Talking To My Weight Loss Counselor – God

Here’s part of my Victory Plan journal for the “Stay Home” order. Due to this mandate, for several weeks I’ve mostly ate and watched TV. So now I’ve gained over 10 pounds. How depressing.

Then last week God gave me a dream- I was in my classroom, my students were acting crazy, I had no lesson plan, and the principal walks in to observe me. I panicked. What am I going to do?- Then when I woke up and God spoke to my heart, “You need discipline and a plan.” (Note: I am a retired teacher.)

So I’m sharing my Victory Plan Journal for your “Stay Home” mandate. Hope it helps you as well. It’s free for you to print and use for yourself.

My goal is 40 days of victory, in eating and in life general. So here’s my plan, to work through this journal for 40 days. Presently I’m working on Day 5 and I’ve already lost 2 pounds. Yay!

I’ll post more Victory Plans next week. Hopefully this’ll help you begin 40 days of victory for your “Stay Home” mandate. I’m hoping soon we’ll be released from this order soon. Some states are opening up slowly and some states are extending their stay at home order. Hopefully soon, we can return to our so-called normal lives again. What is normal, anyway? What is our new normal?

May God bless you and keep you safe. May you experience success from this day forward. Let me know what you think.

Lord, help them prosper in all their endeavors. Keep all well and safe.

Deborah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Stop eating and pray.” Yep, that’s how my morning time with the Lord was.v

To explain, we now have a ‘Stay home’ order because of coronavirus. Due to staying home, I’ve been eating a lot of comfort food. Lots of comfort food.

So this morning I prayed, “Lord, forgive me for I have been eating and eating everything. And now I’ve gained more weight. Lord, help me.”

Then I flipped over my daily scripture calendar, and saw this-

– God declares us “not guilty” offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins. Romans 3:24 TLB

We’ve been staying home for the past couple of weeks due to the coronavirus. And I’ve been eating and eating more, wasting time either watching TV, or zoning out on social media. But my greatest sin was none of these. No. it was my failure to pray.

“Lord forgive me. Help me to pray for those needing You. I can’t send medical supplies, or food to those in the hardest hit areas. But what I can do is pray.

Yes, I can pray and also reach out to those You placed in my life. I might not be able to be with them in person, but I can talk on the phone or use social media to stay in contact. Help me to help encourage others.”

We’re all stuck at home. All our lives have changed. We’re overwhelmed by all the reports of sickness and death. Maybe we’ve become fearful as we go to the grocery store. What if they come in my personal space and have the virus? And we’re real careful not to breathe on anyone because what if we have it?

Funny note: I’m at the store standing close to the checkout counter hesitating . This lady looks at me. So I say, “I’m debating on buying ice cream.”To which she replies, “Buy it.” Then a man standing close by, looks at me and says, “Buy it,” So I take that as a sign and go get ice cream. When I told Hubby about it, He said, “When did you start taking advice from strangers?”

When I compare the time I’ve spent eating, cooking, discussing menus, or grocery lists to the time I spent praying, guess which one got the most time during my stay at home day? Yep. Busted. It was food and more food. So I need to stop eating and pray.

A friend once told me the highest prayer you could pray is “Lord, Your will be done.” See Matthew 6 for “The Lord’s Prayer”.

So here’s today’s challenge. Let’s get out of our chairs, turn off the TV, turn off social media, and start praying for others. They need our prayers. This USA needs our prayers. The World needs our prayers. So lets stop eating and pray.

Our leaders need our prayers, truck drivers, store employees, medical staff, first responders, people still working, people not working, families with children out of school, the children themselves, those who are by themselves, and those who are contained with others. We also need to pray for our spiritual leaders and those who believe in Jesus that their faith will hold strong. And especially pray for those who don’t believe in Jesus that they will come to know Him.

Now I’m thinking of those leaders whom I don’t like and wish I could throw rocks at them. Is this part of “Turn the other cheek?” Guess they need prayer too. That may be what the scripture meant when it instructed us to pray for our leaders so that we may have peace in our land.

Maybe we all need to repent. After all, 1 Chronicles 7:14 says-

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

So y’all. If you’ve been like me, lets stop eating and pray.

 

Lord, there’s so many suffering. Do You love them? (**See note at end.)

Yes, My Child. I do love them. They have even more grace and love toward them than they know- for I am by their side.

One does not have more of My love than another. But one may have a greater grace extended toward them  just to make it through the hard places in their life. 

Hard places are not necessarily the result of their sins or to show off My power as I deliver them out of their hard places. No, instead hard places are just life as it is on Earth. Satan rules throughout this Earth. But I rule over everything, including Satan. Remember that fact.

There’s only one thing I will not, can not rule over. That’s man’s “free will”.

At the beginning, I gave mankind power, the keys to Earth. Then mankind through disobedience chose to give his keys to Satan. So I stepped in, but the power of good and evil had already been released. 

There’s no knowledge of good without the knowledge of evil to contrast. When they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, the knowledge of good and evil brought forth the ability to choose, free will, death, and rebellion. In other words, the knowledge of good and evil brought forth sin.

Satan brought his rebellion, hatred, and revenge to Earth, along with death and destruction. So much suffering. There are so many innocent suffering along with the guilty. It grieves My Spirit. 

That’s why I came and poured out My blood. I came to cleanse and deliver, to set free from this curse of evil.

Satan is a liar. I AM the truth. In addition I provide the one true love and grace. My love and grace is sufficient to cover ALL sin.

Soon and very soon Satan will be destroyed and he knows it. Therefore he goes about destroying all he can, bringing forth destruction and death.

My time has come. Satan and the suffering he causes will be destroyed. I AM bringing forth new life, new freedom, and complete truth. I AM all. And I AM power. Therefore I AM. 

[**Note: Being overwhelmed by all the coronavirus news, I pulled out some of my old journals. Found this entry, written Feb. 9, 2019. Even though it was written last year, I think it fits the effects of our lives this year. God is more powerful than any virus! What do you think?]

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He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will- to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ]. Ephesians 1:5-6 AMP

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3: 16,17 NKJV

 

Yes, you heard right. I’m excited about my funeral. Last week Hubby and I attended a funeral presentation which involved free food. Wouldn’t you know. They fed us as we listened. Free food is always good. Hubby says the way to a woman’s heart is feed her first.

The funeral director didn’t win my heart but they did make us an offer we couldn’t refuse. Now I’m excited about my funeral. Isn’t that just crazy?

To begin with, while we were eating, the funeral staff explained about the burial policys our parents bought back in 1956. I had records where my parents paid $1.27 every four months until it was paid it in full.

If we chose to cash the policy, it was worth $300. But if we chose to apply this policy toward our funeral, it’s worth $7,500. That’s an offer we couldn’t refuse, especially given the cost of today’s funeral.

Since we don’t want our children and grandchildren having garage sales and bake sales to pay for our funeral, we signed up.

Here’s what we get:

(1) Insurance to finish paying for the funeral in case we pass on before it’s paid in full. Sounds good to me, especially if I go before it’s paid for. Love a bargain.

(2) Transportation if we pass away when out of town. And we do plan to travel. So if the Lord chooses to take us home from the Grand Canyon, Alaska, or Hawaii, our transportation to the funeral home is covered. Sounds good to me.

(3) An Everlasting film of our life to show to all our family and friends. For once, I’ll be a movie star. How about that? Do you think I’ll see it from Heaven?

(4) Oh, and our children will get a beautiful memory book (for free) of our life to place on their coffee table. Uh, . . no that might be too much to ask.

(5) We did choose the cheapest casket. But who cares? After all, we won’t be there, just our shell.  We’ll be in Glory land. So what does it matter?

So it’s my party and I’ll plan it how I want to.  I know I can write my wishes for all to know. Also, I know my children will do what ever they want to. So it’s another “who cares moment”.

Now here’s the fun part-

I don’t care about a casket spray. Nope. Instead, I want a REAL SUGAR ICING BIRTHDAY CAKE from Wal Mart.  This makes perfect sense to me. Why waste money on expensive flowers that’ll be thrown on the ground?  And after all, I’ll have a new birthday in Heaven. So why not celebrate with me?

Also, don’t you think it’ll make everyone laugh when they see a birthday cake on top of my casket? What fun!

For another good idea:

Instead of everyone spending big money on flowers, how about bringing canned goods to my funeral. Then donate it to Community Missions to feed the needy. Since I’m a foodie, you’re bringing food to my funeral. Fitting, don’t you think?

Maybe if it’s close to Christmas, you could just make a contribution to the Christmas store at our church to help needy families provide Christmas for their children. Since I love Christmas, this sounds great to me.

Songs I want at my funeral:

1. Jesus Loves Me – Everyone sing this. For the second verse sing “Jesus Loves You” to the person sitting next to you.
2.  Give Me Jesus– Yep, He’s my best friend. I do hope you know Him as your best friend too.
3. Victory in Jesus- 
4.  In The Garden

What I want placed in “there” with me:

1.  The small birthday cake, previously on top of the casket, or at least a piece of it. Hee, hee. I might want a snack. Don’t forget the fork.
2.   A cheap Bible from the Dollar Store. I like to think my children and grandchildren would want one of the Bibles I read. They’re in the closet of the Parlor/Prayer room. Not bragging, but there’s seven or more.
3.  My cell phone- Maybe one of my old ones will do. Yep, I admit it, love that cell phone. A cousin asked me, “Who are you going to call?” My answer to her was, “You never know.”

Now, can you understand why I excited about my funeral? I expect to have some fun there. What about you?

Can’t wait to see my Jesus. Do you know Him as your Savior? If not, just take a minute to talk with Him. Ask for His forgiveness for your sins. Then ask Him to fill your heart with His sweet Holy Spirit. If you ask, He will come.

Consider this:

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalms 116:15

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21 

That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:15, 16

 

Old lies or new truth, what do you listen to? Specifically what do you speak in self-talk, old lies or new truth? Here’s some examples of old lies and new truths I’ve heard:

1. Old Lie: “You’re fat and ugly too.” This was the #1 lie I’ve heard throughout my life, a lie from Satan.                                        This picture was made in May 2013.

New Truth: You’re created in God’s image. So you’re beautiful. After all, God don’t make ugly. In fact He delights in you just as you are. And He sings over you too.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

2. Old Lie: “You’re a failure. You can’t stick to a diet. Even if you lost weight, you’ll just gain it back.” This lie competes with #1 for first place.

Truth: With God on your side, you’re guaranteed victory. “Never a failure. Always a lesson.”

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV

But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV 

3. Old Lie : You’re older now, so its harder to lose weight. After all, your metabolism has slowed down to nothing. So why try? Just quit. Eat all you want and enjoy life.

New Truth: Eating, although pleasurable, is not the source of joy in life. Living in God’s Presence is the ultimate source of joy. And He will fill you with His joy, true joy unspeakable.

You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your Presence. Acts 2:28 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV

4. Old Lie: Everything’s going wrong today. So go ahead, eat some comfort food. Then you’ll feel better. Food is comfort and pleasure. After all, you’re under a lot of stress. So get a treat.

New Truth: Overeating causes more stress. When your clothes get tight, the scales go up, and shame comes due to overeating, you have more stress.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 NKJV

God’s Presence brings peace and victory. So what do you listen to, lies or truth? You choose.

One small step of obedience is all it takes to get to your victory. Then another small step is added to another and another and another until you reach your total victory.

But Lord, I don’t know what to do or even what to do.

Surrender is the key to your victory. Trust Me, My Child. With My help you can do all things, including lose weight and eliminate debt. All it takes is discipline and surrender.

Lord I have failed so much, so many times.

Then Child, it’s time for you to get up and start over afresh. I AM the God of new beginnings, new life, a new life of victory. 

Lord, I start out my days so well. But by nightfall, it’s “mess up” time.

Because Child, you don’t fight the temptation. You just give in. Learn to fight. With each battle, your strength increases. You are not to old to fight and win. After all, Moses was 80 when he started.

But Lord, I am not Moses.

But you are My Child. And I have a work for you just as I had for Moses. He had an assignment and so do you. Now get up, wash your face, and go forth in the assignment I have for you today. 

Yes Sir. But Lord, could You help me?

Child, know that I AM. But all it takes from you is one small step of obedience. Then this one small step builds on another and another until total victory is yours.

Words of Victory

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Joshua 1:7 NLT

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.            1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. 1John 5:4 NKJV

Don’t you realize that you become the slaves of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:16 NLT

 

 

 

“Not only am I calling you to offer your body in submission, but also I’m calling you to serve others as well,” said my Lord. “In addition you should also seek My will about your food choices, when to eat, what to eat and how much to eat. Then your victory over food will come.”

Yes Lord, I do want to serve You. And I want to help others too.

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Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:2 NIV

“So do it today, not tomorrow. In fact, start now living in the victory I’ve already planned for you. Don’t wait until tomorrow.” 

Of course Lord, I want victory in my life. But what do You want from me?

“Specifically, . . . I want all of you,. . . your heart, your mind, and your body.” 

But Lord, I’m pretty messed up. Why would You want me?

“Child, I want all of you because you are Mine, even the messed up parts. Overall, you are to seek Me about all things. Seek My advice, My wisdom, and My guidance one day at a time, one moment at a time. So ask and ye shall receive.” 

All who listen to My instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Matthew 7:24 TLB

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“In fact Child, I have many plans for you. First and foremost, I’ve already planned  your freedom and total deliverance from this bondage of compulsive overeating. So as you offer your body in submission to My will, I set you free. Also read My Word. Thereby feeding your spirit and not your body.” 

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 NKJV

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“Child, know that I always finish what I start.”

 

That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:10-11NKJV

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“Child, as you offer your body, your heart, and your mind to Me, I’ll fill you full of the fruits of righteousness. I will fill you with My Holy Spirit which increases the fruits of righteousness in your life.” 

. . .  so Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.      Philippians 1:12 NKJV

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“Yes Child, I’m using your weight struggles as a witness for My glory. I will be magnified in your body as you yield yourself in total submission to My will for you. This also includes your food choices.

Do you think failure and entrapment is what I have planned for you? No, what I have planned for you will give you a hope and a future. My plans are not to harm you, but to prosper you instead. And I plan to fill you with My Presence forevermore.”

 

 

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:1-2 NIV

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You know Lord . . . I didn’t walk in obedience yesterday. And now I’m here before You asking for forgiveness again, yet another time. Because I know I don’t deserve it, Your love amazes me.

Please help me walk in obedience today. And please forgive me. We both know that I didn’t bring You any honor, glory, and praise yesterday. Help me to fulfill Your will in all I do, say, think, and even to what I eat in Jesus’ name.

Lord, . . . all I can say is I’m sorry.

Child, I’m sorry too. You could have had victory, supernatural victory. But now you don’t. Instead you have weight gain. 

Yes Sir.

So you didn’t weigh yourself today, did you?

No Sir.

I see . . . if only you would come to Me. Then I could deliver you from this bondage. After all, I have many plans of victory for you. 

Oh Lord, I do want victory.

Then come here to Me. 

Yes Lord, here I am.

Know that you are Mine and nothing can change that. I love you, My child. 

Sir, I love You too. I’m sorry I wasted yesterday. I do want to serve You. Yesterday, I know You saw it all.

Yes Child, but I’m not giving up on you.

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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 NKJV

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Yes Child, I will complete My work in you. So you can rest assured I will have My way in your life. And you can rest assured I will complete My work of victory. 

But Lord, I don’t understand. Why don’t You give up on me?

Because you are Mine. After all, you are marked by My blood covering your sin. 

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And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

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Child, I want you filled with the fruits of righteousness. Overall, I want you filled with My Presence, My Holy Spirit. 

But Lord, how?

Through praise and worship. Then you will be filled with My joy, My love, and My Presence. 

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Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:1,2 NIV

Because the Lord is on my side, I’m expecting a great 2020, full of weight losses and victorious wins. How about you? What do you expect for 2020?

So now, I’ve got my walking shoes on. And I’m ready to go forth toward my victory. What about you?

I’m learning about Romans 8:28 and trust. Here’s how the conversation went:

Lord, the scales went up even though I only ate broiled seafood (notice- broiled, not fried like I love it) , 2 cups of gumbo with no rice (notice- no rice), 2 rice cakes (notice- with nothing spread on them), one small satsuma, and one small apple. That’s all I ate all day long and yet the scales went up.

Now Lord, I ask You, how can that cause a one pound weight gain?

Child, yesterday you drank no water and had very little activity. I’m teaching you.

Well Lord, . . . what am I learning?

Child, you’re learning about Romans 8:28 and trust. Both yesterday and today you ate past full. You chose to eat past full. When you don’t follow instructions, you get what you get.

Consequences always come from all decisions. Whether they are good consequences or bad, there are always consequences to every decision. Weigh your thoughts and consider your consequences.

Today focus on following the eating plan I gave you: 1) Wait until hunger before eating. 2) Seek My guidance concerning your food choices. 3) Trust and obey My instructions. 4) Stop eating before you reach full. 

Your desire is to lose weight, but My desire is to teach you about Roman 8:28 and trust. Trust and obey. Throughout this process I am teaching you how to trust and look to Me. 

Learn this now and when a crisis comes you will know how to come through victorious. Now today focus on the words and instructions I have already given to you. You will have victory today for I have already ordained it. 

Yes Sir. Thank you Sir. Forgive me for my complaining and choosing to go against Your instructions. Help me to focus on Your will, to trust and obey You in all things even with the food I eat and how much I eat.

Romans 8:28 and Trust

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. Romans 8:28 AMP

What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 AMP

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. Romans 8:37 AMP

 

 

Lord, I need a new victory.  Finally I’m losing weight again, but it’s through using an App on my cell phone, My Fitness Pal-  https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ .

Am I taking credit from You? By using this App to count my calories, how can I say it was You? (This was hand written over a week ago.) Continue reading New Victory