Well, I don’t have any loss to report. I let stress get the better of me this week. I was not staying “self-controlled and alert.” For this, I am ashamed. However, I am starting over again. Today, I am fasting. I am clearing my mind and getting my focus back on what it needs to be…not worry, not stress, not the what ifs in life, but on God. After all, he has the victory in everything doesn’t he?
I have to share with you a question my friend Tracey recently posed to her readers on her blog In Word Adorning. She said that when she was growing up her father would ask his children, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” This question has not left my mind since I read a few days ago. If I am acting with worry and fear in my heart, then am I acting as a Christian should? Don’t I know God is in control? I have also thought of David a lot this week. When he set out to slay the lion and bear killing his sheep, he did so with the mind that God would give him the victory. Then when up against Goliath, he didn’t wonder if God would grant him success, he KNEW.
I have to tell you friends, I have lived with entirely too much doubt. God is the creator of all things. God will take care of me, and give me victories. Doesn’t God tell me to “ask and you shall receive?” (Matt 7:7) Instead, I am like Peter when walking out to Christ on the water….my focus has not been on him and now Jesus is saying to me, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?” (Matt 14:31)
And if I am behaving this way, could I ever be convicted of being a faithful Christian? Who in my life is watching me and not convinced of my actions or my God because of my behavior?
I am starting over again today. Here are my verses for those of you who are also struggling with issues in your own life.
Philipians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Luke 18:27
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.
20 POUNDS LOST 99 DAYS TO GO
I have to share with you a question my friend Tracey recently posed to her readers on her blog In Word Adorning. She said that when she was growing up her father would ask his children, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” This question has not left my mind since I read a few days ago. If I am acting with worry and fear in my heart, then am I acting as a Christian should? Don’t I know God is in control? I have also thought of David a lot this week. When he set out to slay the lion and bear killing his sheep, he did so with the mind that God would give him the victory. Then when up against Goliath, he didn’t wonder if God would grant him success, he KNEW.
I have to tell you friends, I have lived with entirely too much doubt. God is the creator of all things. God will take care of me, and give me victories. Doesn’t God tell me to “ask and you shall receive?” (Matt 7:7) Instead, I am like Peter when walking out to Christ on the water….my focus has not been on him and now Jesus is saying to me, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?” (Matt 14:31)
And if I am behaving this way, could I ever be convicted of being a faithful Christian? Who in my life is watching me and not convinced of my actions or my God because of my behavior?
I am starting over again today. Here are my verses for those of you who are also struggling with issues in your own life.
Philipians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Luke 18:27
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.
20 POUNDS LOST 99 DAYS TO GO
You can do it! Like fasting, I find fasting a good way to start (or re-start) a diet.
ReplyDeleteYour verses are timely. For me, immersion in God's Word is always the best antidote to thoughts of doubt. Scripture is "living and active" and never fails to strengthen and encourage me.
I hope you're feeling better today. :~D
Great job picking yourself up and moving on! You can do it.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, it also is a normal reaction for your body to "table" for awhile while dieting. Find the zero calorie foods and eat a lot of them, along with a lot of water, and find other ways to jump start your metabolism safely. We don't just want to be thinner, we want to be healthier. But, as you noticed, it is a spiritual battle, in a way, fighting down fleshly desires for things that aren't good for us. I broke my low iodine diet the other day when a car accident forced me to take a right instead of a left, and I HAD to drive by a Krispy Kreme. The spirit is willing, the flesh is week, but I appreciate you sharing your ups and your downs with us. We're all on some sort of journey, and it is SO good to not be alone. Praying for you, little sis!
ReplyDeleteHey Jaime...love your heart felt posts! Arn't you glad we can only take one day at a time, that's all we have to get through and today my friend you can get up, stand up, cheer up, and look up to the hills where your help comes from, because the Lord is the lifter of your head.
ReplyDeleteHe has gone before you, He is right behind you, He is under you, He is above you, Jesus is all around you...glory to God, He is so good!
I don't know what it is, but I just feel a connection with you, which is very rare indeed. God is up to something good in our lives.
Thank you for your email...I love it! xxx
“If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I gotta remember that. That one hurts!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a struggle with weight loss, so I cannot fathom what you're going through. I have a dear friend who stuggles with his weight, so that's the closest I know to the experience.
Keep your head up and keep pressing on! My father was a smoker ALL of his adult life and he's now 62. He quit smoking about 437 times...finally, he was one year smoke free on my birthday! You can do it!
You have accomplished a lot...I know it's through Him. Those twenty pounds are a marker, like the stones the Israelites set up-a reminder of what God had done for them.
ReplyDeleteI talk the talk, but my walk falls short. I, too, feel ashamed of the legacy I'm leaving, especially for my kids. But I am grateful that they are in God's hands. Not that I'm off the hook or anything. :) Thank you for these words.
Hi Jamie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the sweet comment you left on my blog.
As for the title of my blog. There is no good reason for calling it what I did. I just LOVE words and didn't want a ho-hum blog title. I like the word Bombastic and I like the word Bandicoot and since I can be an arrogant rat at times, I thought it fit fine! LOL
So glad to meet you and I look forward to what you have to say in the future. I'm trying to lose weight too so I'm sure I will find inspiration in your journey.
Blessings and hugs,
Lisa
Jamie, A 20 lb weight loss is a tremendous accomplishment! I lost 15 a few months ago, but I gained it back. :( Hey, I saw your tornado story on Geezer's blog. I liked the way you told the story, too. You're a good writer.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME!! It's great to see transparency like this. Those of us who struggle with overeating (or any other persistent sinful behavior) KNOw the pain that goes along with that. REPENTANCE is REFRESHING and GOD will see you through this!
ReplyDelete