The latter half of last week, my daughter came home from college for fall break, so I made a crockpot full of chili. I am not a gourmet cook by any means, but some recipes I like to add my own spices, chili isn’t one of them.  I know the packaged chili spices are just right and I know that if I add the right amount that I will get the desired results. I know the right amount because I’ve done it before but also because I sample as I go to see if I need to add more. Spices are meant to enhance a dish not to be the main ingredient. If too much spice is adding it will overpower the overall flavor of the dish.

We have spices in our daily lives, and I am often guilty of overdoing it or adding the wrong spice to my day. Let me explain before you think that I have totally lost my mind. There are plenty of things that we enjoy adding to our day to enhance it, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Have you ever thought that you would take just a moment to watch an encouraging video on YouTube and still be there four videos later and wonder where the time has gone? The same can be said of watching your favorite TV show before you realize it you are also watching the show comes on after your favorite shoe goes off instead of getting back to the tasks of the day.

Maybe TV or videos are not your spice. You know what it is. Your spice is whatever relaxing, fun, little thing that you do to make your day go faster. It could be social media, playing with your pets, crafts or a million other things. There is nothing wrong with these things in themselves. They are only bad when you allow the spice to overpower the main ingredient of your day. Let’s try to keep things in perspective and keep our priorities straight. If you struggle with this, ask God to help you add the right amount of spice to each and every day.

 “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (1 Chronicles 16:11) (NIV)