No Weigh!!!
"Oh it's just the doctor's office scale. It always weighs 'heavier' than the typical scale. I came here with a sore throat! Must I really be humiliated and watch as the nurse keeps pushing the weight further up the scale? Oh wait, I forgot to take my watch off. I am sure that's why I weigh so much today. When you're sick you weigh more because well you just do. Did you know that it's actually not my fault that I'm overweight? It's pure genetics!" I have made excuses and justified my weight for a good portion of my life. I have also owned up to the gluttony and vowed to take the weight off with fad diets, diet products, and weight loss programs only to lose a few pounds and then gain more back. I tried to accomplish this feat on my own and failed.
After joining a weight loss program for about the 7th time, I went to the store and bought a new scale to keep track of my weight. When I returned home I was ready to begin the new diet regime. I stepped onto my brand new scale and noticed it was broken. I stepped off the scale and back on; nope still broken. Grabbing my receipt with scale in hand, I took it back to the store. The clerk was very kind and told me I could choose another scale off of the shelf. Back home I went ready to begin my diet and lose lots of weight! I stepped on my new scale and voila the scale registered the same weight as the other scale I had just taken back to the store. This can't be right. Had it been that long since I weighed myself? The scale wasn't lying and it was not broken. Now I am depressed. What do you do when you are down and out? Yep, I plopped myself in front of the tv and gulped down a big bowl of ice cream. The cycle continued; go on a diet, lose a few pounds, exercise a little bit, get frustrated, and finally quit.
Where is God in all of this? Do I include Him in this area of my life? Do I really need to bother God with something as trivial as my weight? Several weeks ago I had been praying and having devotions with God and The Holy Spirit began working in me and telling me that I need to be healthy for the work He wants to continue in my life. At first I was a little like Moses, "But God I have tried dieting and I fail every time." Just as God had patience with Moses, He continues to wait on me. God told Moses He would be with him. Moses would make his excuses to God why he couldn't lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and God would remind Moses that He would be with him. God wants to be in every area of our life. He is showing me that He is with me and will help me. So the irony of it all is that my youngest daughter is a senior in college majoring in dietetics to become a dietician. God put on my heart to ask her for help in coming up with a plan for diet and exercise. I am thankful that God cares about every aspect of my life and for showing me how important it is that I am healthy so that I can continue the plans He has for me.
Are you in a similar situation? Perhaps you smoke, drink too much, or don't get enough sleep, leading you to live an unhealthy lifestyle. Jesus stated, " Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. God is telling us how important it is to maintain a healthy body. This body is where the Holy Spirit lives. We don't need to keep trying and failing at these unhealthy habits. He is faithful. He is truth. We are not alone because He is always with us. When I feel tempted to over-indulge I pray scripture over it. I have written out scripture on notecards to keep on hand when needed. Strongholds will become less as He becomes more in our lives.
Do I have the perfect answer? Yes, His name is Jesus. Do I have the perfect body? No, not until I am in heaven. But until then, we have Jesus to help us with our struggles in striving for a healthy lifestyle. I look forward to all the things God has planned for my life both here on earth as well as in eternity.
Prayer: Father thank you for the Holy Spirit who revealed to me a stronghold of maintaining an unhealthy weight. Forgive me when I strive to do things on my own apart from you. Continue to do a good work in me. Help me overcome overindulgence to the point of unhealthy living. Strengthen me when I become weary. Keep reminding me you are living inside of me and You are greater than he that is in the world. Amen.
Bible Verses:
Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
Hebrews 12: 1-2 - Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.