A Disciplined Life

Proverbs 5:12 (MSG)
Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me?  Why did I reject a disciplined life?"

Ok....the curtains are going to fall off here.  I have a confession to make.  It's huge...
Curious yet?  Here you go...my recent cholesterol level was 275!!  "What?  No way!" you say.
That's what I said too, but unfortunately....'tis true.

I mean...I exercise faithfully...I don't chow down on french fries every night...I don't eat omelets every morning with ham....NO FAIR!!  I guess I feel somehow cheated.  I think that if I ate that way, then perhaps there would be some justice in a cholesterol reading that is off the charts like this..right?  Hmmmm.....so what 'ya gonna do about it, I ask myself? 

Well, I had a high reading last year (not this ridiculous, but high). As it turned out,  I had already decided to do a "Daniel Fast", prior to obtaining this particular lab result.  The Doc wanted to recheck my labs in six weeks.  I committed myself to this way of eating and an increased time in prayer and Bible reading, as is the discipline of this fast. 

At the end of six weeks...guess what?  The result was about ninety points lower than it was before this fast!!  Hooray!!  The doc was happy...I was happy...everybody was happy in my little world.  Until, that is, I had the yearly lab again in January...now nobody is happy (about the lab anyway) and the Doc even said that the other drop must have been an error and it probably never came down.  The problem with that theory is, that I don't believe it!  I think the labs were correct.  I think that this amazingly healthy way of eating nothing but chemical free plant and fruit based foods did lower my cholesterol.  The issue was not that the labs were incorrect, but that I "rejected a disciplined life," like today's verse talks about, and I quit eating that way promptly after I got my good level back.  I didn't stick to the plan.

Now, if you're like me right now....you are feeling the weight of a very heavy yoke on you (or at least on me).  But, I push that yoke off...probably push it off a lot easier because I just received a Word from the Lord.  (Seriously, as close as one can get to writing on the walls these days.)  A very sweet friend of mine who has just been through the battle of and for her life with breast cancer,  just e-mailed me this verse: 

She writes: 
"I live Isaiah 30:18 everyday, 'Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion'.  I am so thankful for all He has done!" 

This wonderful friend is currently cancer free!
Did she do what the doctor's told her to do?  You bet she did!!  Did she pray and ask God first for help and direction?  Absolutely.  Did it take discipline and amazing courage to follow that direction?  I can't even imagine how much discipline and strength it took to do all that was recommended she do....but the fact is...she disciplined herself and by the grace of God is now cancer free! 

 So, what about my lab?  Well, I am deciding today to apply this verse and not "reject this disciplined life"!   Why?  Because....the Lord longs to be gracious to me!!  He has equipped me for this and given me the tools to be healthy.  I just need to use the tools....starting now!

I bought an amazing book by Kristen Feola called "The Ultimate Guide To the Daniel Fast". http://onlyalittlewhile.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-ultimate-guide-to-daniel.html 
(I wrote a book review on it, and it is linked to a purchase site if you are interested for yourself, click on the previous link.)  This book is filled with recipes and devotions to assist me with my new eating plan!  I am so excited to see what the Lord will do through applying the knowledge that Kristen shares with her readers.  In about 4-6 weeks, I will have another blood draw to reveal the results....I will keep you posted!  (I love to say that on a blog...it still cracks me up...get it..."posted"....these are "posts"....ok...enough.)

Lord...please help me to remain disciplined in the gracious path You have provided for me.
Thank you for the compassion that You continue to show me and my family today.
Amen