WEDNESDAY WEIGH-IN: Lying to Ourselves

I lost two pounds last week and did really good until the weekend. Ugh, the weekends are always a challenge for me. During the week, my days and evenings are pretty structured. But on the weekends, it's anything goes. And it is the 'anything goes' part that makes me feel like rewarding myself with junk food.

Why do we feel that junk food is a reward? The truth is in almost every case it weakens our body, clouds our thinking, and enlarges our waistline. Yet for many of us it represents comfort and solace. Think about it. How often do we tell ourselves after a hard day we are gonna sit down with big bowl of broccoli? Instead, we reach for the ice cream, or potato chips or... whatever is going to make us feel better.

Intellectually we know that sugar, soda and other foods like them, weaken our immune systems and make us feel sluggish. We know they harm our bodies, yet we continually indulge. WHY?  Because we are decieved. Somewhere in our self-talk we think we deserve it, or that it won't really harm us, or __________(you fill in the blank). And it is the deception, the false belief that keeps us in the clutches of a food bondage. (I guess I shouldn't assume you are in a food bondage, but for me, it is or I wouldn't be as large as I am)

But thankfully, if you are living everyday with Jesus, even food bondages can be broken! Beth Moore, in her powerful book Praying God's Word devotes a whole chapter to food related strongholds.  I have used my copy so much the binding broke and I had to buy another one. But somehow the worn out one with it's pages falling out means more to me. It's like a sword that's been used and reused in battle. Beth Moore uses so many scripture prayers in each of the chapters in this book it feels like my second Bible. Here are just a few of the prayers from the Food Related Strongholds chapter:

" Lord, when you bring the captive completely back to You, I will be like those who dream! My mouth will be filled with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy! The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with joy! "(Psalm 126:1-3)

"God, I am so thankful there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you do not condemn me, I have no right or place to condemn myself. Help me not to get caught up in a defeating cycle of self-condemnation."

These are just a few of the powerful scripture prayers that Moore uses. You might think about checking it out if you have food issues, or other areas that you want to overcome. Moore's Praying God's Word book covers many, many different areas and has such chapters as Overcoming Sexual Strongholds, Overcoming Pride, Overcoming Idolatry etc.

I hope my post today helped you my friend. This weight loss journey has not been an easy one for me. I began the year thinking I was going to lick this thing once and for all and it has proven to be full of ups and downs. But thankfully, in Jesus there is always hope and always a chance for change. And that is one of the most wonderful things about living every day withe Jesus!

WEDNESDAY WEIGH-IN: Loving Jesus

Wow, it’s been 5 weeks since I posted about my Wednesday Weigh-In. That’s because quite honestly, I quit weighing myself for awhile because I was off track. I was off track and couldn’t bring myself to face the scale. But I kept praying and trying and reaching for tools that have helped me in the past like Beth Moore’s book called Praying God’s Word.

Each Praying God’s Word chapter is filled with scripture prayers that address specific areas of human weakness such as pride, unforgiveness, sexual sins, and food related strongholds. Whenever I feel weak, or like I can’t pray, I pull out my well worn copy of Praying God’s Word and immerse myself in the Biblical truths. And when I am done, I always feel better (cleaner). And more ready to face my struggles.

The Bible verifies the liberating power of meditating on the word of God: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (Psalm 119: 9)

And Jesus himself testified of the cleansing power of spoken word: “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”(John 15:3)

The word is meant to cleanse. It’s intended to scrub our minds and spirits of the filth of the flesh. So why do I still fall short so many times? Because I am flesh, because I am as the word says, ‘but dust’(Psalm 103:14).

And yet, Jesus Christ still reaches for me – and you. Even in our failings, mine with my weight and yours with whatever trips you up. Jesus keeps reaching because He loves us, and wants what is best for us. And because He loves us so much, we ought to keep trying. At least that is what I’ve determined to do – not because I necessarily believe I can really lose all 200 pounds that I need to lose, but because I love Jesus, and it pleases Him that I make the effort.

So for today, my way of living every day with Jesus is to share these thoughts with you, and post a few current pictures so you can see what I’m dealing with.  But mostly it's so I can stay accountable to you my faithful reader, to myself and to my Lord.