Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.- 1 Corinthians 9:25 (LSB)

What are the games Paul is talking about? Probably the Olympic Games which were around even before the time of Jesus. He is talking about athlete's, running a race to win it. Mostly he is talking about self-control. This one is going the hit me where I live, just as hard as it will hit many of you.

Are you eating too much?

Studies show over half the western world is eating too much. Christians tend not to over-indulge in alcohol and other vices, but boy can we eat! Here is the good news: God can help you win the battle! Even if your problem is worse than over-eating.

Often it is not about what you are eating but about what's eating you! We overeat for emotional reasons, when stressed and for comfort from emotional trauma. But this is a short-term fix that will add inches to your stomach and hips. Sadly the worse the pain in your life, often the worse the addiction. It is not just food, people try to bury pain and stress, with drugs, gambling, sex, cigarettes, and other bad habits and addictions - all to cope with emotional, spiritual or physical pain. The Psalmist went directly to the root of his problem:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.- Psalm 139:23-24 (LSB)

God can relieve the anxious thoughts within you. The Holy Spirit is the greatest therapist in the World. When you surrender your life to Him, and ask Him to 'come and live within you', you discover one of the fruits of the Spirit is .....self-control!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

He can give you the power to control your appetites and start living by the Scripture:

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.- 1 Corinthians 10:31

The Holy Spirit has already proven he can destroy any stronghold, even one as insidious as drug addiction (Read here how thousands overcome addiction each year through Teen Challenge founded by Dave Wilkerson). So make this your prayer today:

Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise.-Jeremiah 17:14

The first step is acknowledging you have a problem - then going to the top and asking Jesus for the solution.