Weight Loss Wednesday is a weekly post I will be sharing each week. My goal is to be transparent! You will see the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly.
Let me start with the ugly: I gained 3.5 pounds this week. My fingers deeply desire to tell you why it's not my fault. I have excuses:
- I went to a business meeting where the hostess is a gourmet cook it would have been rude not to eat
- My ankles are puffy so I must be retaining water
- I've had an incredibly busy week and was exhausted last night when I raided the left over chicken and yellow rice
However, the truth is simply this:
"If you live your life animated by the flesh--namely, your fallen corrupt nature--then your mind is focused on the matters of the flesh. (Romans 8:5a)
Truth #1- That hostess which is a gourmet cook is also a precious friend and she would have fully supported me in my goal. I WANTED to eat her delicious cooking.
Truth #2 Yes! I have puffy ankles, but there is certainly not 3.5 pounds of "water" hanging out there.
Truth #3 It doesn't matter how busy I am I have choices to make. Life and death in the spirit choices and I chose DEATH!
So what do I do? Where do I go from here?
BUT, if you live your life animated by the Spirit--namely, God's indwelling presence--then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5b)
The truth is that for me, this journey is about so much more than my weight or my health. It's about spiritual FREEDOM! Christ died for me so that I might have LIFE and have it to the FULLEST! The next verse in Romans 8 sums it up perfectly:
A mind focused on the flesh is DOOMED TO DEATH, but a mind focused on the Spirit WILL FIND FULL LIFE AND COMPLETE PEACE.--Romans 8:6
And so I hang onto the verse God gave me for this year:
I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world. -- Phil 1:6
You've got the right mindset, Mary. Keep going! God will keep doing His job as you keep loving Him. :-)
ReplyDelete"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: He hath made every thing beautiful in His time." Ecc 3:1
ReplyDeleteIf this comes in pieces, I apoligize. Im having trouble with either my ipad, my abilities at blogging, or this blog only allows so many words.....
I read this article this morning and now I know that it was for you, dear sister.
ReplyDelete"God has made everything-that is everything-beautiful in His time-even you! Whatever season of life you find yourself in, God has a purpose and a plan to use you now, in this very season of life, for His glory. As new creations in Christ, God will use His Word and His Spirit to develop godly characteristics in you such as love, joy, peace, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding...No matter what season we are in, God works in us by giving us both the desire and the power to please Him. All we need is to humble ourselves before Him in whatever season of life we find ourselves. (Ecc 3:11; Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal 5:22; Pro 2:2-3; Phil 2:13; James 4:6
Mary, your transparency and honesty shows the grace of God. Grace is the power and desire to do Gods will. He is your strength and He is using you to help others along the same journey you are on.
"There hath no temptation taken you as such as is common to man. But GOD is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation, make a way of escape".
Isn't that encouraging that you are not alone in your temptations and that God has made a way of escape. Love you, sister. Back on the 5&1 :)
I am working through a book by Mike Cleveland called The Lord's Table: A Biblical Approach to Weight Management. I love this book and it is transforming my life. I have not lost weight yet, but I can feel the sin in my heart starting to fade away when it comes to overeating. I highly recommend it. It has made permanent waves in my thinking. I know it's a hard battle and the only one who can help us is our God.
ReplyDeleteMollie, the first gal who responded to this post (Michele) has lost over 100 pounds using The Lord's Table. You should connect with her. She is a wealth of encouragment and equipping. I'm so glad that God connects his sisters and love that you have Coffee W/ Jesus!
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