Devotion #37
Hi, Everyone.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 15, 2007. I hope you enjoy it, and, as always, I love to hear from you.
An old song came to my mind today, and I began to sing, "Thanks to Calvary, I am not the [one] I used to be. Thanks to Calvary, things are different than before." I just love that one of the benefits of being a Christian is that God makes Christians different people than they used to be.
I read somewhere that when we become "regenerated," we are spiritually "regened." I haven't really thought of it in that way before, but I like that!
The Lord impressed upon me that even if I have been an overeater all my life, even though I am now obese and suffering the consequences, and even though I sometimes feel as if I am unable to change any of it, the truth is that no matter what I was, that is not what I am in Christ.
The Lord showed me that who we see ourselves to be is how we act. That makes sense. If I think of myself as an overeater, then I will overeat. The opposite should be true. If I think of myself as an overcomer, even in the area of overeating, then I will act as an overcomer, even in the area of eating.
I was reminded of the verses that list all the types of "used to be" people, and I found it in 1st Corinthians 6:9-11. I love the last part that says, "Such were some of you; but you were washed,...sanctified,...justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
At first, I didn't "see" myself in that list, but then...there it was, "idolaters." I was an idolater, because food was my idol. Now, I was still saved, but the Lord began a work in me that continues today, that of changing me. Even though I couldn't see it at the time, the moment I gave my heart to Jesus, at the age of 13, God changed me and gave me a new identity. That's glorious!
My greatest desire is to be so changed that my outside mirrors my inside, that people will want to know what has happened to me, so I will be given the opportunity to testify of what God's grace has done in my life.
How precious it has been for me today, to have God put in my mind what a change the Word and Grace of God have made in me. How glorious the change that grace makes! How amazing that, because of grace, I am made righteous and holy in the sight of God!
Yes, I am counted in the "Such were some of you," for I am not what I once was. I guess some might say that overeating is "no big deal," but I can testify that if one is in bondage to it, it is as defeating as any sin.
I'm going to work at thinking, speaking, and acting as a person who has God-control (I like that better than self-control). Some people who are obese give themselves cutesy nicknames, like "dough boy" or "pleasingly plump." I've never understood that, because there's nothing cute about being fat!
I see, however, that, while I have never given myself a "cute" nickname, I do speak in a way that shows that I loathe myself. That's not of God, because that is not who I am.
I just remembered a story about St. Augustine, who, shortly after he was converted, was walking and passed by a prostitute he'd "known" well. He did not even glance at her. She said to him, "Augustine, it is I," and he replied, "Yes, but it is not I." His response shows that he knew the truth that he was not who he used to be.
I thought of Paul, who was so changed by His encounter with the Lord, on the Damascus Road. I love the passage in Galatians 1:13-24, where Paul talks about how he "used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it," and then he uses my favorite 2-word phrase, "But God." "But God...called [Paul] through His grace," and the result was that people were talking about the one "who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." Not only that, but Paul goes on to say, "And they were glorifying God because of me." May that be the case with me, also, is my prayer.
Today, make a conscious effort to think like an overcomer, even in the area of overeating. At the end of the day, see if that made a difference in your eating. Do you see yourself as God sees you? Have you allowed God to change you?
Listen to George Younce, former bass singer for the Southern Gospel quartet The Cathedrals, who moved to Heaven in 2005, as he sings "Thanks to Calvary." George tells a cute story before singing. I hope you enjoy the song and express thanks to the Lord, for what He's done for you.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c060409ea8e97f afec9e
Blessings,
Mary
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 15, 2007. I hope you enjoy it, and, as always, I love to hear from you.
An old song came to my mind today, and I began to sing, "Thanks to Calvary, I am not the [one] I used to be. Thanks to Calvary, things are different than before." I just love that one of the benefits of being a Christian is that God makes Christians different people than they used to be.
I read somewhere that when we become "regenerated," we are spiritually "regened." I haven't really thought of it in that way before, but I like that!
The Lord impressed upon me that even if I have been an overeater all my life, even though I am now obese and suffering the consequences, and even though I sometimes feel as if I am unable to change any of it, the truth is that no matter what I was, that is not what I am in Christ.
The Lord showed me that who we see ourselves to be is how we act. That makes sense. If I think of myself as an overeater, then I will overeat. The opposite should be true. If I think of myself as an overcomer, even in the area of overeating, then I will act as an overcomer, even in the area of eating.
I was reminded of the verses that list all the types of "used to be" people, and I found it in 1st Corinthians 6:9-11. I love the last part that says, "Such were some of you; but you were washed,...sanctified,...justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
At first, I didn't "see" myself in that list, but then...there it was, "idolaters." I was an idolater, because food was my idol. Now, I was still saved, but the Lord began a work in me that continues today, that of changing me. Even though I couldn't see it at the time, the moment I gave my heart to Jesus, at the age of 13, God changed me and gave me a new identity. That's glorious!
My greatest desire is to be so changed that my outside mirrors my inside, that people will want to know what has happened to me, so I will be given the opportunity to testify of what God's grace has done in my life.
How precious it has been for me today, to have God put in my mind what a change the Word and Grace of God have made in me. How glorious the change that grace makes! How amazing that, because of grace, I am made righteous and holy in the sight of God!
Yes, I am counted in the "Such were some of you," for I am not what I once was. I guess some might say that overeating is "no big deal," but I can testify that if one is in bondage to it, it is as defeating as any sin.
I'm going to work at thinking, speaking, and acting as a person who has God-control (I like that better than self-control). Some people who are obese give themselves cutesy nicknames, like "dough boy" or "pleasingly plump." I've never understood that, because there's nothing cute about being fat!
I see, however, that, while I have never given myself a "cute" nickname, I do speak in a way that shows that I loathe myself. That's not of God, because that is not who I am.
I just remembered a story about St. Augustine, who, shortly after he was converted, was walking and passed by a prostitute he'd "known" well. He did not even glance at her. She said to him, "Augustine, it is I," and he replied, "Yes, but it is not I." His response shows that he knew the truth that he was not who he used to be.
I thought of Paul, who was so changed by His encounter with the Lord, on the Damascus Road. I love the passage in Galatians 1:13-24, where Paul talks about how he "used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it," and then he uses my favorite 2-word phrase, "But God." "But God...called [Paul] through His grace," and the result was that people were talking about the one "who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." Not only that, but Paul goes on to say, "And they were glorifying God because of me." May that be the case with me, also, is my prayer.
Today, make a conscious effort to think like an overcomer, even in the area of overeating. At the end of the day, see if that made a difference in your eating. Do you see yourself as God sees you? Have you allowed God to change you?
Listen to George Younce, former bass singer for the Southern Gospel quartet The Cathedrals, who moved to Heaven in 2005, as he sings "Thanks to Calvary." George tells a cute story before singing. I hope you enjoy the song and express thanks to the Lord, for what He's done for you.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c060409ea8e97f afec9e
Blessings,
Mary
"Don't tell God how big your storm is; tell your storm how BIG your God is!"
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
Hi, Kelley.
That's exactly what happens to me, whenever I read "But God" in the Bible or wherever. It's like when life hands you a terminal report, you immediately hear "But God" in your heart. I'll take "But God," for sure!
Blessings,
Mary
That's exactly what happens to me, whenever I read "But God" in the Bible or wherever. It's like when life hands you a terminal report, you immediately hear "But God" in your heart. I'll take "But God," for sure!
Blessings,
Mary
"Don't tell God how big your storm is; tell your storm how BIG your God is!"
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
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