detail around me. Yes, this person and that person contributed to my perfection. Yes, certain seasons make me hold on tighter.
But I want to see beyond the past. Everyone who has influenced me in a good and bad ways are imperfect and typically doing the best they can.
“Perfect love can be hard to understand and embrace because we don’t experience it from each other this side of heaven. Even those closest to us can hurt us or let us down sometimes. When we understand the different ways God perfectly love us like no human can, our hearts can finally be healed and free.”
I’ve gotten myself in a rut by dwelling on what he didn’t do or what she did. I want to dwell on God. {Tweet that.}
I need my planner near me so I don’t forget things. I write down appointments and meetings. I jot down birthdays and friends’ surgeries. I make notes to myself about who I need to call and what I need to buy.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. But when I look at the calendar and waste too much energy thinking about a day three weeks away, I’m just borrowing trouble.
Sure, plans are fine. They’re even good because they help me be intentional with people I love. But I can’t let what’s not even happened – and may not happen – change my mood today.
Sometimes I dwell on future plans so much I miss the present. I want to dwell on what God has for me right now and know he’s going to be with me tomorrow too. {Tweet that.}
Spring is here. The weather invites me outside. The sunshine warms my soul. In some ways, winter seemed long, but spring makes me forget about that.
I’m in a season of spring with God too. I see him taking my ordinary life – my marriage, motherhood, meal plans, my calendar – and doing a new thing through it. I don’t want to miss it. I want to be part of this new season for my soul. I want to dwell on God.
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Yes friend- to dwell on God more than good- I need so much help with that. Thank you for this too, "life doesn't have to be about holding on so tightly and trying to control every detail."
Kristin, this post brought me back to Psalm 103, which I read early this morning. One of the things which I felt God wanted me to see was this – to praise Him with my whole heart means to be occupied with God. To have Him weave in & out of my thoughts & prayers throughout the day. I think in so doing, it may be the very means He pulls me (maybe us or others?) out of our ruts. I am so glad spring is coming. Just seeing patches of grass through the snow in our yard brings so much hope of what He will bring in this season. May we dwell on Him today!
Oh I love that, Joanne! "Occupied with God" are a good set of three words too! 🙂 Thanks for giving me more to think about today. I love your encouragement.
I'm glad I'm not alone in either journey, Katie!
Planning my move to Arizona makes me appreciate your words and staying focused on the now. It's a challenge, isn't it?
Always a challenge, but so grateful God continues to teach us. I'm excited for your move – sounds like a good one for you!
This so resonated with me, Kristin. I can work myself up into a tizzy and then miss the beauty in my ordinary now. I love that passage from Isaiah 43. God brought it to my attention during a very dark season, and I have come to walk through it and see the "new thing" spring up and bloom. So, that verse holds a happy place in my heart.
Kristin, you can't go wrong when you dwell in that secret place! Love Three Word Wednesday and linking up; however, my blog title is never THREE words!!!!
Hi Kristin, Thank you for the link up. I love this > "But I want to see beyond the past. Everyone who has influenced me in a good and bad ways are imperfect and typically doing the best they can." It is so true. I also need to write everything – and I do mean everything – down and have my calendar (smartphone for me) near by or I miss events.
Oh, I just love how you did this, Kristin. Comparing your season of the year with the season of your relationship with God. I, too, feel as though He is taking my life and doing a new thing. I'm so anxious to share what those things are but I just have to wait a bit longer. The process is really putting a monkey wrench in my online life, but I promise to join in and catch everyone up soon. In the meantime, I'm enjoying this transition and trying to squeak out some writing when I can. Thank you for your incredible inspiration and constant encouragement. I, too, want to dwell on God. Hoping we can meet in person sometime. 🙂
Ah, Kristin. This post is like you squeezed into my heart and read it word for word. I am too in a season of spring– one of releasing MY plans and rolling with what God has for me. And you know what? It is awesome but STINKING HARD. I am kind of a little OCD when it comes to planning things. As I am transformed by my one word REST, it is refreshing (yet challenging) how it is stretching me to seriously simma down and take one day at time. Thanks for this, lady. So much.
Dwelling on God just sets everything else in my life on it's way to the right order. Thankful that God keeps working on me, never giving up, ever continuing to do a new thing inside my heart.
"I’m a perfectionist my nature, but God is teaching me {yes, still …} about how life doesn’t have to be about holding on too tightly and wanting to control every detail around me." <=== Yup, that. I'm so grateful that God doesn't give up on teaching me this lesson and a few others. 😉 It's a conversation we have over and over and part of it is how he made me and part of it is holding on to tight. I think that's the biggest blessing about dwelling with God and dwelling ON Him – He is so faithful to pursue us with the things He knows we'll need for today and that day three weeks from now. Thanks for sharing your heart, friend – so much good stuff here!
Dwell on God. Those are three good words, Kristin. And this is such a touching post. When it comes to food I'm thinking there's much we could talk about, as it pertains to my own issues but also my son with his diabetes. Thank you for this post that really met me where I'm at on needing to dwell on Him. Love you much. Can't wait for August!! xoxo
I'm so glad you could be encouraged, sweet Lyli! Glad you're here.
Your blog title doesn't have to be three words! Maybe there are three words in your post that could be highlighted. 🙂 Thanks for being here, Susan!
When I was reading that in Holley Gerth's book, it kind of rocked my world. Like I had to stop reading for awhile because I was trying to grasp that. I'm grateful for the new perspective, even if it's one that challenges me. Thanks for commenting, Lois.
Thanks, Kim! I'm glad you're here and were encouraged.
Thanks, Jennifer! I'm really looking forward to hearing more about what God is doing in your life. I hope we can meet in person sometime too – we are in the same part of the country … 🙂 So glad you're here!
Oh, Sharita, it IS hard. Trust me, I know. I'm glad you could be encouraged here.
God's good like that. Glad you're here, Mindy.
YES – he does know what need today … and tomorrow … and later. It's amazing, really. Yet I sometimes (too often?) foolishly resist his lead. Thanks for your comment that is packed with encouragement, Tiffany!
Let's talk soon. I know you understand so much of what is here. "Dwell on God" has been echoed through my life lately – so when I sat down to write I knew what the three words had to be. I like how God does that sometimes. And, more importantly, I am so grateful God is able to meet all our needs, despite all the times I try to resist. And I'm so grateful for you, dear friend. xoxo
A season of spring AND thinking about food – I'm with you! And I love how you phrased it I see God doing a new thing in my ordinary and I don't want to miss it. Praying with you that we will dwell on God
I'm glad I'm not alone! Thanks for joining me, Jamie!
God has been speaking to me recently about the importance of food choices also. May we treat our bodies as God's temple and choose to dwell in Him as He dwells in us. Linked up with you at Testimony Tuesday — hope you'll stop by Saved by Grace for a visit!
God bless,
Laurie
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
Thanks for coming by, Laurie!