This week I have been most unwell. I have been suffering from gastro-enteritis! Because I have had major surgery on my digestive system, I now find that I very easily become ill if I eat anything which is not good for me. I also react very markedly to any infections which may be going around. I began to think about the reasons for this. I realized that as soon as any food substance reaches my stomach, and it is not the right food, my body immediately repels it. The food comes back – like it or not!

I then reflected on how this experience could teach me more about following Jesus. I began to think about my soul, mind and heart. Are they as alert to dangerous invasions as my sensitive digestive system? I realized afresh the importance of keeping my heart pure. I want to have a soft, gentle heart – a heart which cares for others but most of all loves Jesus Christ. I want a heart which is always available to the hurting. I want to be sensitive to the needs of those around me, and not just those I love, but those I find difficult, too.

I desire a soul which feeds on good food. I must always ensure that I attend to my soul’s requirements – reading for nourishment, silence with God, solitude with nature, meditating on wholesome words and deeds, praying continually. Always looking for the positive, just, good things around me.

My goal is to develop a mind which is able to reject immediately any wrong thought, any temptation, judgmental attitude, gossip, pride, and seek always to be humble, truthful, and dwell on material which will build me up. I want to have a mind that concentrates on studying God’s word and then applies it to my own life. In this way I will be able to learn about Jesus, so that not only my spirit is fed, but I may also pass on what I have learned to those around me, should they ask me. I want to study good books, and topics which will help not only me, but those with whom I mix. In this way I will gain wisdom.

I must guard my eyes. I need to make sure that what I read, pictures in magazines which I see, movies I watch, concerts I attend, are all going to help me to grow in righteousness. I must learn even more quickly to repel what is wrong for my eyes to see. This is within my power, and no-one else can do it for me.

Also I need sensitive ears. I want to hear beautiful music with uplifting lyrics. I must immediately turn the music off if it is not helpful to my walk with God. I must choose to turn off the television when a program or comedian or even an advertisement would enter my spirit through my ears, which would not be something which Jesus would be proud of hearing, too.

All in all, if I am to live a Christ-like life, then what I allow to go into my body, through any of my senses, must honor God. It must be at all times something which Jesus, too, would enjoy. After all, I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit lives within me, then everything I receive into my body is received by God too.

I know this is all a matter of MY CHOICE. The choice is always mine to make. God will not prevent me from accepting impurities into my spirit, but they will certainly damage my relationship with Jesus. I am choosing again, today, to make Jesus the one I love more than anything else. I am choosing to do only what I know Jesus would also find helpful. I am choosing again to re-affirm my resolve to not allow temptation to win. I want to be like Jesus. Jesus is the person who means more to me than anything or any-one else. I am praying that you also will make this fresh resolve. It is always difficult, always a challenge, but always for our higher good. What greater motive could there be?

(C). 2005. Christine M. Jones.

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