God Disciplines His Children

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11

I think this is a season of my life where I am enduring discipline from God. The true definition of discipline is not punishment, but rather teaching. However, these verses go on to say that the Lord punishes everyone he accepts as a son. There are times that I deserve far worse, I fear.

But, these verses start off reminding us of encouragement from the Lord. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. What an awesome thought! 


Do you know someone who lacks discipline in their life? It permeates into everything they do, I think. I can name several. In thinking of them, though, I believe we often can judge others but fail to point the finger at ourselves. Do we lack discipline in an area of our lives? There are many times that I see young children and think, "If only their parents cared enough to discipline them when necessary, life would be easier for them...and for the parents!" Discipline is no easy task, though. We as earthly parents screw it up far too often with our sin nature. But, God gets it right every time. And He loves us more than we love our kids (which is hard for me to even fathom!). 


The last two verses really struck me. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Is eating healthier a pain to you? It feels like it to me right now! Is exercising fun to you? I'll admit that I'm sore and tired of waking up early just to put on my sneakers! But, we see a promise of God here...later on, it will produce what? A HARVEST of RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE for those who have been trained by it. What is producing this righteousness and peace? God's Word. If you've felt the rebuke from His Holy Spirit or His Word, He's showing You how much He loves you, child. He wants you to be the best you can be...like a parent only a far better one than any earthly relationship we have. Don't lose heart! You are a loved child of the Most High! You will see a harvest coming...and you can praise your Heavenly Father for it!


Dear God, forgive us when we've grumbled about Your discipline or felt rejected. Help us remember that You only train us because You love us. Lord, we need Your punishment in our lives if we're going to see the harvest come. Produce in us righteousness and peace...make us holy like You. Lord, help us make wise choices, practice self-control and learn to focus on You as part of this journey of losing weight. May our bodies be dwellings of the Holy Spirit, glorifying to You, Father God. May we feel loved today as Your precious child. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Throw Off the Sin That So Easily Entangles

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

I love these verses and think of them often. Let's throw off EVERYTHING that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us. I picture in my mind the times that I've been jogging in a sweatshirt and get too hot and I just throw it off... may my addiction to overeating be like that (only I tend to pick the sweatshirt back up and tie it around my waist...okay, maybe it's not a good analogy!). But, if something is holding you back - if you feel that yoke around your neck, it's time that that bondage is broken in the name of Jesus! Be rid of it so that you can run with perseverance!


We have a race marked out for us. God knows our every path, and what do we need to do? Fix our eyes on Jesus! He is our finish line! How can you race if you don't know where the end is? But, if your eyes are ever on the end, you'll get there by the straightest means possible. 


When we think of all the suffering Jesus did on the cross, it's easier to "not grow weary and lose heart." Last night I was searching for the song "He's My Son" by Mark Schultz and saw some clips from the Passion movie...it gave me the strength and motivation I needed to get up early this morning and continue on this weight loss journey. For if He gave His life up for me, I can glorify Him with my body. I can press on in this race. And, with His help, I can get rid of the sin in my life that is holding me back from finishing this thing. To God be the glory!


Dear Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. May we never forget how much You've done for us. Please help us run this race...may our eyes always be fixed on You. And, we pray that You would break the chains of our bondage and the sin that is entangling us and keeping us from victory on this journey. We desire to glorify You with our bodies. Help us race! Help us run! May we know that we're working toward getting to Your loving arms at the finish line. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Run to Get the Prize

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

This weekend was beautiful, and I decided to go for a jog since the sun was shining. I kept thinking of the verses on 'running the race' and this one seemed most appropriate for today. When you're exercising, even if you're by yourself, run in such a way to get the prize...a crown that will last forever! While this exercising isn't always easy, our suffering is giving us a crown to lay at Jesus' feet.

Some of you are in a race against each other to lose weight. Give it all you've got to win the prize, but remember our real prize is eternal... may we glorify God in all that we do and all that we are.

Dear Father, we thank You that Your word is truth. Lord, I don't believe for a second that the metaphors You used in Your word were "by chance." You knew we'd read them and smile in our current 'race.' Help us train in such a way that we receive the eternal prize, and may we honor You in the process of running. We love You, Lord Jesus! In Your powerful and precious name we pray, AMEN!

Be Holy

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:13-16

I read these verses this morning as I was thinking about what to write about and had self-control on the brain. Then, on the way to meet some friends for lunch, I heard it again in a sermon on the radio. So, I assumed that it was God telling me it was time for this one to be highlighted.

First, in looking at this passage, I think it's important to know that the battle is often won in our minds. We must prepare our minds for action. If we're constantly thinking about food, chances are we're going to slip up. I know that if I'm going to get up early the next morning, I need to make up my mind the night before that there will be no hitting the snooze button on my alarm. If I entertain thoughts of sleeping in, I do. Every time.

Next, as obedient children, we aren't to conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance. Instead, we are called to be holy in ALL that we do. Holiness isn't just for Bible reading or worship...it also permeates into all areas of our life.

And, while I can write about it here, I'm far from perfecting it in my life. This morning I heard the sermon on being holy and set apart, not conforming to everything the world thinks is 'normal.' Plus, I read this Scripture this morning. Yet, when I got to the Cheesecake Factory, I hadn't made my mind up not to have dessert. When my friends all insisted on having cheesecake since that was the name of the restaurant, I felt funny not getting a piece. After all, I told myself, that decision would set me apart as 'abnormal' or worse, as the 'fat girl.' So, I got dessert and coffee like the other girls, hurting my physical body and my wallet. I felt immediate conviction. I could have used the opportunity in not being normal to be holy instead as God commanded. I could have given my testimony to these college friends that I hadn't seen in ten years about the wonderful work God is doing in my life. Instead, I desperately wanted to blend in and cared more about their approval rather than God's.

Once again, I had to come home and confess that I am only a sinner in need of God's grace, love and compassion. Once again, I had to remind myself that this is a battle that will be won only by the blood of Jesus. If I thought on my own I could just eat better and exercise (things that we know will produce results) and keep the weight off forever, I would be kidding myself. Instead, I know that it is only through the mighty power of God that this addiction to unhealthiness will be overcome. I am only a humble vessel to be used for His purposes.

In the meantime, with His forgiveness, I must pick myself back up and ask the Holy Spirit to give me self-control and prepare my mind. I also set my hope on Jesus!

Dear Jesus, we cry out to You. We are sinners! We have failed to set ourselves apart as holy even though You tell us to be like You, holy and righteous. Please forgive us! Please have mercy on us! We praise You that You are loving and compassionate. We don't deserve Your grace, but we thank You for it. Please don't give up on us! And help us not give up, too. Please help us continue on this path of losing weight and glorifying You with our bodies. Help us not conform to the world but instead may we only honor You with all we do. We fall on our face before You and ask that You change us and break us free from this addiction forever. We worship You alone. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!

The Lord Lifts UP All Who Are Bowed Down

"The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:14-19

When I read Psalm 145 the other morning, I noticed the footnotes that tell us that this psalm was written as an acrostic poem in the Hebrew language, meaning each line started with the successive letters of the alphabet...how cool! I love little artistic touches in the Word of God! I originally put the entire Psalm here, but then decided I wanted to just look at verses 14-19 (I encourage you to read the entire Psalm on your own, though).

We're a month into our journey together in losing weight. Some of you may have incredible momentum built up while others of you are struggling to stay motivated. Take heart! God upholds all who fall. When I skip a day of exercise or over-eat at a restaurant, part of me wants to give up in hopelessness that I'll never change. But, I think we need to realize that this is a life change, a neverending journey of faith. We are not dieting; we are becoming more like Jesus. Don't give up!

In a recent Bible study I completed on the Psalms of Ascent, Beth Moore noted how God's people fell face down in worship in Leviticus. She asked us to fall on our faces each day before the Lord as we started reading the Bible. I'll admit that I felt awkward at first, but the act felt powerful because God honors our humility. I've experienced His blessing (and seen how badly my carpets need cleaned!). Verse 14 in Psalm 145 tells us that He lifts up all who are bowed down. I encourage you to bow before your King and Maker as often as possible, even daily! When we humble ourselves before God, He lifts us up and our focus becomes fixed on Him.

These verses also tell us the Lord gives us food at the proper time AND satisfies our desires with His open hand. We can eat and still receive our desire to have a healthy body...God is righteous and loving toward all He has made. He is near to us when we call on Him in truth, He hears our cries and will save us, and He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him. When I think of God's awesomeness and the power He has to save or destroy, I have no choice but to fear Him, get on my face before Him and worship His Majesty. Praise the Lord today! He will save you!

Dear God, we thank You that Your word is truth. We fear You, Father, and we humble ourselves before You today. We ask that You lift us up, save us from our evil desires, heal us and make us healthy and thin for Your ultimate glory. We love You, Lord God! Have Your way with our lives today. Thank You that You are righteous and loving toward us. We love You, too. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Be Self-Controlled & Alert

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9

For awhile now, these verses have been in my journal, where I started to "re-wallpaper my heart & mind with truth," since once again there is another command to be self-controlled. But these verses also offer us another angle to our struggle that I'd like to talk about. First, though, I must give credit where credit is due: I just started a new Bible study (in addition to my own readings & study) called "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" by Beth Moore. Here are some things I've learned thus far:

After starting the study and reading these verses, I believe the devil is after us, God's children, for several reasons. For one, we worship God alone and refuse to bow down to Satan. Beth Moore (2003) gives two other reasons for our struggle with the devil: 1) he is trying to exact revenge on God by wreaking havoc on His children and 2) he is trying to incapacitate the believer's God-given ability to overcome him. (Revelation 12:11 says "They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony" so if the blood is a done-deal then our testimony is what Satan is after.)

The above verses say the devil is like a roaring lion looking to devour people. What are we to do? Resist him, standing firm in the faith!!! Your struggle to have a pure, healthy & holy temple for the Holy Spirit's dwelling does not go unnoticed by the devil. He will attack you at every opportunity and try to keep you from achieving your goal of giving God all the glory for the outcome of this journey. You must resist! This is as much a Spiritual battle as it is a physical battle. So, be alert! Be self-controlled! Be attentive to God, His Word and the Holy Spirit!

Now I'd like to give you an excerpt from Beth Moore's devotion from this morning:
"Look back at the final word in verse 9. The word is sufferings...Not everyone in a stronghold of sin is having a good time. Many people who by the grace of God have never been had by the devil wrongly assume that all departures from godliness are nothing but defiance, rebellion, and proofs of inauthenticity. They have no idea the suffering involved when someone with a genuine heart for God slips from the path. Tangling with a roaring lion who is trying his hardest to devour you can constitute real and authentic suffering..." Later she writes about temptations, "Not unlike temptations Satan hurled at Christ, they can vary in type, but one thing is for sure: They are tailor made to catch the believer off guard. Many sincere believers fall before they even know what hit them."

We are in a war. We had better arm ourselves for battle. Fasting, prayer, becoming in tune with the Holy Spirit, worship, reading the Word, studying the verses, being obedient and applying the Bible to our lives... this is how we will overcome. The scale is not the enemy (although there are mornings I feel like it is!). But it can be a reflection of our hearts. We must be careful not to worship ourselves or spend our time thinking of us. What is this battle for health truly about? We want to glorify God! We want Him to dwell in our bodies! We want to obey His word! We want to be healthy enough to serve others. May our testimony send that lion reeling back to the pit of hell where he deserves to be. Only by the blood of Jesus will we victorious! Praise Him with your life today!

Dear God, we thank You that we don't need to worry because You have won the war for good. We know how this battle turns out. Lord God, we also thank You that Your word tells us that whoever touches us touches the apple of Your eye (Zech. 2:8). We thank You that like the Passover, our bodies are sealed with the blood of Christ - nothing can come in and destroy us. Lord, help us be self-controlled and alert so we can resist the temptation that is tailor made to make us fall. We admit that we are tempted by overeating and laziness. Help us walk away from these behaviors and obey your word where we are to honor You with our bodies. Lord, arm us for battle with Your Word. Help us overcome in this area of our lives for Your glory, and Lord let our testimony shine for You. You are the only One that receives praise for the work You are doing in us. We worship You alone! In Jesus' name, AMEN!

True Fasting

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness (or your righteous one) will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:6-11

I remember reading this passage and feeling a bit convicted. So many times as I have fasted with seemingly good or 'pure' motives, I would also secretly think in the back of my mind "now I should also drop a few pounds." But, what we think is "secret" is not hidden to God.

The above verses show us the type of fasting He has called us to do...to take care of the needs of others, to give clothes to the poor and food to the hungry and to satisfy the needs of the oppressed. We are to think of the needs of others and also rid ourselves of malicious talk...ouch!

But, what also jumped out at me was how many times this passage talks about doing away with chains, yokes and oppression. Again, we want to be "Breaking Free" from our addiction to sin, which for me is an addiction to food. I can picture in my mind being chained to overeating, the yoke of obesity on my body, literally making me move this way or that as I struggle under the weight, and feeling oppressed because I can't seem to break the habits I've formed over my life.

I think this passage does call us to fast. I needed to fast to prove to myself that I could say no to food for a whole day. It wasn't easy, but I relied on God's strength. More than anything, I wanted to say to the Lord with my actions that He was first in my life. Whether or not I lost weight, I wanted to be freed from the oppression I was experiencing.

This passage also makes us a promise. If we do this kind of fasting with all the elements (including getting rid of pointing the finger and malicious talk), our healing will quickly appear! Also, the Lord will answer us when we call on Him. Moreover, God will guide us...and STRENGTHEN OUR FRAME!!!

I need the Lord to teach me the right type of fasting. I don't want to starve myself for the sake of being skinny. I want to rid myself of any yokes I've allowed to enslave me and live my life for the Lord's glory, helping others in need and purifying myself before God. I look forward to the Lord's answer, our healing, a strengthened 'frame.' Praise Jesus!

Dear Lord, we thank You for teaching us how to fast. Please help us satisfy the needs of the oppressed and feed the hungry. Teach us specifically things that we should do. Also, help us get rid of malicious talk and pointing fingers. Lord, forgive us where we have done this in the past or fasted for unrighteous reasons. Allow us to realize the importance of saying no to food, that we may honor and glorify You and be yoked to You and You alone. Please break the chains that tie us to our addictions and free us - bring our healing quickly! Please answer us and strengthen our frame. We love your promises, oh Lord. May we bring glory to You in everything we do. In Jesus' name, AMEN!