Deuteronomy 2:16(KJV)
So, it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people.
Sickness never comes at a convenient time. It is intrusive and rude, demanding and overbearing. It usually brings with it a dose of humility and some unforeseen expenses that we are not prepared to pay. As you sit and review your diagnosis, you have a decision to make: do you want to live, or do you want to die?
Everybody knows someone who has died of something that was avoidable. Some diseases are completely manageable, but because we are stubborn, unwilling to listen to expert advice, and reluctant to bend to our circumstances, we fight our diagnosis rather than make changes.
Deciding to take care of yourself is not the white flag of defeat! Giving up poor habits does not give aid and comfort to the enemy; it gives relief to you. We often fight instructions and admonitions regarding what actions would best resolve or at least allow us to live with an illness because we want to live our lives our way, without restrictions. We rebel like teenagers who believe that the rules serve only to ruin our lives instead of to protect or even save us.
In war, you must be aware of the mission and the enemy, but you also need to know when it’s time to call a truce and form a treaty. Asthma may be your enemy, but you cannot fight it by refusing to use your inhaler. Nor will you conquer high blood pressure by eating a high salt diet and neglecting your meds. This refusal to adapt is not a sign of your military might; it is a sign of someone who is about to perish in the wilderness.
May you be wise enough to listen to what your ailment is telling you and do that which is needed in order to live. The shock and awe will come when those you love to see that you finally followed the doctor’s orders.
