A Thankful Heart: 5 Ways to Lay Aside the Weight

As I start writing this blog, I find myself with tears welling up.  See, my story is constantly evolving and changing.  I feel so fluid, but I know God is still at work in me.  I've written about my food struggles in the past.  Truthfully, I am stopping myself now, writing this blog to have some accountability.  

This past week I've indulged in more food than one person needs to eat.  Honestly, I could have fed a whole family on what I, alone, ate yesterday.  I was miserable when I went to bed, and miserable when I woke up this morning.  My heart hurts for so many, and the way I cope (when I'm not getting enough time with the Lord) is by eating.  

So, as I was thinking about all of this today, the Lord reminded me of Hebrews 12:1-2.  I know this verse is not talking about weight as in the scale, but it is talking about those things that weigh us down and keep us from finishing our race.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Gluttony is a sin that I know well.  It is probably the sin that I grapple with the most, and have to rely on grace to bring me out of the cycle of guilt associated with it.  It's not that I want to be a skinny model, but I do want to be healthy.  I do want to make better choices so I can run with endurance the race that is set before me.

I really can't run that race carrying the 50+ extra pounds on my body.  It weighs me down in ways that I was not created or designed to be.  

So, what is my action plan?  

1.  The only thing that will keep me on track is my daily time with the Lord.  "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith".  Before I can conquer any part of my day, I have to set my eyes on Him alone and remember that "greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."  

2.  Make exercise a priority.  When I have been successful in healthy living, it has been because I exercised first thing in the morning.  Personally, I have to quit lying to myself that I will exercise "later."  Later doesn't exist when it comes to schedules.

3.  Overhaul of food choices.  I'm already pretty careful about snack foods that come in.  I don't buy Oreos because I WILL eat the whole pack.  The thing that is my Achilles heel is soda.  I have been addicted to it for years, and it will take more than shear will to wean off them.  I will need some serious prayer, y'all!

4.  Get organized.  This doesn't seem to fit in with laying down the weight, but it does.  The thing is, it is easier to make healthy living a priority when we are organized.  I can't tell you how many times I have forgone exercise over trying to get my office organized.  Then, I get online and forget what I was doing.  At that point, I'm discouraged because I have done neither thing that I really needed AND wanted to do.

5.  Finally, my post HERE about cleaning up is in direct correlation with all of this.  I didn't realize 2 weeks ago, when God was dealing with me about social media and other distractions, that He was preparing me for laying down the weight.  Essentially, the things that distract me most every single day need to get a time out.  From Facebook (which has been off my phone for 2 weeks) to even checking the news need to have a break from me.  Too much information, not enough action.

All of this, for the joy that is set before me.  To run the race fully, and to complete what He has called me to do.  

I am truly thankful for a God who is active in my life.  He's active in yours, too.  He cares for us, friends.  He cares deeply about our heart, about our lives.  

Father, thank you so much.  Thank you for providing a way for us to lay our burdens, our weights at your feet.  We know you care for us.  I ask that you would encourage anyone who feels burdened and weighed down whether by food or other poor choices.  I ask you to minister to them the way you did for me, reminding them of your word and your promises for them.  Father, speak to them the way they understand you most, making clear to them the hope and the future you have for them.  I thank you for your word, that it does not return to you void and empty, but goes out and accomplishes that which it was sent to fulfill.  Thank you for fulfilling those things in me, which you have spoken to my heart.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

FOOD

Food.  Ahhh, food.  It's not just considered something to sustain us here, it is considered an unhealthy obsession.  Todd and I occasionally call ourselves "foodies".  Although, I'll admit that he will actually eat the weird stuff, and I tend to stick with what is known.  Todd enjoys shows where they eat ALL of the animal, and then some.  He wants to try the Durian fruit, which is native to Asian countries.  Chef Andrew Zimmern, who eats some of the nastiest things ever imagined, compares this fruit to "completely rotten, mushy onions".  However, Todd and I have talked a lot about our "obsession" with all things food.  We love the flavor, the feelings we get from eating, and the enjoyment we get from making new foods.  It's an unhealthy obsession, and truthfully, you can tell by looking at us.  We are both 50+ pounds heavier than the day we married, and both feel lethargic.  It's not just about portion, but also WHAT I put in my mouth.  I tend to go for the junkiest thing you can find on the menu. 

I read an article today "How to Replace Food Cravings with God Cravings" by Whitney Hopler on Crosswalk.com.  Crosswalk distributes daily devotionals and articles to my e-mail inbox.  I really enjoyed the article, and will be printing it out to read daily, weekly or as much as I need to be reminded of the simple truths.  It's obvious stuff, but when you are trying to take back what you've let go, it's hard to see the course you have to take.  When I was at my healthiest weight, my relationship with God was at my healthiest.  I find this very interesting, because, I do believe God sustains us like nothing else can.  When I started moving further and further from God, I was turning to food to comfort me, bring me peace, and fill me with joy.  Instead, I was drowning myself, becoming heavier and more miserable in my own skin. 

Now I am finding myself turning back to the Lord to sustain me.  I am asking God to give me the desire to be healthy.  I am creating a plan to change.  I am asking friends to get involved and keep me accountable.  I am filling my mind with God's word, moving my body, and letting the Holy Spirit guide me.  I am calling sin what it is (gluttony).  I am getting hungry for holiness, and I am learning my emotional triggers.  (These tips in bold were outlined in the article by Ms. Hopler)  Without a doubt, the hours of 4-7pm are my most stressful part of each day.  The rush to make dinner, eat, bathe the kids, bedtime readiness, etc causes an emotional breakdown for me, which leads me to any source of sugar I can find.  All that sugar affects mood, which turns it all into a cycle that is never ending.  I have noticed that about 30 minutes after a sugar rush, I am fully depressed, angry and snippy.  Wow!  What a revelation to come to you in the midst of the nightly rush!

Years ago, we sang a song in church called "As the Deer Panteth for the Water", which was written based on the scripture Psalm 42:1.  I loved that song, and I still do.  The imagery is beautiful to me.  Here are the lyrics:

As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longs after you
You alone are my hearts desire,
And I long to worship You.
Chorus:
You alone are my strength, my shield;
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my hearts desire,
And I long to worship You.
I want you more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye.


Thank God that He is all we need to be satisfied.  He is an ever-present help in our times of need.  He comforts us, protects us, fully loves us.  I thank God for setting me free from the false satisfaction of food.  I am a work in progress.  If you see me eating excessively, or lots of junk, just check in with me.  I am finding this blog to be more helpful to me than I thought it could be!  Not only am I seeking Him more, I am finding out more about me!  I used to journal frequently, and have not done so in years.  Now that I'm getting back to it, there is a deep fulfilled feeling in me.  Praise God for changing me from glory to glory.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18 - "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.   But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."