HALT

I need to confess something. It's been a rough few months. Most of it my fault. All because I chose to ignore something I've been taught over and over.

I forgot to HALT.

Do you know what that means? If you've listened to Dr. Charles Stanley for any length of time, you've probably heard about his HALT principle. Since we were members at FBA a very long time and my hubby worked at IN TOUCH, I should know this principle.

But I forgot.

Here's the gist of the HALT principle...

Don't get too:

H- hungry
A- angry
L- lonely
T- tired

If you neglect these areas of personal and spiritual health, things go badly. Thus my last few months.

If I'd have paid attention to the HALT principle and halted my words and actions and took care of my heart, I wouldn't be confessing to some rotten results.

I won't air all my mess, but suffice it to say I've not been a pleasant person to be around in real life. Ask my kids. And my husband. I've been snippy and too easily bothered and irritated.

All because I've stayed up WAY TOO LATE to read.

And I've tried and then stopped trimming my eating because my high school reunion is coming up. Stress is an easy excuse to eat and I've taken it and run. But when I get back on and then off the wagon, I'm hungry all time. Thankfully, when I stick with eating smart for a few days, that hungry goes away.

The angry and lonely go hand in hand for me. Anger is a default if I'm not dealing with the issues in my heart. And when I'm angry, nobody wants to share my space.

Except God is so very good to give my family and friends this unending ability to forgive. My children especially.

They're the reason I had anything intelligent to share here today. After a long discussion about Elijah and the prophets of Baal that led to talk on prayer, knowing God's will, and Him living through us, it clicked that I have to HALT and take care of my heart before I can be the wife, mom and friend I long to be.

So how about you all? I sure hope I'm not the only one needing to relearn some sage words from God's word or a wise pastor's sermon.

How has God turned you back around when you were headed the wrong direction?