I was in junior high when my parents divorced. I was devastated and turned to food. Thus began my lifelong love and struggle with food. In college I found exercise, which was a great way to cover up the effects of eating more than my body required.

What you just read was an excuse—if I take the past and use it as an excuse for my failures today. I have met so many through the years who have waved a similar flag of justifying current problems by pointing to other past actions.

Praise God that as a believer in Jesus Christ I don’t have to be a prisoner of my past. My old life and habits are nailed to the cross. (I had also bitten my nails for over 50 years. Yeah. Not anymore.) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

As recently as last year, whenever I discussed my slowly climbing weight with someone, I would say it was because of injuries and my inability to exercise, when in reality I was not eating in moderation. Of course, it doesn’t help that I have multiple great cooks in the house. (Did you notice that I just did it again?)

For two years we have had a mealtime memory verse, which we will stick with until it becomes a reality in my life: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). One reason people say they appreciate Titus 2 is that Teri and I are real in sharing our struggles. Please note that there is a difference between justifying a struggle and sharing a struggle and moving to grow.

Isn’t it about time I lived out 1 Corinthians 9:27 in regard to my eating? What bad habits does the Lord want to conquer in your life? Are you making excuses for them?

Steve