Marriage from A to Z

“Do you need to detox?”

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you have time with family and friends?  Did you eat just enough or too much?  One of the main attractions for Thanksgiving day is a delicious meal.  Often times, there is a large variety of meats, side dishes and desserts to choose from. In addition, some people travel to multiple homes and eat a little from each table.   Once all of the different types of food goes into your digestive system, you may find that not everything agrees with your stomach.  Some foods may have caused a negative reaction and unpleasant feelings in the stomach therefore, you need to detox.  Can anyone identify with what I am saying?  Let’s talk about what it means to detox, and how it can impact our lives and our relationships.

What does it mean to detox?    The dictionary defines detox as:  “The process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.” I would like to focus on the second part of the definition which says, “to rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.”  Some of us have experienced painful things in our childhood, adulthood, marriage or other relationships that are toxic. When something is toxic it causes unpleasant feelings, it’s harmful and in some cases poisonous.  The feelings can do terrible damage to our minds, bodies and our every day life, if we allow them.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if it happened two days ago or twenty years ago we can still be dealing with the images, thoughts and residue of toxic relationships. Perhaps nothing bad has ever happened to you, you may just need to get rid of the negative thoughts that cross your mind every day.

If you can relate to anything that I am saying, you need to detox!  Maybe you can’t relate, but you are living with someone who needs to detox.  If so, please share this post with them.  God wants us to detox our minds and our bodies so that we can move forward and be all that He wants us to be.  When we are filled with toxins we get sick and can’t function well.  Toxins stop us from enjoying life and still our joy!  You can get a new situation or be in a new relationship but not able to enjoy it, because of the toxins that you are still dealing with in your mind.  

God’s Word has a lot to say about detoxing the mind.  We must clear our mind of all of the toxic thoughts that has us bound.  Unpleasant thoughts hindering our lives and damage our relationships.  Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, thing on these things.   

Tips for detoxing:  Feed your mind on the Word of God, read something from God’s Word every day.  Eat healthy food spiritually and physically. In some cases, you may need to talk to a counselor about the toxic thing that happened so that you can better process your thoughts and get tools to move forward.  Forgive where forgiveness in needed.  Pray and ask God to help you detox your mind and your body from all toxins.  God is able!  In addition, there is a message on YouTube by Pastor Ron Carpenter that was blessing to me called Detox (specifically Detox Part 3). Check it out!

Until next week  . . .

Carolyn