Deuterononmy 2:3 ~ "You've circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north."
This is my theme verse lately. It's kind of alarming to me how much progress I can make in my thinking & my habits and yet how quickly all those old ways can come screaming back! I feel like that little orange craving monster has taken up permanent residence in my head the last few days.
When will this journey get easier?!
I'm starting to come to the rather depressing realization that it probably won't. Just like an alcoholic will always have to struggle to stay away from alcohol and a cocaine addict will always fight the urge to get another fix, those of us who struggle with weight will always have these unhealthy tendencies just lurking around ready to pounce on us at any weak moment.
I Peter 5:8 ~ "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
I'd never quite taken this so literally as I do now. Yes, my enemy (unhealthy food cravings that the devil is trying to use against me) is MOST CERTAINLY prowling around like a lion looking to devour me. To sabotage my efforts. To de-rail me. To discourage me. To make me throw in the towel.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!
Oh, believe me. I've been here before. I'm almost to the 30 pound weight loss mark. When I was at this point a few years ago, I quit trying. I let life pull me away from my progress, and fell back into all my old habits. The weight all came back on. BUT NOT THIS TIME!!
Yes, I've fallen a bit off the raw veggie eating track. Yes, I've given into my food cravings more the last few days (instead of filling all my cravings with God). Yes, I'm mourning the loss of certain foods and eating habits that I really need to say goodbye to forever. But I'm making this a GPS moment. "At the next available location (right now), make a legal U-Turn!" Thank you. I will.
Did you catch that? It's called grace. It's called forgiveness. It's called perseverance.
It's called, being a big Jesus girl and putting on my Jesus girl armor:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ~ "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Did you catch that part hidden there? "...after you have done everything, to stand." That's not a sit-by-the-sidelines-and-let-God-do-everything-for-us mentality. No. We have a job to do. An action to take. We are to "put on" the full armor of God. Then we are to "stand." And then: "to pray."
So get back up and dust yourself off, ladies. We have a mission to accomplish. Not just in the area of food and body image either. God has some mighty big plans for us! This part of the journey, for me, is just the beginning. I know that! It's time for me to get back to work. Get to work putting, standing, and praying. Because, let me tell you, the view from this side of the mountain is gettin' old!
Blessings, friends!
This is my theme verse lately. It's kind of alarming to me how much progress I can make in my thinking & my habits and yet how quickly all those old ways can come screaming back! I feel like that little orange craving monster has taken up permanent residence in my head the last few days.
When will this journey get easier?!
I'm starting to come to the rather depressing realization that it probably won't. Just like an alcoholic will always have to struggle to stay away from alcohol and a cocaine addict will always fight the urge to get another fix, those of us who struggle with weight will always have these unhealthy tendencies just lurking around ready to pounce on us at any weak moment.
I Peter 5:8 ~ "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
I'd never quite taken this so literally as I do now. Yes, my enemy (unhealthy food cravings that the devil is trying to use against me) is MOST CERTAINLY prowling around like a lion looking to devour me. To sabotage my efforts. To de-rail me. To discourage me. To make me throw in the towel.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!
Oh, believe me. I've been here before. I'm almost to the 30 pound weight loss mark. When I was at this point a few years ago, I quit trying. I let life pull me away from my progress, and fell back into all my old habits. The weight all came back on. BUT NOT THIS TIME!!
Yes, I've fallen a bit off the raw veggie eating track. Yes, I've given into my food cravings more the last few days (instead of filling all my cravings with God). Yes, I'm mourning the loss of certain foods and eating habits that I really need to say goodbye to forever. But I'm making this a GPS moment. "At the next available location (right now), make a legal U-Turn!" Thank you. I will.
Did you catch that? It's called grace. It's called forgiveness. It's called perseverance.
It's called, being a big Jesus girl and putting on my Jesus girl armor:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ~ "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Did you catch that part hidden there? "...after you have done everything, to stand." That's not a sit-by-the-sidelines-and-let-God-do-everything-for-us mentality. No. We have a job to do. An action to take. We are to "put on" the full armor of God. Then we are to "stand." And then: "to pray."
So get back up and dust yourself off, ladies. We have a mission to accomplish. Not just in the area of food and body image either. God has some mighty big plans for us! This part of the journey, for me, is just the beginning. I know that! It's time for me to get back to work. Get to work putting, standing, and praying. Because, let me tell you, the view from this side of the mountain is gettin' old!
Blessings, friends!
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