Stranglehold

I really like to eat at Sonic. I know it’s weird since I used to work there, but for some reason I still like it. Yesterday was even better because I had buy one get one free coupons which made eating there extremely cheap. Everyone ordered their food and I got my usual kids meal with a hamburger, but went ahead and splurged on a peanut butter fudge milkshake since they were on sale. Yum.

So we started eating our food and once we were done I started on my milkshake. A few minutes later I just didn’t feel right. My throat started to feel funny. A few more minutes pass and I realize my throat is swelling; I immediately grab the children’s Benadryl and take a couple of teaspoons. At this point I’m feeling worse and getting a little panicky. I make the decision that we have to go to the ER. I have never been to an ER before, but I figured my throat swelling was a good reason.

As we drove I was praying, trying to figure out what exactly had happened to me, what I had eaten to cause this severe of a reaction. I was feeling pretty bad when I got into the ER and I went to Triage. I’m still breathing ok through my nose, but I can barely swallow. For some reason the nurse kept asking me if I had a rough French fry in my throat, I guess she thought I might have something stuck? Anyway, after a few minutes I started shaking but then my throat started to feel normal again. I guess the double dose of Benadryl I took was working. I got up and told them I was fine, at which point they had me sign a sheet saying I wouldn’t sue them if I died on the way home. This was ok with me since I knew I was going to be fine. Once I got home I went straight to bed to sleep off the medication and woke up feeling pretty much back to normal.

All this got me to thinking about life. How often do we ingest things not only into our bodies but into our minds with no thought of their impact on us? I’ve eaten at Sonic several times, and never had a reaction yet something bad caused my body to react with intensity. Many times I feel this happens in my spiritual life. I go through my day doing the same kinds of activities and without thinking, sin slips into my day. It might be pride over something I’ve accomplished, or perhaps selfishness when something does not go my way. Though our day seems ordinary and normal, we have allowed evil into our hearts and mind without even thinking about it. Often in the Bible we see sin become part of someone’s life from their conscious choice, David would be a good example of this. While I’m sure he was not thinking of the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba, I’m sure he knew adultery was sin. On the other hand you have someone like Eve. She did not have her mind fixed on truth and the subtlety of the serpent convinced her to sin. Her lack of discretion cost her and her husband greatly. While I may not have known I was eating something my body hated, it did not change the consequences. Although Eve was deceived, she was still guilty.

In Leviticus 4 we see that quite clearly that unintentional sins still make us guilty before God When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering,… and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. Even though what we do may be unintentional, it is still a sin against God, and requires His forgiveness and atonement. Our knowledge is no excuse.

Often as women we are like Eve, easily deceived by our emotions and what we want to be true. We take in all the world has to tell us and do not always discern the truth, and before we know it, we can’t breathe. We are being strangled by the lie and we do not even realize it until we feel the consequences.

Yet there is hope, we have the truth of God’s Word. Just as I used a medication yesterday to relieve the pressure on my throat, we have the Holy Spirit, prayer and God’s Word to weed out sin and regain close fellowship with God. He has given us all that we need to be healed in Him. He loves us and wants to free us from the sin that has take hold of us.

Yesterday, I was convicted that I should be asking the Lord as David did Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I want the Lord to reveal the sin in my life that I do not even know I’m guilty of. I’m thankful for His promise to forgive, and today in particular, I’m thankful for His protection of my health.