Do What Is Right & You Will Be Accepted

So God has gifted me with another day and I take pleasure in His gift.  Last week I was doing my best to resist the temptation of McDonald's fries.  Unbelievably, I could smell it from several kilometers away from the restaurant.  I had barely glimpsed the golden arch ahead of me.  Yet my sense of smell had no problems telling me that breakfast was still being served.  I am glad to say that I resisted and drove on to work.

Do not celebrate with me just yet.  I fear I fell into the trap of an office social where even my boss was in on the peer pressure to eat with the gang.  Yes, samosas and tortilla chips with an abundance of pastries to choose from. Sigh. My goose was cooked and eaten.


It is hard to feel good about yourself when you know you didn't do what was right.  The guilt just about threatens to kill you if you let it.  I didn't do my best.  I succeeded in one test only to fail an hour later when tested again.

My sister had an epiphany - A GOD moment.  He said to her, if you do what is right then you won't feel bad about yourself.  Simple isn't it?  It reminds me of the story of Cain and Abel.  Now this was not about weight but I think it applies just the same.  Cain and Abel brought offerings to God, but Cain's was not looked at with favor from God.  Genesis 4 records this conversation as such,

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Friends, it's easy to sit and bemoan our existence and circumstances.  I could say the devil made me do it.  I could blame my co-workers.  I could even blame my sweet tooth and say I was made like that.  The truth is that I have to take responsibility for my own actions.  If I did what I knew was to be done then I would feel better about myself and I wouldn't be fighting a battle with weight.  Sin is always crouching...but I can rule over it!

Father, thank you for truth today.  I needed this simple reminder to overcome the temptations that are certain to come daily.  Please continue to help me in this journey to wholeness.  In Jesus' name, amen.

BATTLES ARE WON AND LOST

One week ago today I restarted my journey of seeking a healthier lifestyle.  I am happy to say that I have not thrown in the towel.  I continue to trod ahead. It literally is a fight to do this daily.  I find that so many reasons of why I shouldn’t are presented and often times they win me over. 

 

As I contemplate the past week, I concluded that I have won and lost many battles lying on my bed. My alarm goes off and the fight begins.  Now I don’t even have to open my eyes and most times I don’t even utter a sound.  On that bed my mind begins the push back against the clocks military command. Get Up! Get Out! Work Out!  My mind with its best coaxing voice begins her offensive strategy.  Sleep a little longer she whispers.  Stay today and go tomorrow.   It really is too cold today.  It’s raining.  You don’t really have enough time.  Hit snooze – again.

 

I must admit, that mind of mine is good. She knows me really well – I would say inside and out.  She challenges me to stay when what I really need to do is go.  So the battle goes on and only one of us will win.  Today, I am standing in a place of victory – rolling out bed and resisting the temptation to stay snuggled up in the warmth on my only day off for a while.  I won this fight and tomorrow there will be another. 

 

Indeed, battles are won and lost lying right there in bed.  However, today I am reminded that I don’t have to take on the posture of defeat.  I am, after all, more than a conqueror!

 

Romans 8:37

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that through Christ I am not defeated. I’m so thankful Lord that regardless of the battles I fight, I am not alone.  Lord for every win I have gained I know that the source of strength was You. I hear you countering the arguments that come to bring about my defeat in this area of my life.  I hear your words of encouragement filtering through the no and saying yes you can to me.  Father, thank you for being the commander of my life.  I will not fail if I obey your commands.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Restarting - Again

I am not discouraged.  I am not giving up.  I am moving ahead with this plan to get this flesh under submission to the Spirit of God.  I am standing firm and refusing to budge  - I will lose this weight. I will get healthy.
 

Now you may read this and wonder what am I on about.  I mean it is not world peace or the cure for cancer that I am speaking about.  You know what, you would be right.  It isn't that at all.  However, for me and maybe that one other person, this is HUGE!

The struggle is real for us and so we have to become a little militant in our declarations in order to move to the next day and gain the victory over our lives.  It is life or death for surely you have heard of the many complications that result from being obese? 

Breathe.  I had to exhale just now to recapture my focus and release my own anxieties.  I will not give up.  This is more for me than for  you.  However, I invite you to journey with me.  Maybe we could compare notes one day.  Maybe you will discover just as I have that you can do all things - eat less, exercise more - through Christ who strengthens you.  So today, I am at day umpteen, and I am declaring to myself and to whomever will read that I am Restarting - Again.


Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
¹³ I can do all things through ^[a]Christ who strengthens me.


Father I thank you for the many do-overs you have given to me.  I thank you that in spite of me veering off course you never leave me.  I begin again this journey with YOU.  I believe that success is simply me submitting. You care about me and so I know that you want me to live and not die.  Father, help me to make life choices as I am committing myself again to the project of Dieting for Life. In Jesus' name, Amen.