Who has ever gone on a trip and lost things? I know I have, especially traveling with three children!!!
Over the last little bit I have been reading the Made To Crave book by Lysa Terkeurst. I read a chapter each day and answer the questions that are at the end of the chapter. Today was a good chapter: Chapter 18 Things Lost, Better Things Gained.
As I read this chapter and answered the questions at the end, then headed out for my walk this morning, there really was a stirring in my spirit about all that I have encountered over this summer of travels. What things have I lost and in the process what great things have I gained!
Victory won't stay long if I start resisting and disliking her essential requirements of sacrifice and repentance!
Lysa uses in her book a scripture in and through the book. It is really starting to ring home with me. "Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial...I will not be mastered by anything" 1 Corinthians 6:12
Some actions are not sinful in themselves, but they are not appropriate because they can control our lives and lead us away from God! WOW...when I read that this morning....my eyes were opened! How many times have I grabbed a snack or ate something that I really didn't need but felt like I either deserved it or this little bit won't hurt! I didn't write it down and so I felt like I wasn't accountable for it! Well those things add up...with the calorie count, points count etc...the old thought pattern of if I don't write it I don't have to count it, does me no good.
Another thing she said today was this:"What if this whole journey of getting healthy could be more about what we're in the process of gaining than what we're losing? In the midst of losing chips and chocolate, there are things to be gained. Things that unleash my weighted down soul, re-inflate my defeated attitude, and set loose a hope that maybe, just maybe, I CAN!
One statistic that she points out is that was published by Science News was that researchers found junk food to be measurable addictive in lab rats: After just five days on the junk food diet, rats showed "profound reductions" in the sensitivity of their brains' pleasure centers, suggesting that the animals quickly became habituated to the food. As a result, the rats ate more food to get the same amount of pleasure. Just as heroin addicts require more and more of the drug to feel good, rats needed more and more of the junk food. "They lose control," one researcher says. "This is the hallmark of addiction."
Another thing that was in this chapter was from Anne Jackson: DON'T Trust the scale! Most people will attempt working out and eating better for about a month; when they don't see a big difference on the scale, they give up.
Trust the effort you are putting into getting healthy. And keep going! Not only are there changes going on in your body that you can't see, there are changes going on in your spirit-with your discipline, your courage and your willpower. Keep going!
If we only focus on what we're giving up, will make us feel constantly deprived. And deprivation leads to desperation, frustration, and failure. But courage fills my hear, mind and soul with everything alive and possible and invigorating.
One of the last things she said was this: "Oh, what a difference. Jesus doesn't compare. Jesus doesn't condemn. Jesus doesn't exaggerate. He simply says, "Hey I love you. Just as you are. But I love you too much to leave you stuck in this. So, let's fully turn from those things that are not beneficial for you."
Last Saturday, I set a goal for myself and how far I wanted to walk in miles this week. Today is Thursday and it was a bit easier today why? Because I have learned that I can't do this without God! I have decided to praise God for each and every step! Pray for friends and family during this time, but keeping on with the praise. When it starts to get tough and my legs are getting tired...I start praising!
Another thought came to mind today as I was walking! What we truly want to do in life, we make time for it! We make time for Facebook, we make time for TV, we make time for eating, we make time for shopping...but when it comes to something like eating healthy or exercising, we can come up with a million excuses as to why we can't. It's too expensive, it takes too much time, etc...I don't have time in my day. I have figured out that if I really want it bad enough...I will make time for it! So I set my clock earlier in the morning, get up, spend time with God first thing (well 2nd...I go to the bathroom first ;o) ) reading his word, and doing my devotional. Then I take 1 hour for myself to get to walking! Then when I am back home...I am ready to start doing the things I need and want to do!
Be encouraged that the things worth doing or having are worth fighting for!
Keep on keeping on!
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