I would like to bump this heartfelt topic back up to the top, I can relate so much to feeling like I let God down being overweight.
Like I haven't listened to him, or trusted him enough to lose weight. I know what to do, but don't (Romans 7). I know I need to eat healthy and exercise more.
I trust and obey God in other areas of my life, why not my health?
Christian are to be separate from the world, not part of, but being overweight I look and act just like the rest of the world.
I know its an inside job as well, but when my outside doesn't look right, the inside suffers as well.
I know God loves me not matter what, however when I don't love myself or feel worthy of Gods love, its difficult to stick with any food plan or exercise.
If being sick and tired all the time, then I'm not healthy and strong enough to do Gods work.
I believe God looks at you very differently from how you look at yourself. Some people think God judges them as being "bad" or "good," depending on what or how much they eat or how much they weigh. Or, they judge themselves as bad or good and then take it further and believe God does the same. But, I know God looks at you through the eyes of love. I know that b/c He IS love. Right now, He's probably heartbroken that you're heartbroken over your weight. He's NOT up there saying, "Karen, you're BAD." He's saying, "Karen, let me help you feel better deep down." Weight is such a trivial thing in the grand scheme. I believe when you feel better deep down, you then have fewer triggers that lead you to eat when you're not physically hungry and the weight comes off without that internal struggle you alluded to. So, I say we should all let go of the guilt and shame the Accuser wants to heap on us and accept God's love and mercy instead. Then, the weight loss comes MUCH more easily. Of course, there's other, nuts and bolts stuff to know for the weight loss.....I know b/c I lost 75 pounds 27 years ago. I learned a lot since then....But, still, the first step is letting go of the guilt and shame.
KAREN ~ I agree with what RITA said -- we were just discussing something similar to this on our Christian Encourager's thread recently. GOD loves you and HE wants you to be healthy and well; but we have lots to work on and really need to find out what triggers us to eat when we are not hungry. GOD can help that part heal in us, so we will enjoy food, but eat for fuel instead of trying to drown our hurts with food. I know that is so for me ...
I am learning other ways to soothe my hurts; like singing and reciting praises out loud ... this always changes how I feel, and helps me get into a better mood and frame of mind. Life has a lot of struggles, but we need to find other outlets for our emotions.
PLus, GOD offers us comfort; and HE has already provided a way to deal with our shortcomings and guilt: JESUS took care of all that on the cross ... why do we want to pick that all back up again and try to carry it ourselves? Give this burden to the LORD, and leave it there. If it comes back up -- do it again and again and again, until it becomes a new practice ...
The other day somebody said something rude to me -- in the past, I would have reacted by eating something, but this time, I didn't. I went to the Word (the bible) and started reading, reciting, and singing praises to GOD: this is like a healing balm to our hearts, our minds, and our spirits -- and, I had one of the best OP (on plan) days this week ...
GOD is teaching me, slowly but surely, not to let others ROB me of my gladness, my happiness, my joy, and my hope! GOD will and can help us, if we are willing to listen to HIM. You may be disappointed in yourself, but that doesn't mean GOD is ... HE provided a remedy for that too ... LOVE!
Last edited by Justwant2Bhealthy; 01-17-2010 at 04:29 PM.
Karen I have been there and maybe i should still feel like I have let God down, but Karen I don't. I asked God to let me help help others, ya see I used to be 40 - 45 pounds lighter, I had lost 90 pounds but gained 40 to 45 back but I have this Texan stuburn streak running through my soul. I will fight nail and tooth to loose that weight again, I am not going to give up. I know Jesus loves me and he wants to see me suceed.
Karen I am taking baby steps to lose weight I used to jump in and sink or swim attitude but not anymore, I have been taught to be patient with my body and lure it into exercise instead of forcing myself. For example: I love to dance to music washing dishes,[using calories] ha! I just know someday my husband is going to come in and catch me. I love to work with plants[using calories] and my garden and yes you could hear me talking to them![using calories] I don't like being hungry so I went on a low carb diet.
I am 57 years old Karen and my body is far from perfect but it has carried my soul around and put up with my soul for 57 years and it deserves to be treated with respect and love, from me. That means discilpline, knowing what is best for my body, that means eating the way I feel is best and making exercise fun not a have too but a want too! I also do not call myself FAT anymore, I call myself a well built woman , I just need a few trimings here and there and I am God's work in progress. He is working on my soul and I am doing my part by working on getting healthy. Karen does that make sense?
Last edited by Bootsie; 01-17-2010 at 10:08 PM.
Reason: spelling
Wonderful story, thank you for sharing. If she wasn't in such good health she may had died right there on the spot.
I just want to be a blessing to God and do the will of The Father, for me right now it getting healthy and losing weight. Also putting God before food, quit using food as an idol and focus on God.
Today I am prayer for eating right for The Lord.
What would Jesus eat?
Would Jesus eat that?
My body is my temple, and sometimes my weight stops me from really living. One of the main reasons for my weight loss is out of devotion to God and the body he gave me.
