Counsels on Wellness

Counsel #1 — Appetites

Picture: Counsel #1 — Appetites CWe 48.1

God designed us to have a healthy appetite. But sin transformed our desires into selfishness. Whether it's for food, money, sex, drugs, entertainment, recreation, or any other strong desire. There are godly appetites and unfortunately unrestrained ungodly appetites. How we respond to appetite cravings reflects our mental state as well as God's role in our daily lives.^[53] CWe 48.2

“So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want. Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit. The Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other.…The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual immorality, impurity and wild living, worshiping false gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, having envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not be in God’s kingdom.” Galatians 5:16-21 ICB CWe 48.3

“The Christian today needs to keep strict guard over his appetite.” Ellen White in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1089 CWe 48.4

Reflect: What specific steps can I take to align my appetites with God's will for my life? CWe 48.5