A Bi-weekly Column by LaKeisha Rainey-Collins
I’ve missed you so much! I am elated to be back with my EEW family after giving birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy. I am doing very well post-partum, and little Jorden is such a sweet baby, fitting in perfectly with his two big brothers. Thanks so much to those of you who prayed for my family and I during such an exciting time in our lives. I am ecstatic about this new season in my life, and I feel so blessed to be able to share it with you.
Since giving birth to my son, I have picked up a really bad habit – a very strong attraction to junk food. To some, that may not be much of a big deal, but if you spent one day with me, you’d probably want to give me an intervention. It’s bad…really bad.
When I awake in the morning, instead of heading to the kitchen to whip up a nice, balanced breakfast, I’m reaching for doughnuts. Although in my mind I know this is unhealthy, the craving for my guilty pleasure is so loud and adamant, that it makes me blind to a healthier alternative. I am often impulsive in my choice to indulge myself, and satisfy my sweet tooth, and I don’t think about my decision until after the fact.
That’s when it hits me. “Keisha, you shouldn’t have done that.” But by then, it’s too late. The damage is done. The guilt has set in. Impulsion wins.
Now, I know all too well about the damage of impulsive behavior. In fact, I used to identify myself as an impulsive person – acting before thinking. My inability to control my thoughts before they became actions played a major role in my addiction to pornography, sex, and alcohol. Because I felt like I just couldn’t help myself, I would give over to my urge for things I knew were detrimental to my spiritual well-being.
While in the midst of satisfying my flesh, I didn’t give thought to how I’d feel afterwards. In the moment, it really didn’t even matter. Once that temporary fulfillment was gone, guilt would hit me like a ton of bricks. But you know what? I remained entangled in my addictions for years, because I could not get a grip on my impulsiveness.
I often pleaded for God to deliver me from my addictions, but failed to realize one vital point. I needed to learn to control my thoughts. If I could control my thoughts, I could control my actions. If I could control my actions, I could change my behaviors. As one of my favorite sayings goes, “change your mind, change your life.”
So then my prayer was not only for God to deliver me, but I prayed Philippians 2:5, which says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” I realized that if I could take on the mind of Christ, my entire thought process would change; thus helping me to redirect my unhealthy, impulsive behavior that had caused me to become entangled in sin.
Now that I’m free, (Hallelujah!) I don’t want to allow even the smallest impulsive behavior to creep in, unless it drives me to the things of Christ. So, as for me and my impulsive behavior towards junk food, y’all pray for a sista! I don't want to give any room to that old devil.
If you, like me, struggle with impulsiveness, whether you’re driven to making unnecessary shoe purchase or have another drink, join me in seeking God for the willpower to control your thoughts and replace your unhealthy behavior with positive activity. When you and I get the urge to act on impulse, let's just stop and pray. God is able to help us overcome our struggles. I know it because He has helped me so many times before.
While I don’t recommend acting before thinking in practical matters, there are times when impulsiveness can be a good thing.
Be impulsive about prayer.
Be impulsive about praise.
Be impulsive about worship.
Be impulsive about Bible study.
Be impulsive about living a Christ-centered life at all times.
Those are some things we should all do without hesitation.
I know most of us struggle with impulsiveness, unhealthy habits, and addictions in some area. But thank God for the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He is our helper despite our weakness.
Do you struggle with self control when it comes to junk food too? If not, are there any other areas where you struggle with impulsiveness? How do you address those tendencies? Share your thoughts with me!
LaKeisha Rainey-Collins is a wife, mother of two beautiful boys and inspirational blogger. She believes that God has purposed her to use her gift of writing to share her experiences as a Christian woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com