And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34

 

In this brief encounter, Genesis 25:29-34, Jacob had cooked up some delicious smelling soup and Esau had just come in from the field and was hungry. In his weakness he begged his brother for some soup and Jacob offered but not unless Esau gave up his birthright. In his moment of weakness, Esau agreed. A quick and poor decision, which affected him for the rest of his life.

 

Dr. Charles Stanley encourages believers to use the term H.A.L.T. When you are hungry, angry, lonely and tired, those are times when you are at your weakest state and satan often takes advantage of the situation, enticing you to sin and make poor choices. Think over the past week, when you were in one of those states, how did you respond? Anger usually prompts the worst in us and things can be said and done in anger that leave a negative mark on your character and image that others hold over you.

 

Life has its challenging moments and when those times of HALT show up on your radar, it truly is time to halt, pray and ask God to lead you through that moment of your weakened state so you can stay committed to God and sustain your Christlike character. God bless!