Happy Monday!
If you are one of those rare people who can eat anything, and as much of it as they want, with no negative effects, congratulations! I know I can’t and I have a hunch that I’m not alone!
This reminds me so much of when we first started The Daniel Plan. We talked about being a living sacrifice often. This has been a long-time goal for me. And yet, I still want to reach for the chips instead of the veggies. Sometimes, even though I have a good exercise routine that I enjoy, I would still rather curl up on the couch doing nothing. Last, but not least, it is MUCH easier to eat without tracking my food, then I can pretend it didn’t happen, right?
Unfortunately, if I do that, it did still happen. The result of each of those actions appear on my body and definitely in the way that I feel.
That kind of summarizes the physical. But what about the spiritual? Why is it so easy to tuck the spiritual away “in a safe place” until later. Until desperation calls our name, or until suddenly, it’s too late.
I hate it but I still go through it sometimes. Life gets in the way. (Totally on me) The saddest part of this to me is that it is truly my loss. When I sacrifice “me” and depend on God, that is when I gain my freedom. Yes. I still struggle and yes, I still may crave those chips instead of veggies, but it is through that small sacrifice that the bigger scheme of things proves that the reward is tremendous! Just to know that God is with me through every struggle, to know that He loves me through every failure is a victory!
So, collect your rocks, load your slingshot and face your Goliath! Face every challenge with the confidence and peace only God can provide. Instead of crying “poor, pitiful me, claim victory! You have faced your giant and conquered!
Pray Unceasingly!!
Lois
Becoming A Living Sacrifice On Your Weight Loss Journey
Becky at So Very Blessed
The verse in Romans that talks about being a living sacrifice is a pretty popular one.
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 12:1 NIV
One of the places we get tripped up in weight loss is that we expect it to feel comfortable.
We want to want to eat vegetables but we don’t so we keep reaching for the chips.
We want to feel motivated to exercise but we don’t so we stay on the couch.
We know that tracking our food helps us to lose weight but we don’t want to give up our time scrolling through Facebook to make it happen.
The thing about offering ourselves as a living sacrifice is that it requires sacrifice.
It’s uncomfortable. It challenges us. It requires growth. It will uncover inadequacies that we don’t want to admit are there.
Sounds fun, right?
Remember there is an eternal perspective here.
God doesn’t ask us to sacrifice as a way to punish us or take away the things we love.
He asks us to sacrifice the things that are getting in the way of us experiencing wholeness and walking in freedom.
Those healthy choices that don’t feel good in the moment will ultimately end up satisfying you more than any French fry or Netflix show ever could.
My hope and prayer for you is that all of your healthy choices are made, not out of a place of obligation, but as an outpouring of your love for God.
That your sacrifice would be giving up something you love for something you love more.
Blessings,
Becky