Devotion #47

Hi, Everyone.
I've met some wonderful people, by posting this devotional. It's been such a blessing, so fun. You encourage me, when you reply and share what God is doing in your life.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 25, 2007. Keep in mind that it was written before contemplating WLS. Post-ops, of course, should recognize that some foods are not helpful to them, which is part of eating with discipline.

     I'm in I Corinthians, in my quiet time, and because of seeing a marathon runner on television, I thought of several verses about comparing the Christian life to a race.
     I thought of Connie's (one of my accountability partners) talk at the Mother/Daughter Brunch, also, so I turned to Hebrews 12:1-4, and focused on the words, "...lay aside every encumbrance,...and run with endurance the race that is set before us..."
     Then I turned to I Corinthians 9:24-27, which I read in my quiet time a few days ago, and focused on the words, "...Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things... I discipline my body and make it my slave..."
     The Christian life IS like a race, a marathon. I know that marathon runners (all athletes, really) know the value of discipline and self-control in all things.
     Discipline and self-control have been foreign to me, in the past, but it's becoming very important in my life that I not have anything that encumbers me or anything that entangles me and slows me down.
     Only the Lord could help me understand about running a race! I have absolutely NO experience with running. I don't even like to sweat! [Actually, southern women don't sweat; we glow, but I don't even like to glow!] By His mercy, I've learned some things today.
     I cannot run with endurance, unless I put aside the things that are holding me back. Excess weight is holding me back, definitely. Just knowing that I can eat any food I want, in moderation, with self-control gives me great hope that the excess weight will decrease steadily, weeky by week.
     Paul says, "I discipline my body and make it my slave" (I Corinthians 9:27). I want to be able to say that! For years, I have been a slave to the cravings of my body. Now, though, I am on my way to being able to say that I am master of my cravings, and I make my body subservient to my spiritual desire to honor the Lord in all things.
     A runner must have a well-defined goal. A runner must visualize the finish line and keep his eye on it at all times, during the race. As a runner in the Christian race, I must "fix [my] eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of [my] faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
     Focusing on Jesus will enable me to throw off excess weight and anything that hinders me or entangles me. It will help me to exercise self-control in all things. It will enable me to discipline my body and make it my slave, instead of the other way around.
     Every diet book I've read, every diet I've been on has told me that I must focus my attention on food. However, I can't run this race well if I must take with me a food scale, a magnifying glass to read the nutritional label, a book to tell me whether or not I can eat the food, or pills that are supposed to help me burn fat (or whatever).
     I am DONE with all that! I just know in my spirit that if I stare intently at Jesus, this weight will come off. I'm letting go of all other distractions, and that includes the diet paraphernalia.
     Hebrews 12:3 says, "Consider Him..., so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." I can either be looking to Jesus or I can be discouraged and lose heart, but I cannot do both at the same time. I have tried for so long to lose weight. Every time, I became discouraged, eventually. Now I see that it was because I had a wrong focus...food. The antidote to growing weary and losing heart is to look to Jesus, to consider Him, to focus on Him, and to follow Him, even in the area of eating.
     Jesus is our example, always. He did everything in His earthly life from a motivation to glorify God. I am to have the same motive. He endured hostility and opposition, yet He pressed on. He did not turn back or give in. I am challenged to press on. He endured suffering in His flesh, to the point of shedding His blood for my sins. I am reminded to endure, to persist, to persevere. If I look to Him, I will not grow weary, lose heart, or give up.
     The Christian life is a marathon, and that includes the God Gain Lifestyle, eating with thanksgiving, in moderation, discipline, and self-control. Jesus is the goal, the finish line. He's definitely the prize! He's the best coach, because He runs with me, encouraging me, and He will be at the end, welcoming me with a "Well done!"

Today, consider how well you're running this race, how well you're keeping your focus on Jesus. Listen to the song "My Redeemer Lives," and watch this amazing video of a father and son team. When you see the father, think of Jesus, and when you see the son, think of yourself. Don't miss it! Know that Jesus will carry you, pull you, push you, and stay with you until the end, and His reward will be your smile. 
 http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9e a45513

Blessings,
Mary

Good Morning Mary,

What a beautiful video.  A perfect recreation of how my Holy Father carries me through anything and everything and that I am truly strong through Him.  My Redeemer Lives is one of my all time favorites.

Your devotional today helped me alot.  I already knew that one of my greatest "encumbrances" was my own weakness to food.  God has allowed me to have this surgery.  In my life, this is how He chose to overcome this weakness.  Since the surgery I have had almost no distraction from food.  Maybe a bit in the beginning when I was learning how to eat in a new way, but now it is what it was meant to be - a small part of my life. 

This has enabled me to draw nearer to God in many ways.  I feel better, which allows me to wake earlier and spend longer and better quality time with the Lord before I begin my day. I am even walking in the mornings and take advantage of this additional time to be with Him.  I just got a bike and as soon as I am less shaky on it and able to concentrate on something other than falling off I will be spending this time with the Lord as well.  My worship and prayer time is more energized and I am more fully "in it" when I speak and listen.

Our God is so good and He ALWAYS knows what He is doing.  I am so thankful that He would care so much for my health and for my relationship with Him.

Blessings,  Donna

Hi, Donna.
I rejoice with you in how the Lord has worked in your heart and life, with surgery, with just helping you be able to focus more on Him. When we do that, everything else becomes smaller, and He becomes bigger. :)
Blessings,
Mary

God Bless you Donna.  I needed to read your reply to Mary today.  I have been having some misgivings about life after RNY and today they called me with a surgery date, October 31.  Your response was just what I needed to read!  God Bless you and keep up the good work.

Kathi

Kathi,

I understand what it is like to be worried - I was very unsure until very near to the surgery date.  I told you earlier that God gave me peace with Psalm 4:8.  I claimed that scripture and prayed it up until the moment they knocked me out.  What was funny, though, is that even with all my concerns I continued to have this supernatural drive to complete the necessary steps for the surgery.  I decided that God was behind that push to continue on and it was not up to me any more.

Just continue turning your fear over to Him.  He knows where you are and exactly what you need.  I will be praying for you as you go through these next days and weeks.  You really are making a life altering choice that, for me, has been the best decision of my life.  God will never leave your side.  Reach out to Him often.  Also, keep checking out the Christianity message board.  I get so much inspiration and encouragement here.  God really uses the people here to minister to each one of us.

Grace & Peace,  Donna

Mary,

Once again,  your devotions spoke to my spirit.  I so appreciate your faithfulness and I am sure others do as well.

My surgery date is set, October 31.  Just got the news today.  Praise God!!  I'm ready to start this new facet of this journey.

Bless you.

Kathi

A surgery date! WooHOO! That's awesome, Kathi! See, God is working it all out. He's great, like that. I'll be praying for you, all the way.
Thank you for the kind things you say to me. I just love it when someone says a devotion speaks to them. Of course, it's all God. It's His Word, because it's powerful!
I rejoice with you.
Mary :)

Thanks everyone!  This is so amazing.  I felt so alone in all of this and suddenly all of you sisters are by my side ministering God's love.  Bless you Mary, Bless you Donna, Bless you Patricia.  I love all of you, already!

Kathi

Mary

Thank you so much for giving of yourself each day.

Loni

You're so welcome, Loni. Thank you for reading and responding.
God bless you,
Mary