Stretchy Pants

I remember the day my friend said to me “it’s time to wear stretchy pants,” after she saw me unbutton the top button of my pants.  We had just finished a bible study and were indulging in the homemade cinnamon crunch cake that had been put before us.  Truth was my pants were already tight and pinching my skin.   We laughed about the suggestion to wear stretchy pants as we commiserated about our age and our muffin tops.   At the same time, we served ourselves some of those sweet treats!  

She went on to say, “once you wear elastic you’ll never go back.”  Laughter filled our little meeting and I thought, Ugh.  I don’t want to wear stretchy pants, not yet anyway. I like my blue jeans.   After that day though, I tried to lose my muffin top.  My youngest was just two and I was working from home on my computer, which meant a lot of sitting.   Loosing that muffin top was going to take some doing. I must admit that I eventually gave in and purchased some stretchy pants.   Actually, I bought jeans with an elastic waist band.    Yoga pants or leggings weren’t as stylish then.  Now everyone of us has at least one pair, right?!    Doesn’t matter our waist size.  My granddaughter, who is extra slim, will only wear leggings.

what’s wrong with stretchy pants?

The delight and the trouble with these stretchy pants is that they are comfortable. We don’t feel the pinch or the pressure that is pushing against the elastic from our weight gain.   We continue to overindulge because of it.  This made me think of how spiritually, when we get too comfortable we allow things into our lives. Because we don’t feel it, we keep allowing worldly indulgences in; from too much food to being lazy, from not guarding our eyes to gossiping.  We don’t feel it because we are wearing spiritual stretchy pants.  Instead of an armor that fits right, we’ve put on an armor that is made of elastic.  Slowly compromising with the world, indulging in a little here and a little there.  Until it’s too late. 

Then one day we see our reflection in the mirror and realize that we’ve gotten out of control.   That our waistline is bulging and those stretchy pants are not very attractive.   We then hide behind those elastic waist pants with a big t-shirt hoping no one will notice the weight gain.  We feel bad about ourselves and may get depressed or beat ourselves up for it.  

Spiritually, we slowly get out of the habit of reading our bible or praying.   Maybe we stop going to church because other things are crowding out our need for God.  We didn’t feel it coming. Our stretchy pants kept us from feeling uncomfortable. Then we hide behind spiritual elastic-waist pants and big t-shirts because the enemy has told us we are not good enough.  That God is mad.  That you can never go back, He won’t love you the same.  Which is all a lie.  At this point its time to put that armor back on and start exercising our faith.  Seeking forgiveness and asking Jesus to be Lord once again. 

Taking care

I like my leggings and big shirts just like the next girl. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about comfort.  But I don’t like my clothes to cut and bind and I don’t want my buttons to pop.  I can’t afford, nor do I want, to continue to buy bigger clothes.   So, I need to watch myself.  Watch what I eat.   Exercise.  Rest and take care of myself.   Live as healthy as possible. More importantly, I need to watch myself spiritually.  Being careful as to what I am allowing into my life.   Exercising my faith through praying and taking care of my soul by reading Gods word and being an active member of the body of Christ. I need to put on the full armor of God, daily, making sure that belt fits properly.   Ephesians 6:13-18 

That little uncomfortable feeling of tightness should be a reminder to us to eliminate some things from our life.   Cut out the sweets and soda. Get back to reading Gods word and letting him be our Lord. Starting now, by admitting our need for Him, confessing our sins, and asking Jesus into our lives.