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!

Knitting Needles

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18

I heard a sermon months ago using the above verses. The speaker, one of my favorites (Jason Mitchell), talked about how we were made by God, who knew and created each detail about us. We can't be frustrated with who we are if we are going to become who God created us to be. Think about that last sentence for a moment - we can't be frustrated with who we are if we are going to become who God created us to be. As I thought about it, I thought about how annoyed I am that I struggle with weight. My husband doesn't care what he eats, for the most part. Why do I struggle with cravings? Why can't I seem to say no? Why do I have a slower metabolism than some folks? Why does this have to be my issue? After all, as I look back at my family, we're all obese. My grandfather was so extremely obese that he choked to death on a hot dog (sad, but true).

But, the above verses remind me that God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't use poor choices in thread and knitting needles when he's creating us. He knew the things we would struggle with... but what an awesome thought that these very things can be what will bring Him the most glory. If we were born to glorify Him, then I believe that sometimes our struggles on this earth are brought about to give Him glory. If life were easy, would we have a testimony to share? If we can overcome the enemy and our past mistakes and behaviors, then we have so much more to praise God for!

God loves us. He made us. His works are wonderful. He knew what He was doing and saw our unformed body before one of our days came to be. I believe that He knew what we would struggle with, and I believe that these very issues can be turned around for His glory.


Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. You are an amazing God! I am so blessed to know You and serve You. We love You, Lord Jesus. Thank You that Your works are wonderful. You don't make mistakes. We are not a mistake. Our struggles are not a mistake. Please help us overcome them so that we can bring You the glory in the midst of this journey. Help us not dwell on our downfalls but look to You to continue perfecting what You started within us. We will not become who we are meant to be DESPITE how we were created but because of how You made us. I am thrilled to be Your creation. I confess I have not always loved how I've looked - please help me overcome the vain selfish desires in my heart and create a pure heart where I can glorify You and how You knit me to be uniquely me. Thank You, God. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

Being Refined, Purified & Made Spotless

"Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time." Daniel 11:35

My third son was born seven weeks ago to the day. And stepping on the scale this evening, I still weigh almost 50 pounds more than I did when I conceived him. YIKES! I was feeling hopeless again today, I'll admit. I fear that I'll never be able to change. I keep giving into cravings rather than obeying what I know to be truth. I hang my head at the fact that I lost over 80 pounds and then gained most of them back in nine short months. And I certainly can't blame my amazing little guy - for even pregnancy has no bearing on behavior or habit. For if my weight was based on circumstances and not sin, I would have been able to lose more this past seven weeks since he's been born.

I finally made the time to read God's Word again today. And the above verse jumped out at me. Some of the "wise" will stumble. I don't necessarily consider myself wise. I am learning more and more as I read and study God's Word, though, and in this context I felt that it was saying "people who know their God" (Daniel 11:32). Oh, how I hope that can be said of me! Reading on, the wise will stumble SO THAT THEY MAY BE REFINED, PURIFIED AND MADE SPOTLESS...

I have definitely stumbled in this journey of losing weight. It has been a long hiatus. But, I need to hold tight to the idea that it's never too late to try again. If there can be a purpose to this stumbling, though, then God has given me hope once again that He can pick me up, dust me off, and strengthen me to try some more. I need refining. I obviously haven't mastered being healthy. I need purifying... looking back, I can see where I was taking some of the glory for my weight loss. After all, I had worked hard, right? WRONG! Only through God's grace was I able to eat better, exercise and lose weight. Honestly, without Him I have no chance. Even though my head knows what's necessary, I can't seem to act on the knowledge. I'm stuck like an addict in sinking sand. But, I know a God who doesn't play by this world's rules. I know that He and only He can help me (and you!). I can't look down on others who need to lose weight. I can't stick my nose up at what they have on their plate while I'm in line at a buffet. For truly, I've been that person... even recently. I can only be humble about what God is doing in my life and hopefully encourage others. May this stumbling come to an end. I'm pleading today for God's mercy... may He refine me, purify me and make me spotless until the time of the end.

Dear Heavenly Father, I am ashamed to even come before You. But, You are worthy of praise. You are worthy of glory. YOU alone are worthy of trying again. May I glorify You with my body, my speech and my actions. May they all come in line with Your plan for my life. Help me to encourage others who are also on this journey. May we all lead healthier lives so we can be used by You for Your holy Name's sake. Lord, if at the end of days, Your appointed time, You say "well done" then all of this, even my horrendous stumbling, will be worth it. Please forgive me. Please pick me up, dust me off and help me do better. Please don't forsake me or turn away because of my sin. I beg for the blood of Jesus to cover me once again. Please teach me how to treat my body like Your holy temple. In Jesus' powerful and precious name I pray, AMEN!