Better Genes Via Adoption

"For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:4-6

Many times I've thought that part of my problem with obesity is my genes. My father's side of the family is extraordinarily heavy, so it must be a function of an inherited malfunctioning metabolism, right? But, I think overeating stems more from environment than it does biological disposition. I grew up in a household that ate whatever we wanted when we wanted. That's what feels "natural" so making this life change seems extraordinarily difficult at times.

This past Sunday, though, we visited a church that is doing a study of Ephesians. The first 14 verses talk about being "IN HIM." If you read the entire passage, you'll notice this phrase over and over again. We were predestined for adoption through Jesus Christ to be holy and blameless! In essence, we are adopted children. (And, as it was explained to me in a previous Bible study, we want to be adopted as sons because that means that we get the rights and riches of a son whereas women at this time didn't get such privileges).

With God as our Father, we have no excuses. We have the perfect example to watch. We have new "genes" through the deposit of His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), which gives us the POWER to live a new life. We are new creations, children of the omnipotent God!!!

I love my children SO much! If they needed or wanted something - something that was beneficial for them - and it was in my power to make it happen, I would do it. Make the sacrifice, do whatever I could, it would be done! Now picture God as our Father, the picture of the perfect parent. It was in His power to save us from our sin, and He made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His only begotten Son for us. If we ask Him to make us healthy and thin to serve Him better along with those He's put into our lives, don't you think that He will answer YES! And don't you think He has the power to make it happen for us? We simply need to get on board with His plan!

We are adopted as His children. We have the power of His Spirit. We have His promises that He will do whatever we ask in His Name. We need to believe in the Almighty and get out of this mindset that we're never going to change because we've always been this way. Hallelujah! God SAVES!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being holy and blameless. Thank You for being our amazing Lord. We believe in You, God. We believe that You sent Your Son for us so that we - through the forgiveness of our sins that You have given us - can become Your adopted heirs. Thank You for the Holy Spirit! Please empower us to do Your will. Please help us become healthy and thin for Your glory. Help us serve You and the lives You've put around us to the best of our ability. Lord, we come to You humbly and beg for Your mercy and help. Thank You for being faithful and true! In Jesus' Name we pray, AMEN!

Open Wide

"Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—if you would only listen to me, Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." Psalm 81:8-10

Today I started a new Bible study called "A Woman of Moderation." In it, Dee Brestin talks about the fact that we fill our craving for God with food when we're hungry for Him and not physically hungry. I've heard this many times, but today it really hit a cord with me.

In the above verses, God tells us that we are NOT to have any gods but Him - including food! - and that He is the One who delivers us from slavery and bondage to such addictions. Then He promises that if we open wide our mouths, HE will fit it. What a promise! He will satisfy our cravings, help us when we're bored, and heal our internal wounds. Food can't "fix" us, but God can if we'll trust Him rather than our impulses to gorge ourselves.

Is it wrong to enjoy food? Not at all. Is it wrong to rely on food for our happiness when God is desiring to fulfill our needs? YES! He alone can satisfy our deepest longings and desires.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to us. Thank You for being holy, worthy and amazing. God, we appreciate You meeting our longings and filling our mouths. We need You to do a work in our hearts and our lives. May we be set free from the slavery to overeating, just like the Israelites were freed from their bondage to Egypt. Help us not to bow down to any other gods and dishonor You. Help us live for Your glory. Please make us healthy and thin. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

Do You Agree?

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19

Realizing that the struggle of addiction goes beyond a simple "eat less and exercise more and you'll be thin," I want you to know that I get it. If you're struggling in this area like I am, it's something you want so badly and can't seem to get there. I know in my head what's right, but I continue to make poor choices. I read a quote once that said something to the effect that we abandon what we want most when we give in to what we want right now. I've been asking God to help me in the area of discipline. I truly need it! I want to live a life of moderation. I want to be able to say no to myself and feel satisfied with the decision. It seems so simple to say and yet SO hard to do. I need prayer! I need my Father! I need the Holy Spirit to guide me in each and every moment.

I believe God's Word is truth. I believe what Jesus says in this verse is true - if we (you reading this and me writing this) agree about anything we ask for, it will be done by God the Father in heaven. So, let's ask together, shall we? Let's agree to ask for both of us right now.


Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Jesus and His salvation. We thank You for His ministry on earth where we read the words that He spoke in truth. We thank You for His dying on the cross and resurrection - death that brings life to us. God, we know that You can raise the dead to life, so we know that nothing is impossible with you. Together, the two of us (reader and writer) ask to be healthy and thin for Your ultimate glory. Please help us lose weight, look great, and give honor to You in the process. Give us discipline, Lord, and help us lead a life of moderation. We can't do it without You, but YOU can do it for us. We believe that You'll grant our request. We need You today. Thank You, God, for your quick answer. In Jesus' Name we pray, AMEN!

Take Heart!

"Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' He said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed from that moment." Matthew 9:22

Lately, I have been lacking the faith that God can heal me of my addiction. I've gained back all the weight I had lost. Knowing better, I walked right back into the trap of sin, thinking that I could let go of it on my own at any time. I'll admit that I thought I could lose it through nursing or just not eating once I was done being pregnant. And here I am unable to get any ground. A picture of how I'm feeling is bald tires spinning on ice: turning and turning, there's no traction and very little hope.

But, as I've been reading the Bible again, I realize that my hope cannot be in my own ability to be more perfect. Without excuses, I am a sinner in need of forgiveness and life change. I am again at a spot where I must admit defeat and rely on the power of Jesus to save and to heal. Only He can! I get no glory from this situation. I look and feel awful. BUT, I believe that God can save anyone He chooses to. And I believe that He can heal someone instantly if He wants to. And I'm hoping like the woman in this story that I can somehow press through and grab just the tip of His cloak... that through faith in Him alone and His power to heal, I can be restored to who I was meant to be.

I have no hope on my own. My only prayer is for Jesus to rescue me. I know He can. I believe He can. I'm willing to wait and push on. I'm willing to believe that He is the giver of good gifts and that He can make me "healed from that very moment." I invite you to pray with me!

Dear Heavenly Father, You are holy. You are perfect and righteous. I, on the other hand, have sinned greatly before you. The sin I've committed has caused me to look and feel bad. I can't seem to change on my own. So, I'm desperately seeking You. If only I could touch You here where I'm at, I believe You can save me. Truly, You are my only hope! Please, don't let me go unnoticed. Please forgive the terrible sins I've committed. Please keep me from evil. May Your good and gracious will be done in my life. I commit myself to You, in the name of Your glory. Thank You for Your amazing Word and faithfulness. Thank You for bringing life to death and healing us. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

He Must Become Greater; I Must Become Less

"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

How many of us want to become less? Pick me! I wish I weighed and looked a whole lot LESS! What's the key? John knew. He said it when he noted that Jesus must become greater. When there is more of God in our lives, there is less of us, including less of our human nature that leads us into temptation and sin.

More importantly, John understood that we need to glorify God. It isn't about us. There are many instances in the Bible where someone didn't give credit to God and was immediately struck by Him. The first instance I remember was Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. He was proud and said in verse 30, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" He no more than spoke the words and a voice from heaven told him that his royal authority had been stripped from him - for seven years his sanity was taken and he lived like a wild animal outside. Picking up in verse 34:

 ³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

   His dominion is an eternal dominion;
   his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
   are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
   with the powers of heaven
   and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
   or say to him: “What have you done?”

 ³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The next time I saw a similar situation was in Acts 12:23 "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." 

The Bible is clear that we are to give God the glory in all circumstances, humbling ourselves and recognizing that He alone is the giver of all good things. Luke 17:10 tells us "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

I believe that God created us to praise and glorify Him. If we can use our past sin and current obedience for His holy Name, then should do so. We need to make sure that we aren't congratulating ourselves on a job well done but rather focusing on God and His glory. Our weight loss journey isn't about gym memberships, workouts, diets, or even really weight or looks. We need to get into the mindset that God alone is to be glorified through our bodies. If we can grasp this concept, I think we can lay hold of the mighty power that He offers through His Son in forgiving our sin and allowing us to start over. As I look at my body and wish it were better, I often think "If only I could start over and knowing what I know now make better choices from birth - if only I could be born again!" Friends, we can be born again! And I believe that God can give us a fresh body if we allow Him to. Only He can do it, so only He can get the credit. Let's pray!

Father God, thank You for the work of the cross. May we never forget the cost to you of our salvation. We confess that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We ask that You forgive us and give us fresh, new bodies along with a fresh, new start. When we do all that You've commanded, may we say with a true heart, "We only did our duty as unworthy servants." Lord, we are humbly asking for LESS of us! I want to be a whole lot less! In the place of me (and my fat) may there be more of You. Please become greater in my life! I love you, Lord Jesus. Have Your way and be glorified in me today. I ask You to make me healthy and thin for your glory. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

I remember my husband telling me once "you can't out-exercise a bad diet." I really thought about that for a long time. Knowing that most of weight loss comes from simply eating less calories than you need to burn, why can't I make myself eat less? I'm not going to starve to death. There's no real tangible reason that I need to eat as much as I do. So, with that knowledge in my head, why can't I seem to change my physical actions? Why can't I do better? How can I know something and do the complete opposite?

As I was showering today, I asked myself the question "what triggers my eating?" My first answer in this last rebound into sin was "I deserve it." That sounds crazy, but when I'm sick (like the beginning of my pregnancy), when I'm in pain (like after surgery or a recent fall where I broke my toe), when I'm tired (since I'm up feeding my baby all night long), I feel like I DESERVE to feel good. It's my right to enjoy life, and I enjoy food. It's my pleasure or addiction - why not give into cravings when I've had a rough day? If it makes me feel better, why not? After all, I've worked hard at being a mom, wife, cleaning the house, whatever the excuse is... I deserve it! I think this is where the above verse comes into play. We are to walk humbly with our God.

We don't deserve anything. Well, what we deserve is death and hell from the sin we've committed. Where do we get off feeling like we deserve more than we've been given? After all, looking at my own life, I have a wonderful husband, three beautiful children, a nice enough house, plenty to eat, clothes to wear, etc. Even if I've had a rough day, how do I think that I deserve even more than the grace I've been given? It's crazy to even think. And yet, this psychological trait is what gets me into trouble 9 out of 10 times. It's something I simply must give to God. The Lord detests pride (I deserve it!) and idol worship (addiction to food!). I'm praying to be in right relationship with him, so I need to get rid of this mentality that life is about me and not about Him.

The other times where it's not deserving, I think it's hopelessness. How can I ever expect to do better? I've willingly gained a ton of weight, eaten whatever I've wanted, and now I even have a broken toe to boot! How can I exercise? How can I eat less calories when my body has become accustomed to the intake I've had? I've been heavy all my life, is there anything but despair for my future? Will my husband ever look at me and say "wow, she's smokin!" And this is where I think that we need to love mercy. God desires to give us mercy if we'll turn to him. Do we deserve His grace? By no means! Does He give it freely if we repent? Absolutely! I can't do this walk on my own. Instead, I need to rely on God for every step of the way. I must love His mercy, act justly (do what is right) and walk ever-so-humbly with Him if I am going to have any hope for the future.

Dear God, thank You that You are a just and loving God. Thank You that You desire mercy, not sacrifice. Thank You for showing us the path to life! Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. Break the chains of addiction, free us from anything we've done that isn't of You, help us to walk humbly with You on this journey toward a healthy temple that Your Spirit dwells in. Please forgive us and help us start fresh today, even this very minute. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

I've been thinking lately about Sarah & Abraham. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation. And Sarah - thinking of her inadequacies to bear children up to that point, I'm presuming - decided to take the matter into her own hands and have Abraham sleep with her servant Hagar. Now, I would NEVER want to share my husband for any reason. The thought of it makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. But, I think Sarah wanted to help God fulfill His promise. (See Genesis 16.) What Sarah didn't realize is that God doesn't need help to accomplish His plans. Sure, He wants our obedience. But, He does as He pleases (Daniel 4:35) and answers to no one.

God didn't need Sarah to create a round-about way to give Abraham children. He gave them a son together - even in their old age. Sarah tried to do things her way, and what ended up happening was detrimental rather than helpful. Going about it her own way lead to heart ache on her part, her servant's part, and the children's part - and continues to fuel problems to this day. Even now, from what I understand the muslim religion holds that Ishmael (the boy born first to the servant) was the one who received Abraham's blessing from God rather than Isaac, the son born of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. Her actions ended up resulting in the creation of a whole new religion that departed from God's truth!

I think sometimes we try to go about God's business in our ways rather than His. I think of losing weight and immediately I think I need to starve myself and exercise round the clock. In fact, last Sunday I decided to go for a run even though I haven't been getting much sleep at night. I figured that I enjoy exercising and that must be the right way to lose weight. But, the following day, I fell and broke my toe. No more running for me for at least six weeks, the doctor said. I was devastated. But, I didn't start my weight loss journey with exercise. Sure, it came later. But, originally, it started by me reading my Bible and highlighting Scripture that spoke to a healthier lifestyle (and thus me writing this).

God knows that real change - not yo-yo diets but REAL life change - stems from the heart. I have to get my thoughts in line with His before I'm going to see lasting change occur. God could, if He desired, make me thin overnight. I wholeheartedly believe that. So, why not read my Bible, and pray and petition God? He is the source of change. And if I want to be successful, I need to submit to His authority and the way that He has prescribed. His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine. The best I can do is talk with Him - via reading the Bible and prayer - and learn what His ways and thoughts might be.

I also tend to think His ways can be easier than we think. That sounds silly. But, Sarah didn't need to share her husband with another woman. She needed to wait on God and trust that He would help her conceive. Trusting and waiting sound hard, but the experience is a lot more rewarding than all the work we do in place of the right thing. Today I'm feeling like God's way is to read our Bible, pray and listen to the Holy Spirit when we hear cues from Him. Beyond that, I need to trust that if He wants me to lose weight, He will be my strength, my source, my vision and my guide.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being the way, the truth and the life. Thank You for communicating your thoughts and ways to us - even though they are much higher than ours - through Your Word. Help us make time to read our Bibles and pray each day. May we listen to You and do things Your way. God we ask that You make us healthy and thin - and that You receive the glory for it. Instead of us doing it the world's way or our own way, please teach us YOUR way. Please create lasting change in our hearts and free us from addiction to overeating and sinful pleasures. I trust You, God, to help us. We need You and ask You for this good gift. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!