“And you’ll need to reduce your daily caffeine consumption—probably in half.” These were some of the words I heard this week. Not easy words to swallow. I think I’ll be good to go decaf on my tea (hot and cold), but I have yet to find a decaf coffee that tastes good to me. It wasn’t difficult to give up caffeinated pop, which resulted in giving it up practically all together. That was a logical choice after I took the time to consider the amount of sugar and sodium in a can of pop. It was such an easy “sacrifice” that I sometimes wonder if it was a true sacrifice. Is something that easy really a sacrifice?
Now I am faced with a different type of dilemma. Caffeine is having a negative and unhealthy effect on my heart. It’s no longer a recommendation that I consider. I am being told I need to give it up. There’s a period at the end of that sentence, not a comma followed by another option. The doctor wasn’t making a suggestion. He was just telling me to do it. No “how”, just “do.”
I shared this with my ladies at Curves. They, of course, had many suggestions on how to accomplish this. A few decided to remind me that I shouldn’t just address my tea and coffee intake, but that I also needed to factor in the chocolate I eat. I could have gone all day without thinking about that. Many offered the thought that I could probably justify eating a small square of dark chocolate every other day or so. Who were they kidding? Small amount and chocolate never occupy the same sentence or action of consumption for me. It’s definitely time to rethink life as I know it.
Thinking about this I began to consider the irony that this new way of life should come during the season of Lent, the time when we focus on sacrifice. One might actually hear a chuckle coming from the throne room of heaven. Does God want me to give something up in a temporary act of sacrifice or does He want me to think about a whole new way of living? The scales seem to be tipping in favor of the latter.
As I sat reflecting on this new dietary direction for my life, I began to think about what sacrifice God might be wanting from me. A phrase from scripture came to mind: sacrifice of praise. Immediately I was humming the chorus, “We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.” But where did that come from and what does it mean?
In Hebrews 13 we are instructed to bring our sacrifice of praise. Here are those verses in a couple different translations. Read them through slowly and let God speak to you.
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (New Living Translation)
13-15So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name. (The Message)
Accomplishing what is required in these verses is going to require a spiritual lifestyle change. And like what the doctor is requiring of me for my heart’s sake, there is no option, no comma, just the clear instruction to do it. This is not a flippant or easy giving up for forty days, this is a radical rethinking of how I live. How will you respond?
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