Worst Decision Ever

I remember it all so clearly. It was a Friday during my first year of Master's Commission. I was in my second semester of interning with a church in North Carolina. It had been a challenging first semester but I was looking forward to some exciting new changes taking place. On that Friday, however, I was feeling far from wonderful. I had just recently encountered some interesting circumstances and had been feeling slightly stressed as a result. Being the super spiritual over-zealous first year that I was, I decided to fast. To catch everyone up to speed, fasting is a spiritually based concept that centers on giving something up and replacing it with something else for a period of time. For example, fasting television because you spend more time watching tv than you spend reading God's Word. I figured that I could spend some time in prayer regarding my current circumstances. I decided to fast all meals from Friday night until Monday morning.

Friday evening was fine. I began to feel a little hungry on Saturday but continued on with my commitment. And then came Sunday.

But you see, this wasn't just any Sunday. No, no folks. This was Super Bowl Sunday. I had completely forgotten. Not only that, our youth ministry was hosting a huge party that night to watch the Super Bowl, complete with pizza, wings, chips, soda and the like. And I was fasting. I just about croaked when I realized that I had picked the absolute worst time in the history of American living to begin a fast... worst decision ever! In the grand scheme of things though it really wasn't that big of a deal. I stuck with it and ended my fast on Monday morning.

This story makes me laugh because the timing of it all could not have been worse. I'm not some fatty obsessed with honey garlic wings and Vanilla Coke... okay, maybe the coke part... but let's be serious - it's the Super Bowl. It's good eatin'! It's a "fun, food and fellowship" kind of thing. (Btw, if you're reading this feeling completely lost because you've never participated in Super Bowl activities, release your inner football poser, learn a stat or two and find a way to celebrate with friends. It's just a good time!)

That weekend reminds me of how our plans don't hold any ground on God's timing. I had made a commitment to God for that weekend and I couldn't just quit all because I really wanted a slice of pizza. Sure, it was a bummer it all went down on the same weekend... but it really wasn't the end of the world. 

Maybe you've made a commitment to God recently. Maybe it was a New Years resolution of sorts. Maybe you committed to doing or not doing something for a month or two. Maybe you've made a commitment for the entire year of 2012. Whatever it is, I encourage you to stick with it because it will be rewarding. Sure, there will be “Super Bowls” and times when it's hard to stick with the commitment you've made. But whatever you've committed to God, I can bet honoring that commitment will be so much better than any “slice of pizza” or “sip of pop” could ever be.

Stick with it. Today is day 036. And you can make it.