Seeing this hasn't been updated in awhile. Posting today's!
December 12
Matthew 5:8
'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.'
Denise wanted to do what was right. She was a good person, and it never occurred to her that her weight problem might be displeasing to God. Her friend tried to tell her that it didn't mean God didn't love her. What she meant was that God likes it best when we take the best care of ourselves possible, and that extra weight wasn't doing that. Denise pondered what her friend said to her for a long while, then resolved to try her best to lose weight. Apologetically, she prayed to God and asked Him to help her as she tried to set things right. The prayer of a person pure in heart and full of kindness speaks loudest into the ear of the Lord.
Today's thought: I wish my heart could teach my mouth to say 'no'!
Hi Mrs J!
I sent you an email, we have more in common that I previously thought, and, no, I'm not a stalker. LOL I'm doing the CAD and I'm a Christian as well. Pretty much that is it.
Thanks for the devotional!
Jodi
Matthew 6:21
'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
Grady thought he was pretty smart, hiding the chocolate bars be-side his bed. He would do well on his diet during the day, but at night he would go wild eating chocolate. Every day he would talk a good game, saying how much he really wanted to be thinner, but when the lights went out at night, he would undo all his fine talk by sneaky, fattening action. When he was caught, Grady merely shrugged it off, saying he wouldn't do it again. The next night, Grady fell asleep with chocolate thick on his breath. Actions often do speak louder than words. Where our treasure is-that is, what's really important to us-there will our hearts and actions be, also.
Today's thought: Make my diet important enough to me to keep me from temptation!
My rough time of the day is bedtime as well. Not sweets, thank God, but snacky foods like chips. I used to ALWAYS have a bedtime snack/meal, when I started CAD on the 9th, I had done really well, but, last night I wanted a snack, I was "hungry". I ate about 7 green olives and a cheddar cheese stick. It could have been so much worse, but, I hope I can really get out of that bedtime snacking.
Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Jeremy was good for Lisa. Whenever she did something she shouldn't or ate something that wasn't on her diet, he was quick to chastise her for it. She hated when he did it, but that made it all the more effective. There were times she wanted to throttle him, but most of the time she wanted to kiss him. He was the reason her dieting was working, and though sometimes it was annoying, she wouldn't change it for anything. God will help keep us in line, if we let Him. We need someone to watch over us; to keep us out of mischief. God will make sure we last until we triumph, if we will allow Him to do so.
Today's thought: The call of fattening food is not as loud as the call of God to do what's right!
Revelation 3:21
'To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.'
Gramps promised Kathy that if she would lose forty pounds by Christmas, he would take her to Bermuda with him. Kathy could hardly wait for Gramps to see her. She'd topped out at fifty-three pounds lost, and had a note from her doctor as documented proof. At first, she never thought she'd make it, but a lot of prayers, sweat, tears, and sacrifice had made it come true. She had never worked so hard for anything in her life. Even without the trip, she felt she'd received reward enough, but she planned to hold Gramps to his promise, anyway.
Today's thought: I'd rather be overjoyed than overweight!
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Rose was hoping for some miracle to appear in her Christmas stocking. Another year was almost gone, and she hadn't lost any weight. Each year she swore things would be different, but nothing ever changed. Rose just didn't have any commitment at all. She knew no one would lose the weight for her, but she kept hoping it would melt away on its own. Dreaming won't make our weight disappear. We need to take positive steps on our own. However, we have God to help us. He will carry us when we are too weak to continue, and He will encourage us when we feel depressed and hopeless. God offers us victory in the face of failure. Accept God's help, and a miracle will indeed happen.
Today's thought: I know what I need to do to lose weight, and with God's help I will do it!
Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Wendy had a hard time putting her past behind her. Christmas had been torture for her as a child. Everyone would talk about 'poor' Wendy, who was fat and awkward. Everyone always picked on her, and they never let her eat the things she wanted. Every single person had some sage bit of advice for her. Even though things had changed a lot in the past couple of years, she still dreaded the holidays. She was trim and svelte, and no one could do anything but admire her, and still it was hard. Old demons die hard. Dieting requires much more than physical transformation. It also calls for emotional healing, and the one sure source for that is God.
Today's thought: The past is fast fading away. I'm headed for a trimmer me!
2 Thessalonians 3:5
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Nancy sat in the warm glow of the firelight, looking at the sparkle of the Christmas tree. What was it like that very first Christmas morn? What must Mary and Joseph have been feeling? Imagine the anticipation and wonder. Nancy's mind wandered to the fact that she had lost so much weight through the year. Suddenly, she was embarrassed by a thought. She had thought her diet was so important; she had been so impatient trying to lose weight. Compared with the magic and wonder of this night, and all that it meant, her diet seemed pretty insignificant. She owed everything she had and everything she was to Jesus Christ. It was a joy to welcome Him into her heart once again this blessed Christmas Eve.
Today's thought: The day-to-day gifts of God pale in comparison with His greatest gift: His Son, Jesus the Christ!
Copied from Crosswalk's Devotional for Dieters
Have a blessed day, thank you God for your precious gift, Jesus! <3
1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God has given all to make us happy. He has blessed us with a beautiful world, a wonderful life, and many opportunities for fulfillment and joy. He asks that we respect His gifts and endeavor to be the best people we can possibly be. To help us, He sent His only Son to come into this world as an example. We can know God's desire for us through His Son. Not only did His Son come as an example, but as a Savior, to allow us to be reconciled with our God. All that we have received is from God. On this glorious Christmas morn, make a gift of your life to God. Give Him the only thing that truly matters: You!
Today's thought: If I can in any way be used, help me bring about peace on earth and goodwill to all God's children!
Copied from Crosswalk's Devotional for Dieters
MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone! So grateful to God for His precious Gift!
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
The army had been good for Stan. When he was younger, he was completely undisciplined. The army had taken care of that. He had to work his tail off to get into good shape, but it was worth it. The short period of affliction he suffered through helped him in so many other ways. The folks back home couldn't believe the change they saw while he was home for the holidays. God disciplines His children on occasion because He knows the lasting lessons we need to learn. Diets help us grow in maturity and fitness for the kingdom of God.
Today's thought: A gain in discipline means a loss in weight!
Copied from Crosswalk Devotions for Dieters
I really like that "Diets help us grow in maturity and fitness for the kingdom of God." Never really thought of that before!
Revelation 2:17
'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.'
Donna thanked God for giving her a whole new life. Losing the weight had only been part of it. Donna had fervently prayed for transformation, but she never bargained for all that God would do for her. Her attitude was transformed from one of doom to one of hope. Her appearance was transformed from one of dumpiness to one of beauty. Her emotional stability had been transformed from one of teetering on the brink to solid rock. She couldn't believe it, but she was a totally different person than she had been a year before. The God of miracles and life had certainly worked in Donna's life. He's available to work in ours, also.
Today's thought: With God's help I will lose weight, lose hate, and lose my desire to denigrate!
Copied from Crosswalk Devotions for Dieters
I like this one, especially now it is the end of the year, just think what this time next year will be!
