When You Don’t Feel Good, Look Good: A Lesson in Bread & Boogers

I once worked with a teacher that gave me some excellent advice: When you don’t feel good, look good. I could always tell when her allergies were bothering her because she came to school looking like Jackie Kennedy! She wasn’t a Christian but I think it has some spiritual application. 

You see, it’s easy to put a smile on and face the day when everything is going great. It’s when the thought of (or in my case this morning, physically) getting out of bed makes you sick to your stomach that you have to pull up your boot straps and smile. 

When you just don’t feel like it is the time to guard yourself because when you’re tired, that’s the time the enemy will attack your weaknesses. When Jesus was hungry, Satan told Him to turn stones into bread. Would it have been easier for Him to give in and serve His own physical needs? You betcha but Jesus knew whom He served. 

When we take the easy road, who do we serve? When we lash out in anger, who do we serve? When we give in to any temptation... When Jesus was tempted with physical hunger, selfish ambition, and pride, he responded in obedience. 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:10-18