No child, I don’t want you fasting for weight loss. Instead I want you to listen to Me. Eat when I say eat and fast when I say fast.
Last week I impressed upon your heart to fast one meal. But you didn’t listen. So your disobedience led to a binge. Several days later, I impressed upon you to wait until the next meal before eating. But again you didn’t wait. This led to another binge.
Then yesterday, after vowing to fast until supper with only three hours to wait, you picked up a fast food snack on the way home. You didn’t wait, but instead you rationized, “It’s a small snack.” This led to a three hour binge before supper. Don’t you know there’s no rationalizing disobedience.
Child, it’s not the fasting I’m looking for. No, it’s an obedient heart I’m looking for. I want you to learn to listen to Me. Listen and obey.
I want My children to walk in victory, not defeat. If you had listened to Me, yesterday would have turned out different. It would have been a day of victory for you. But instead, it was another day of defeat. My child, it’s not My will for you to walk in defeat. It is My will for you to walk in victory. I have victory planned for you. If only you will listen and obey, then victory is yours.
Today, I have already designed for you victory. Now you choose, walk in victory or defeat. You get to choose. Choose this day whom you will serve, your self or My will. After all, what did “self” ever do for you?
Remember this, spiritual fasting brings increased power to your prayers. If you look to Me, I will enable you to do this. I will fill you with increased power to resist temptation.
But you, My child, do not have enough willpower to fast for weight loss. Just trust Me to lead you. As you listen and obey, you will succeed. For I have already planned for you victory indeed.
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But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalms 31:4
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore! Psalms 105:4
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Miracles still happen. Yes, in spite of my stupidity, miracles still happen. For those enquiring minds who want to know, from March 19th to March 25, I’ve lost 4 1/2 pounds. Wow! Yes, God still works miracles today. Ya’ll hear me? He still works miracles.
What follows now is a my eating record. Overall it’s boring, yet at the same time it’s amazing how God has showed me grace and forgiveness. To all you who focus on healthy eating, please accept my apology. Once you read this, you’ll realize if I can lose weight in spite of all these mess-ups, surely you can lose weight too. You’ll see. After all, you’ll be amazed at the amount of grace God has, both for me and you too.
Beginning 3/19, MONDAY: Lord, what do I eat for breakfast today? (Ate- wheat toast with butter, 1/2 cup apple juice, & 1 tablespoon chicken salad.) Lord, can I have two tablespoons chicken salad? – [No] – Lord, can I have a pear half with mayo & cheese? [Yes, you may. But choose the smallest one.]
Mid-morning: Lord, I have such severe indigestion. Can I have one no sugar added fudgsicle? (Ate one. Granted it helped, but I didn’t wait for an answer.)
Lunch: Lord, can I have more chicken salad? [Yes, but only two spoonfuls. No more.]
Later afternoon: Lord, this indigestion is awful. Since the first one helped, can I have another fudgsicle? (Ate two. Granted they helped my indigestion. But again, I didn’t wait for an answer.)
Supper: (Ate 1 bowl of corned beef and cabbage, 1/2 piece cornbread, & 1 roasted chicken leg.)
3/20, TUESDAY: Lord, lead me today concerning Your will, what I am to eat, not eat, cook, not cook, do, not do, think, not thin, and say, not say.
Breakfast: Lord, what do I eat now? [Are you hungry?] –No. – [Then wait until you’re hungry.]
After 8:15 am : Lord, this indigestion is horrible. Because of this, may I have a fudgsicle for breakfast to calm my stomach down? [Yes.] I think it’s the Vitamin D pill the doctor prescribed. Finally, I checked Google for side-effects. However indigestion as a side effect was not listed. (Since they do calm my stomach, I ate one fudgsicle.)
9 am: (Still had indigestion. Therefore I ate another fudgsicle.)
11am: Lord, what do I eat for lunch? (Ate leftover corned beef & cabbage with small piece of cornbread.)
45 mins. after lunch: (Ate 1 small roasted chicken leg.) Lord, could I have some chicken salad? [No.]
1 pm.: (There was leftover chocolate cake from Dad’s birthday on the table.) Lord I want some chocolate cake. – [No.]
Supper: (I didn’t write it down. Now I’ve forgotten. Sorry.)
Just before bed: Lord, I just ate two more fudgsicles. I didn’t care, didn’t ask, just ate them. Forgive me. Lord, make my heart want You more than anything.
3/21, WEDNESDAY: Lord, do I weigh myself this morning? [No, trust Me.] Lord, this is hard. [Trust Me Child.]
Breakfast: 2 tablespoons chicken salad, 3 apple slices.
9:45am.- I’m hungry with slight indigestion. (Drank one bottle of water.)
10:30am. -(Ate another fudgsicle.)
Lunch: (Two tablespoons chicken salad, 1 pear half with mayo & cheese.)
Supper: (Lettuce, tomato, & carrots with Ranch dressing, 1/2 hamburger patty, and handful of fried okra.)
3/22 THURSDAY: 6:45 am. -Lord, I’m hungry. What do I eat for breakfast? When do I eat? (Ate nothing, got busy, sidetracked.)
11:13am.- Lord, is it okay to leftover corned beef & cabbage? How about more chicken salad? [Yes on corned beef & cabbage, but only 1 tablespoon chicken salad and nothing else.] – – ( Ate corned beef & cabbage, 1 tablespoon chicken salad, and a little piece of cornbread.)
Supper: (Ate piece of roasted chicken, stir-fry vegetables, & salad with Ranch dressing.) Lord, I really want a piece of that pecan pie. (To begin with I resisted it. Then I ate a small pie of pecan pie. Afterwards, I wanted more pie, so I got a fudgsicle. Then I threw half of it away after feeling convicted.)
3/23 FRIDAY: Breakfast (Ate 1 tablespoon of chicken salad, 2 apple slices, 1/2 ham & cheese sandwich.)
Lunch: (Ate 1/2 bowl of pink eyed purple hulled peas, the best ever, 1/2 bowl of green beans & potatoes, and 2 slices apple.)
BINGE: (Ate 1/2 box of fudgsicles, and four or more pieces of Dad’s chocolate birthday cake. )
Supper: (Ate one fried chicken leg, new potatoes, and salad with Ranch dressing.)
While cleaning up the kitchen: (Ate right out of the pot, a lot of leftover potatoes.) Lord, forgive me.
3/24 SATURDAY: First thing, I started to weigh myself first to check for damage control. The Lord spoke to my heart, “Don’t weigh today, wait until Monday. Follow My eating plan for you. Trust Me and see what I will do.”
Supper: We had a family potluck. I followed my sister-in-law’s advice, “Just get only three spoonfuls of what you want.” So I had a little of everything including a spoonful of homemade cheesecake and peach cobbler. Okay, confession, I got more peach cobbler.
3/25 SUNDAY: First thing, I started to weigh myself. The Lord again spoke to my heart, ” Child, your weight is not important to Me. It’s your heart I’m interested in.”
Breakfast: (Ate 1/2 bowl Rice Chex with milk.)
Lunch: (Ate salad with Ranch dressing, and 3 bowls, yes 3 bowls, of baked steak, new potatoes, and carrots. ) Lord, forgive me, but it was so good.
Supper: I was still full from lunch, so I choose not to eat anything. After all, I’m going to weigh myself in the morning. Since I’m still full, I just won’t eat anything now.
After 9pm.- (Ate 4 fudgsicles. )
After 10pm. (Ate two bowls of leftover lima beans with ham.) Then I waddled off to bed shaking my head at myself. I can’t believe I ate all this. Now how’s this going to affect those scales in the morning?
After all these mess-ups, when I weighed myself Monday morning, the scales said I had lost 4 1/2 pounds. Wow! Now you know why I said, “God is a God of miracles. If He did it for me, the champion of mess-ups, certainly He will work a miracle in your life too.
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Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24
. . . Mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2: 13
But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has sealth bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5,6
I threw this cake in the garbage to remove the temptation.
Miracles still happen in spite of my stupidity. It’s amazing to me that I can share with you, my accountability partners, I had a weight loss of 4 1/2 pounds this past week. Just know it wasn’t due to my efforts, but because of God’s grace and patience with me. It’s due to His wonderful love and forgiveness.
God has granted me miracles within this weight loss journey. And He’ll grant you miracles in your weight loss journey too. Because God has allowed me to start over a million, trillion times, I know He has a new beginning for you too. After all, He’s no respecter of persons, especially me. It seems I’m the champion of mess ups. Instead of being an example of obedience, I’m the example of what not to do and how not to eat. Yet God never gives up on me. He hasn’t given up on you either.
Yes, there’s been many stupid decisions on my part. As the saying goes, “Stupid is, stupid does.” For those who look at my story for your encouragement, I ask your forgiveness. My story is not one of easy or quick success. No, it’s one of constant setbacks, struggles, and lots of failures on my part. The only victory I can claim is the victory and miracle of Jesus Christ.
For those who look to my food plan as a pattern for healthy eating, I also ask your forgiveness. You’ll be horrified when you read my next post about how much and what I ate. Yet, I still lost weight. It’s an amazing miracle to me. I can only give credit to God’s mercy.
My original weight loss of 90+ pounds (a major miracle in my life) was not due to what is considered by experts to be a healthy diet plan. No, instead it was due to portion control. God knew after a lifetime of trying to follow assorted diets and failing each one, I needed something I could live with.
Therefore I don’t follow a structured food plan/ diet at all. Don’t look for a diet plan here. Every diet plan I’ve ever tried only resulted in more weight gain when I returned to my normal eating patterns. So God led me to eat in smaller portions. Thereby portion control.
After my gaining back 30 pounds due to stupid decisions on my part, God is now working to teach me to stop and seek His will before I eat. Really I should seek His will before all things. Also He’s working to increase my trust in Him. And He’s focusing on helping me learn obedience to Him. Listen, every time I make a decision to obey Him, it’s a miracle. If you really knew me, you would know this is true.
Next post will be about food issues. Yuck!
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Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.” Matthew 19:26MSG
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6NKJV
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13NKJV
Amazing love, how can it be? Why do You love me Lord? I certainly don’t deserve Your love. After all, we both know how I am.
I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me. Proverbs 8:17
Lord, above all else I need You in My life. Without You I’m nothing, but a mess. Would You guide me, lead me, and help me follow Your will for today? How about being in control of my whole life, all of me? I’ve been trying to handle these struggles of life on my own and I’m so tired.
Create in me a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. Psalm 51:10
Would You grant me a testimony of Your delivering power so others will know You can deliver them too. I want them all to know of Your amazing love. Then let each one of them also have their own testimony of Your delivering power, so we can help each other. Also I want my size 10 pants back.
Child, you will have those size 10 pants back. And you are a testimony of My love. I love you just as you are. After all you can’t earn My love for I freely give it to those who desire My love.
Thank you Lord for loving me. I know I don’t deserve it.
Child, I hear your prayers and your heart cries. I see. I know. All is well between us for My forgiveness is freely given , not earned. Don’t worry about trying to deserve or achieve My love for I freely give it without strings attached and without demanding repayment, or recompense. I repeat, there is nothing you can do to earn My love. It’s a free gift and I give it to those who seek it. Now I give it to you.
Thank you Lord.
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Child of Mine, I always finish what I start no matter how many steps you take backwards. I still finish what I start, always, even My work in you.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
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Lord, right now I need a new food plan especially since I gained some weight. One of my friends lost weight by counting calories. On the other hand my sister lost weight by avoiding mostly all carbs. Assuming I could stick to it, which diet would work for me? Since I need to get back in those size 10 pants immediately, which food plan would bring the quickest weight loss?
Before when I lost 90 pounds, You instructed me to eat only three meals a day, half portions, and no snacks. At that time, you said it didn’t matter what I ate. Just remember to follow these basic instructions. At that time not only did I gain self-control, but I also lost 90 pounds as a result.
But now it’s a different story. Presently I’m struggling with everything, eating only three meals a day, eating half portions, and the part about no snacks. I blew that one for sure, for months now. What seemed easy before now seems so hard. It feels impossible. For the most part I’m not having success with any food plan. I had success back then, why not now? What can I do?
I think maybe this time I might actually need some kind of diet, rather a food plan. Would You give me a food plan? You created my body and You know what is best for it. So could You give me a food plan?
Child, ask and ye shall receive.
Thanks Lord, I need some kind of rules to follow especially since I’m not succeeding at all in my eating. Okay Lord, what are the rules for now? What is the new food plan?
Ask Me first, eat later.and then ye shall receive weight loss.
Lord, I need the rules.
The Pharisees had many rules, but they failed. You are My child, a child of the King. You don’t need rules, You have Me.
What? How am I to eat? How am I to lose this extra regained weight?
Ask and ye shall receive.
Lord, I’m asking. What is my new food plan?
There will be no diet rules. For now, you can no longer eat until you ask Me first. You can no longer choose your food until you consult Me first. As you seek My advice, then I will answer you.
What? . . . Lord, this is too hard. I need rules. Rules are easy to follow. What you’re asking me to do seems too simple, yet at the same time too hard.
Child, the Pharisees had plenty of rules and look how they succeeded. You asked and I answered. Now you can no longer eat anything and expect to lose weight unless you ask Me first and then eat later.
How simple can this be? When you ask, ye shall receive. I will give you success when you ask. Trust Me.
(Gritting my teeth.) Okay Lord, today. Just for today, I will try this and we will see how well this works. For today, I will try.
My child, if you ask for My wisdom, then I will grant you wisdom. Now watch and see what I will do. Oh, and ask about what you are to drink too.
Lord, is there any hope for me? I must confess, but You saw what I did and You know. Yesterday, I got plastered, yes plastered, by my drug of choice- food. (*See note at end.)
I choose to be a vegetable yesterday, not eat vegetables, but BE a vegetable. I sat in my chair all day, watched movies , grazed in the kitchen (or my chair), and got plastered on everything I could find to eat. It’s a good thing I was too lazy to go to the store for more. Otherwise, it would have been worse.
Lord, I was so bummed out over this dog situation. I’m never praying for You to send a dog again.
Yes, be careful what you pray for. Sometimes I do give you exactly what you ask for even though it’s not the best for you, just to let you learn what is not best for you.
You asked for a dog that your husband would like. I sent you a manly dog, tough and macho. Your husband liked him, but you always had that underlying slight fear, especially when you read those bad reports about this breed.
You feared for your grandchildren feeding this dog while you were gone on your trip, which I orchestrated by the way. But I told you then, that I had shut the mouth of a lion. Then I asked did you not think I could shut the mouth of a dog too?
Yes, that gave you peace, but you can’t deny the relief you felt when you returned and saw all was safe. This dog is leaving your home because I will not have My children living in fear, no matter how unwarranted it is. Child, sometimes fear is a good thing if it is wisdom disguised as fear. But sometimes fear is sent to distract My children from My will and My love for them. Then they take their eyes off of Me and get their eyes focused on their fear instead. Didn’t one of your Presidents say these words? “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”
Yes, I’m giving this dog a new home, rest assured. Then you can focus on what’s left, your husband, your family, your home, the “grand-dog”, and your new assignment.
Yes, I did lead your friend to send you a text of encouragement about her earning four stars in four days, a star for each day of eating in submission to My will. Do you remember how I led you to write that?
Yes Sir.
Now I want you to return back to your starting mark again, specifically the START OVER mark. Return back to My Presence and start over again. You will return to eating food that is beneficial to your body and turn away from this useless, unnecessary food. You will also learn a new way of cooking to benefit your husband. He will lose weight too. Oh, and the grand-dog, Willow, will lose weight as well. Remember how the vet told you that the best thing you can do for this dog is to stop feeding him.
I say stop over feeding him, your husband, your family, and especially yourself. Extra food is not your friend. No, it is your enemy. Extra food steals your victory and leaves you defeated and discouraged. So why do you run to food for comfort?
Now today is a new day. No longer will you say, “I got plastered.” No longer will you turn to food for comfort. Now walk in the path I have prepared for you, which by the way does not include your television.
Note: This post was written earlier this week. For more information, see the previous post. This post is part two of that story.
At this time life is so much better. Eating is under God’s control now. He is a good God and patient too.
The pit bull was adopted by some relatives of one of our friends. They have 3 acres of land for him to run in. We only have a small suburban yard. His new family stays in contact with me about how’s he doing. They even sent me pictures. It seems all is happy especially the dog.
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Holy 30 Devotional
**This short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 29 & Day 30) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you. These are the last two entries of this devotional.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
Lord, thank you the pitbull dog didn’t bite anyone while we were on our trip, especially the grandchildren who fed both dogs while we were gone. Later we found out the pitbull dog threatened our elderly neighbor. I’m grateful the dog didn’t get through the old semi-rotten privacy fence. Thank you Lord for watching over all and keeping them safe.
Also, thank you for our travel safety as we retreated for a rest and to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary.Thank you for Your wonderful mercy Lord. The weather was beautiful and so were the mountains.
We ate here on our Honeymoon in 1973.
We were on the way home from our anniversary trip at Gatlinburg, Tennessee when our elderly neighbor called. He was very upset and complaining because our pitbull dog had terrified him by growling and jumping up on the privacy fence. Also the dog had pushed one of the fence boards loose and now had our elderly neighbor terrified. He was afraid the dog was going to come through the fence and attack him. Because of that, now the neighbor won’t even go into his own backyard due to being afraid of our pitbull dog.
65 pounds of pure muscle.
This dog was a stray that just showed up. We fed him and he stayed, but now due to our neighbor’s extreme fear Hubby says this pitbull needs to go. I agree. I have to admit I’ve become a little leary myself.
Also Lord, I’m ashamed to say I gluttonized last night. After determining not to overeat during our trip and struggling to maintain food sanity throughout, I get home and gluttonize like a crazy person. Guess I was tired from the trip and bummed out over this pitbull dog situation. What are we going to do?
Lord, I know I don’t deserve Your help, but could You help us with this pitbull situation? Could You help us find him a good home?
Child, I am helping you. Now rejoice in this, for I am in charge. Trust. I have already picked out a new home for him. Now, about you . . .
Do You think I should make another Facebook post about someone else adopting the dog?
Child, I want to talk about you now. . . Do you know how much I love you?
Sir, I can only imagine.
Right. What did I do for you?. . . Just for you?
Uh. . . You died for me.
Child, you must die to all that is “self” for Me. I can only trust those who are completely yielded to Me, just as you can only trust a dog who is submissive to you. If you desire to be used by Me and you say you do, then you must be totally yielded to Me. You must die to all that is “self”.
But Lord, how? I haven’t succeeded in total victory yet, only partially, only sometimes. So how can I die to self? I struggled against this overwhelming urge to overeat throughout our entire trip only to get home and eat until I was bloated. Yes, we ate “high on the hog” celebrating our 45th anniversary throughout this trip. We shared dessert most every meal. But I did keep it in control, portion wise and I ate no snacks at all.
Then after we got back home, around 7pm, I stood on the scales before eating supper. I should have known better. The scales showed a three pound gain. I know nighttime is not the best time to weigh myself, but I did it anyway.
And what were your thoughts before getting on those scales?
Uh, . . . I thought, “I don’t care what they say. I’m still going to eat all those leftovers.”
Child, that was your first mistake. You declared you were going to eat all the leftovers no matter what the scales said. Did you think to ask Me what I thought? Did you seek My will concerning your food?
No Sir.
I see. Child, it was your “self” that wanted it all. You weren’t even hungry. You just wanted to eat due to stress. Am I right?
Yes Sir.
What should you do next time?
Lord, should I share with the others on that Pittbull Facebook group about the fence board being loose and let them know the pitbull dog acted like he was going to get into the neighbor’s yard? The neighbor was afraid the pitbull dog was going to attack him.? Some of those people on that FB group said I should get rid of the neighbor and not the dog. What???
Child, . . . don’t change the subject. What should you do next time?
Uh, . . . first of all I shouldn’t have weighed myself after a 10 hour ride in the car. Then I shouldn’t have determined to eat all the leftover pasta from the night before. I should have asked You first Lord about what I should eat?
Child, I blessed you with many blessings throughout your trip. You won many food battles. I gave you victory throughout. Then you get home stressed over this dog issue and proceed to calm yourself with food. Did this help your situation?
No Sir.
Know this child of MIne, I am working out this dog issue for your good. I shut the mouth of a lion and I shut the mouth of this dog. Now I’m giving you an open door to provide a better home for him. Yes, I said a better home for him. I’m relieving you of this stress, worry, and even your fears concerning this dog. Watch and see what I will do. Trust Me. You don’t handle it, I will. I will send him to a new home and you will feel good about it.
Now yield yourself to Me so I can set you free from your self-inflicted chains of bondage to compulsive overeating.
Ok Lord, here I am. Do with me as You wish. I am Yours.
By the way, those size 10 pants are already yours now. I’ve already planned it.
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Note: On Friday, a family came to meet our pitbull dog. They said they already had a pitbull and love them. They said they have three acres of fenced land for him to run.
When they got here, they played with this pitbull in ways we never have. He was so excited he was jumping up and down like a rabbit. Overall he immediately took to them and they seemed thrilled with him.
When they were ready to leave he hopped in their car so happy to go. Not only did he act so happy to be with them, but also he never even told us bye. He was so excited to be with them that he never even looked back.
Lord, I praise You for answering our prayers. Since I now get daily messages from the new owners with updates of all he is doing and how happy he is, I can see how You answered this need of a good home for this dog.
Thank you Lord!
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The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate. He won’t withdraw His Presence from you if you return to Him. 2 Chronicles 30:9
. . . Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:2
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23–24
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
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Holy 30 Devotional
**The short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 27 & Day 28) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
(Lord above all, show me how to reach them with Your love. )
(Lord, not only could You show me how, what, and with whom I can share Your love with, but also could You open my eyes to see those around me with needs that I don’t see now. In addition, open my eyes, ears, and heart to each of those You have given to me. Finally, help me minister Your love to them in such a way so that it will cause them to seek Your love for themselves.)
Lord, I’ve backslidden and gained some weight. I may as well be honest with You and everyone else.. . . . I’ve fell off the wagon. . . .Could You have mercy on me? (At this time I’ve gained approx. 30 lbs. throughout 2017, but lost 4 lbs. this week. Thank you Jesus.)
How did this happen? When did it happen? I remember last February on our trip to Israel, I wore size 10 jeans with tights under them due to the cold. Now I can’t get into those size 10 pants. And all my skirts are way too tight. Lord, . . . what happened? When did this happen? How could I do this? I’m so ashamed.
Let’s see. . . as I look back over last years’s datebook I see I had gained 10 pounds by last April, then another 10 by July, and then another 10 by October. In my datebook I kept documentation of my weight as it slowly went up and down, but mostly up. How could I go backwards? I’ve lost my testimony of Your delivering power.
I can just hear Satan snickering now as he asks You, “Have You noticed Your servant, Deborah? Getting a little plump around the middle, don’t You think?” Then he laughs in Your face. . . Lord, . . . (hanging my head in shame) please forgive me for embarrassing You.
Help me find my way back to victory again. Is it possible? Or have I gone too far backwards? Lord, I don’t want to weigh over 240 again. And for another thing, I want my beautiful size 10 clothes back. Is there any hope for me?
Child, you didn’t fall off a wagon. No, you fell out of My will. You chose your will for instant gratification, not Mine. Yes, I will forgive you I will help you. But you will choose how long this process takes. It depends on your willingness to trust Me and follow My directions. My child, all things are possible.
Between last Saturday and today, Monday, I’ve gained 5 pounds. How did this happen? I had made such good progress. It took all week to lose that 5 pounds and now I’ve gained it back in two days. Two days?
My father-in-law (97 yrs.) passed away last week and his funeral was last Saturday. Here in the South, we feed the grieving. Lord, even though I ate a little dessert, I thought I ate in submission to Your instructions at the funeral meal. I know I said I was going to give up desserts until I got back into my size 10 pants, but it was just a bite of cake and a half cookie.
Then on the same day, Saturday evening, my sister’s grandchild got married. A wedding and a funeral on the same day. I’m so tired. Can I do this? It was a beautiful wedding. But while there, I ate the appetizers, including the chocolate covered strawberries. By then I had lost control and went back for more. Thank you Lord, there were none left. Why didn’t I just drink coffee or lemonade without eating? Those appetizers were my third meal of the day.
Then after we returned home, one of the church members brought by some homemade taco soup. More “feed the grieving”. Thank you Lord, I’m so tired and there is no way I could cook supper. It was so good, I wanted more, but ate chocolate sugar free popsicles instead. But then before bed, I was eating the cold taco soup with a spoon right out of the refrigerator followed by chunks of sweet rolls too. Backslidden into gluttony.
Lord, will I ever be free of this compulsion to overeat?
Yes child, you will. You broke free once before and you will again. With My power you can achieve anything. You can defeat your enemies. You can overcome. Your victory is assured, for I have won the victory over all.
Lord, why do I do this? How can I destroy this compulsive pattern of compulsive overeating?
Child, I have already destroyed it.
Then why am I so easily defeated? Lord, I’ve backslidden into gluttony. Why?
Because you haven’t accepted My victory. You expect to fail. You have given the food power by your expectation of defeat. Now expect victory. Praise Me for your victory, for I am your victory. Sing “Victory in Jesus”.
Child, you will succeed again. It will not be through your work, but it will be through My already won victory.
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Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. I Peter 5: 8-9
With God, everything is possible. Matthew 19:26
You are truly My disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32
Remember, I did not write these devotionals, but this sounds like me.
**The short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 25 & Day 26) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
Inconsistent, hmmm . . . . My middle name should be “Inconsistent”. Let me explain. First, I’m inconsistent with my writing. second, I’m inconsistent in keeping my house clean, and finally, I inconsistent with handling my money. You know, keeping the checkbook up to date and paying bills when due. Yes, I’m certainly inconsistent there.
I dream of projects to create a side business, so I spend money collecting all the supplies necessary. Then said projects just sit there for weeks, or months because my interest became focused on other things. This explains why I have a huge collection of lace, material, and crochet dollies. I had dreamed of making vintage aprons and selling them for profit. But one day I’d sew some on an apron, then for several days I’d lay it aside. Inconsistent, I’d say. Yep.
There’s is one thing I do consistently. That’s crying out to the Lord. It seems that I cry out to Him about everything. It’s wonderful how He is always there ready to listen.
But sometimes I don’t listen to His instructions. Uh-oh. Free will, anyone? I need to listen more, trust more, and obey more. Listen, trust, and obey. Yea, that’s it.
For instance, see those plastic containers. I’d made a Facebook post to give these away for free. Stated that if no one wanted them, in the garbage they would go.
Just yesterday, garbage day, I gathered them up to throw away. But on the way to the garbage can, it came to me, “Just hold them a little longer. Friday is the next garbage day. Wait until then.”
My logic side (Yes, it shows up sometimes, though rarely.) said, “No, I said if no one claimed them, they were going to the garbage.” So I put them in the garbage can and walked back in the house.
Later in the evening, a lady contacted me saying that her church could use these containers. Oh no . . . , they were already gone. Garbageman already took them. Oh no! How I wished I had listened to God’s Holy Spirit guiding me.
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Lord, I’m so sorry I didn’t follow Your leading. I was so busy completing my plans that I didn’t pay attention to Your guidance. I’m just sick about this. A church could have used these. Please forgive me and help me to listen. Open my ears to her Your voice and pay attention. Then help me to obey Your leading.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:8
And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whomGod has given Me. Hebrews 2:13
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:8
For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 33:4-5NKJV
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**The short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 19 & Day 20) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
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Below are two books I love. They emphasize listening to God’s voice. They help me during those times when I’m crying out.
You can find both books on amazon.com. No, I’m not an affiliate for Amazon.com. I keep telling myself I’m going to, just never do. Guess that’s something else I’m inconsistent with or could that just be an old fashioned case of procrastination? Sigh
