1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The Lord wants us to develop strong convictions. The best Chris-tians are the ones who are unwavering in their faith. God will help us develop a lot of iron so we might become totally committed to whatever we set our minds to. As dieters, we need that kind of con-viction. If we can stand firm in our resolve to lose weight, we can become examples of the power of God to change lives, physically as well as spiritually. When we commit our endeavors to the Lord, we raise them above personal goals and make them a part of our faith walk; a walk we never make alone.
Today's thought: Let my spirit be immovable, not my body!
Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.
As children of loving parents, we always knew they would do what was best for us: loving us, protecting us, providing for us, and teaching us. Our parents wanted us to be happy and fulfilled, and they sacrificed much so we could enjoy life. The Bible reminds us that our heavenly Father loves us even more than any earthly parent every could. We should follow the wisdom of the Lord as children follow the loving guidance of their parents. God will keep us from those things we should not have, if we will only ask Him to. Include God in every aspect of your life, including your diet.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
'How do I know that God will help me lose weight?' The question comes up often, and there is only one response to give: God will help us in every time of need, and He will never turn us away. That is something we just have to know by faith, and we bolster that faith by listening to the Word of God: the Holy Scriptures. God makes wonderful promises to His people, and He is faithful to keep each and every one. He will help us understand His will, if we will only allow Him to do it in His own time and His own way. Listen to the promises of God and receive faith.
Today's thought: I can't hear God if there's fat between my ears!
2 Corinthians 4:16
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
It is interesting how we feel so much better about ourselves when we lose weight. As the fleshy part of our being diminishes, the spiritual part of us blossoms. As we decrease our body mass, we find that we unburden hidden parts of our being. We are renewed in-side as we take care of the bodies we have been given by God. It is not a matter of being perfect, but of being the best we can possibly be. If we will only keep in mind that we are temples of the most high God, then we will be encouraged to do everything in our power to look and be the best that we are able.
Today's thought: As there is less of me, there is more of God!
OH MY GOSH!! MY knees are feeling pain-LESS!!!
My left knee ... which 85% of the time, since scope in 1/2014, felt like a knife was stabbing it...
However, Wednesday a person prayed (YES PRAYED) over my knee ... and I have been pain free
since Wednesday. I speed walked through the grocery store ... the only time I've done this in the
last 10 years ... has been when I was on prednisone!! I'm NOT on prednisone!!
Hallelujah! Maybe bowling and tennis are not far off!!
Matthew 21:21
Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, +Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;' it shall be done.'
Most people like to feel they are in control of their lives. When they are manipulated or made to feel helpless, they rebel and fight with everything they can. Funny how many of the same people are people who refuse to be ruled by their passions. They ask themselves, 'What would Jesus have me do and be?' rather than leaping into situations without any forethought. Christ should be the only Ruler of our lives, and when we turn all power over to Him, miraculous things begin to happen.
Today's thought: The same power that withers figs can wither fat!
OH MY GOSH!! MY knees are feeling pain-LESS!!!
My left knee ... which 85% of the time, since scope in 1/2014, felt like a knife was stabbing it...
However, Wednesday a person prayed (YES PRAYED) over my knee ... and I have been pain free
since Wednesday. I speed walked through the grocery store ... the only time I've done this in the
last 10 years ... has been when I was on prednisone!! I'm NOT on prednisone!!
Hallelujah! Maybe bowling and tennis are not far off!!
Yay! I mentioned before, it's those little things we get from weight loss that makes such a difference in our lives. It's not necessarily the size of clothing or number on the scale. Of course all of that is part of it, but just being able to move better and live our daily life easier and pain free makes such a difference.
Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
When we diet, we need protection. We really do. Dieting puts us in a very vulnerable position. We are weakened, frustrated, irritable, guilty, and a hundred other things that stir us up constantly. We need a shield to guard us from the onslaught of so many difficult emotions and feelings. The Lord provides us with the shield we need through faith. Believing in a God who cares for us and stands beside us is a great comfort and a very real help in our times of need. God will not let us struggle alone. He is our refuge, our shield against the worst our diets can do to us.
Today's thought: Oh, Lord, please protect me from me!
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
There were three young men who found they were in need of help from their fathers. The first young man went to his father, but his father told him he didn't deserve any help. The second young man went to his father, but he was told he could have only so much help, then no more. The last young man went to his father, and he was given all the help he needed, and then some. The father let his son know that no matter how much he needed, he could always come to him. Our Father in heaven is like the third father. We need much help in getting through our diets, and we can know through faith that God will always be there to provide us with what we need.
Today's thought: The more I give up, the more God gives!
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
One thing would really make dieting easier: Knowing what the results are actually going to look like. When we diet, we have to hold onto some image we have created in our own minds. Perhaps it is an image crafted from an old picture, or a memory of what we looked like so many years ago. Still, there is no tangible goal we can point to and say, 'That is what I will look like when I lose weight.' We have to live in hope of something we want, and hope can be scary. Ask God to help you. He will enable us to believe in what we imagine, even when we can't always see it in reality.
Knowing what the results are actually going to look like.... Ask God to help you. He will enable us to believe in what we imagine, even when we can't always see it in reality.
Diana ... so true! I don't see myself as I really am until I see a photo and then I'm blown over by how big I am/was. I was discussing this with a "thin" friend. First, I talked to her about how I'm learning that she's had to WORK at staying small. When I told her I never see/saw myself as big I was ... she said, I don't mean to be mean ... but how could you NOT see how big you were?? I said to her, the same way you don't see how SMALL you are! Which we had discussed earlier.
I have concluded that none of us see ourselves are we really are ... inside and/or outside. Presently all I see is dry skin, wrinkles, hanging stuff ... but, I'm talking to God, just as the devo stated. And, I have surrendered to the fact ... I'd rather have wrinkles and hanging stuff ... then not be able to walk or be healthy. It's a trade off... I can be 300 lbs, big, unhealthy, and use a walker/wheelchair -- or I can be a healthy weight, healthy, able to walk, and maybe even do some outside and inside activities (bowling, tennis, ... etc.) One leads to death ... the other LIFE!! Hallelujah! Today ~ I choose LIFE!
1 John 3:2-3
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing that to be like Jesus means to act like Him or think like Him or pray like Him, and we ignore that we should try to look like Him, too. We don't know that Jesus was thin, but we can be confident that He was not overweight, because He preached moderation and denounced gluttony. He cared for Himself, and He called others to care for themselves, also. How wonderful it would be to be able to stand face-to-face with our Lord and to mirror Him in both His spiritual and physical perfection!
Today's thought: When people look at me, I want them to see Jesus!
Belovedwarrior I liked the one from today about trying to live like Jesus. He practiced moderation and denounced gluttony. I need to work on all of these. I also liked the thought from the other day Oh, Lord, please protect me from me!.
Diana I understand what you mean about being like Jesus. Sometimes I think we need to just give up the fight and let Him live in and thru us. Again “protect me from me!!” like you said
I love the last line of today’s reading ... oh, how I'd love that to be true!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diana3271
Today's thought: When people look at me, I want them to see Jesus!
Additionally, this is something so hard to do -- I have this so backwards - I care for others over myself, thus not even allowing others to "care" for themselves. I hope I'm doing better ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diana3271
He cared for Himself, and He called others to care for themselves, ....
Have a great night!
And, thanks for being so diligent on maintaining this thread!
Psalm 71:5
For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
A friend of mine slipped into a well when he was a child, and all he remembers of the experience was praying to God and awaiting rescue. He recounts how he felt no fear because he knew God would get him out of his trouble. He placed his hope in the Lord, and he was not disappointed. Being overweight can sometimes feel like being in the bottom of a deep, dark well, with no way out. But we do have a way out. The Lord is a lifeline and a Savior indeed. If we will place our trust in Him, He will be faithful to lift us out of the dark places and set us fully in the light.
Maybe bowling and tennis are not far off!!
I mentioned before, it's those little things we get from weight loss that makes such a difference in our lives. It's not necessarily the size of clothing or number on the scale. Of course all of that is part of it, but just being able to move better and live our daily life easier and pain free makes such a difference.
enjoy the day ... 
