Frozen Banana Bites

Frozen Banana Bites

Are you physically fit? Do you eat well balanced, health meals? Do you exercise regularly?

I used to be able to answer yes to all of the above until about ten months ago when I injured myself while running. My foot injury prevented me from exercising. Because I was over compensating for the pain in my right foot, I put more stress and strain on my left foot, causing an old ankle injury to start hurting again. With both feet compromised, exercise was out of the question.

I’ve always loved to cook. When I was exercising, I was very conscious about what I prepared because I didn’t want to undo all of the work I did exercising when meal time rolled around. Once the exercising came to a screeching halt, so did my motivation to make healthy, high energy foods. The results were textbook. I became sluggish and gained weight. My energy level spiraled down.

This week I committed to make a change!

I started a new workout routine and have made a conscious decision to alter my food choices and meal preparations. I am fully confident I will see things shift back to the way I prefer.

Today is day two. My body is sore. In fact, I woke up frequently last night because whenever I rolled over, my muscles were in pain. It’s been a long time since they’ve experienced any stress or strain. I know from past experience, it will get better and I’ll start to see results. I also know it will get easier for me to stick with it if I will commit to persevere through the hard part now.

I probably could have started a workout routine sooner than I did, but after not doing it for so long, it seemed easier to make excuses than to actually begin again. Some people experience similar circumstances with their quiet time with the Lord. I call that time my date with Jesus.

Oh, it usually starts out innocently enough. You oversleep and have to rush out the door with no time to waste just to make it to work on time. Or you have a child home sick who needs your undivided attention and you pass out in the bed at night exhausted from constant motion. Then the next morning you just want to sleep in a little extra to make up for the day before.

Maybe with you it starts on vacation. You find it harder to steal away from everyone when your whole family is together. Once you return from your trip, you fail to reestablish your routine.

Now you feel distant from the Lord. Oh, you still go to church and even listen to your favorite Christian songs every now and then, but something isn’t quite right.

Before long, Jesus gets visitation rights on Sunday mornings rather than full custody of your life and you’re sitting there wondering how it happened.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Make a change. Decide today is the day. Commit to read one verse and chew on it for a while. Pick one of your favorites if you like. I’ll even share one of mine. 1 Thessalonians 5:24,

The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

Whose job is it to make this thing happen? Based on the verse above, the responsibility rests with Jesus. All you have to do is show up and be willing. Seek Him and then He’ll lead the way. Just like my workout and healthy eating decision, it may feel like work at first, but then you’ll come to look forward to it and be blessed by the results.

Take a minute and sit with Him. You’ll be glad you did.

 

*Here’s a healthy snack recipe for my Frozen Banana Bites

  • 1 banana cut into circular slices
  • 1-2 tsp. nut butter of your choice
  • Using the nut butter, make banana cookiesand place them on wax paper
  • Place the banana cookies in the freezer for at least 1 hour
  • Enjoy!