A Display of His Splendor

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of His splendor."
Isaiah 61:1-3


You'll notice that the name of this blog comes from these verses. First of all, there is FREEDOM for those of us in captivity. Like I've said before, my weight loss journey only really began when I asked God to break the chains that have been holding me down for most of my life. I couldn't seem to free myself from the cycle of going back to overeating. I've been a prisoner of my own bad habits, but thankfully there is freedom in Christ! He can make this change permanent!

Second, how many of us need to hear that this is the year of the Lord's favor? I've felt His favor over this past year, and I'm looking forward to what God will do again this year. I say AMEN to the promises of God!

Third, I love the third verse. I'm so grateful to God for giving us a crown of beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise rather than a spirit of despair. There have been many times throughout my life where being overweight has earned me ridicule. In fact, there have been many tears cried because of my looks or comments said or both. (In fact, this makes me blush as I write this.) But, God is changing that around... He gives us beauty where we have had sadness. It is by His grace that our lives are changed.

Most of all, though, I can't stress enough that I started really losing weight when I made a commitment to re-wallpaper my thoughts with His truth. I had to give up the feelings of despair and the thoughts that I would always look a certain way and instead open my Bible everyday and see what God says. His word has renewed my mind and given me new hope and new motivation. Yes, I may be forming different habits, but it is only by God's grace in my life. I want nothing more than to be called a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. If or when I reach my goal, the glory is all God's.

Dear Lord, may we each be a display of Your splendor. Lord, we thank You for the year of Your favor. We ask that when we look back next year on this moment, it would be a defining time in our lives where we are able to re-wallpaper our hearts and minds with Your holy Word and give up thoughts of despair and feelings of sadness. May we be called oaks of righteousness, healthy and thin for Your glory! In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!