Thought from Tawmi, Wisdom by God

Everyone knows that yo-yo dieting is hard on the body. You take off a few pounds, you feel great! Then something comes along, back on comes the weight and maybe a bit more. It's a cycle that, if continues, weakens the body and may even hasten death.

Have you ever thought about yo-yo sinning? Never heard the phrase? No? That's because I think I just made it up.

Yo-yo sinning is where you sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent. Repentance is a sorrow for that sin and a turning away from that sin so that you no longer desire to repeat it.

An example I used in my class with children was chocolate cake. No, chocolate cake in and of itself may not be sinful. It may be decadent and tasty but not sinful unless it consumes your every waking thought (feel free to substitute here that thing causing your sin/repent cycle). Mom gives you a slice of chocolate cake. It's the best cake she's ever made. It's all you can think of and you want more. So after dinner, the dishes are done, the leftovers are put away, you head back to the kitchen and get another slice of that luscious chocolate cake. Mom has said, "Don't eat between meals..." and for a good reason. But you so lust after that chocolate cake that it's all you can do to eat just the one piece. After you finished eating, washed the dish, washed the fork, cleared off the evidence, your tummy begins to feel bad. You know you've done something wrong and you know your tummy won't feel better until you confess your deed to Mom. Once you've done that, all of a sudden your tummy feels better. You resolve that you will be obedient and not have food between meals - ever again!!! Tomorrow rolls around and that chocolate cake is still in your head and in the fridge. Do you succumb to the mental temptation and have another piece of cake when you're not supposed to? You know you'll have to tell Mom you did it again and ask her to forgive you. AGAIN.....

I realize chocolate cake is a rather benign example and that's why I used it for children. At the age of 10, 11 or 12 they rarely have addictive behaviors but food is something to which they can all relate.

Sin is anything that takes us outside of God's good and perfect will. He doesn't give us guidelines (which are called Commandments by which every life principle is covered) because He's arbitrary. He gives us those guidelines so we may have a more abundant life.

When we enter the yo-yo sin/repent, sin/repent, sin/repent cycle, we really aren't giving up that sin (possibly a cherished sin?) and allowing God to change us from the inside out.

Yo-yo sinning is just as deadly as yo-yo dieting. With dieting it's deadly pounds that pack on our body. With sinning it's just plain death.

May God help us all that we may be truly united to Christ the Living Vine Who gives us the strength to overcome by His grace and His love and His mercy. He has said more than once to people in the Bible, "Go, and sin no more."

This victory can be ours as well - in His strength.