Food is not my friend. Food is fuel. And no carbs at night. That was my strategy last year for losing weight. It worked! I lost ten pounds in five months. Ok, ok. It shouldn't have taken that long. Maybe I cheated once. Or twice.
Nobody's perfect. Right?
So, I was feeling pretty good about myself.
Like my jeans. The ones that I had to lie down on the bed, inhale, and then zip. After losing the big ten, I got 'em on and zipped standing up.
Not bad.
Then summer came along. And I slipped a little bit on my strategy. Made some bad decisions about what to eat. When to eat.
And how much to eat.
I wa cheating a little.
But I thought everything was still cool. No, I didn't weigh or measure. That would have been the smart thing to do.
Of course, I realize that now.
Somehow, I slid back into some old habits. Became a big-time cheater. If the food looks good, eat it.
Don't worry about nutritional value, calories, etc.
Eat and be happy!
So I did. During Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, too. Mercy!
Yeah, you guessed. I gained the ten pounds back.
After I worked so, so hard to lose weight. How could I let that happen?
Well, I made bad decisions. I got careless.
I've done the same thing in relationships. Like with God. When it comes to praying. And reading my Bible.
Other things look more appealing and fulfilling. So, I spend time there instead of with Him. And when I do that, I'm cheating Him.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16: 11).
When I cheat Him, I miss out on being in His presence. I miss out on the peace and joy and pleasure that He promises us.
When I cheat Him, I cheat myself.
And about those jeans? They got tossed into the bag labeled thrift store.
Now who's cheating who?
I love that scripture you shared, Deb. Thanks!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the eye opener. I am struggling with weight loss, and I am struggling with getting alone with God. There really is a correlation in how I choose to handle each. Oh and I absolutely love the scripture you shared. One of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteWow. I never really thought about it that way before. Thank you for your words!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words on my blog too! Yes, I wrote both the music and the lyrics for all the songs, except on one. A friend of mine and I wrote the lyrics to "Bruised Reed" and then I finished up with the music. In fact, before that song, I had only written piano instrumentals. I had no idea I could even help compose lyrics. But my friend, Dayleen was used by God to light a passion in me to try. And I'm so thankful for her belief in me. :)
Hope you get your technical glitches worked out soon. I LOVE your blog site design. It's so pretty! Blue is my favvvvorite color. :D
Dear Deb,
ReplyDeleteThis is another good post. I get your point, it's true for me, too...not the eating part, for I am on the other end of the spectrum - want to gain weight, but the spending time with God part. That got my attention. When I ignore His invitation to spend time with Him, I end up being the loser.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us so honestly, Deb.
Love
Lidj
That's so interesting that you would put those things together, because once you start thinking about it, they're so similar!
ReplyDeleteI've just started a new routine where I work out and have my quiet time with God early in the morning before my little ones are up and running. I'm excited to see the results from both!
Deb -
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. You need God and food in life to survive. Something I do is walk five miles daily - alone - in prayer and always with gratitude for the ability to walk, for the weather, for nature's abundance.
- Deborah
mmmm.... delicious truth once again. wise words are food to the soul, and you've always got a plethora of them here. In the past six months I have realized that the treadmill is my friend (clocking 15+ miles per week, yeah!) but that thought that "food is not my friend"? Maam.... that is brilliant. I need to adopt that truth. Swallow it hook, line and sinker. That whole thing about "you are what you eat"? Yeah.... I get it. I want to feast on the fruit of the Spirit and be like him, and I don't want to have hips padded with chocolate, either. :)
ReplyDeleteLove ya Mrs. Deb.
Oh, Deb, been there, done that! Point well taken.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteI love how you tied these two things together and I guess if we have to be honest, I too, am guilty of them both. Thankfully I am trying to eliminate all foods past dinner, which is no snacking any longer and spending more time with God. Keep your fingers crossed.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
I am totally loving the analogy here. This was worded so perfectly. And on a personal note, I also gained 10 lbs over Christmas that I had just lost before Halloween. But I'm back on the straight and narrow now ;o)
ReplyDeleteI'm SO GLAD I "stumbled" upon your blog! What an AWESOME post!
ReplyDeleteI too, lost 10 lbs up until Thanksgiving. Then I DID, the very same!!!!! UGGG Why do we do this to ourselves????? I'm almost (Praise the LORD) back to where I was, but it has taken some hard work. I have a goal that I want to reach, with the Lord's help.
Here is my health blog: http://www.choose2livechoosehealth.blogspot.com
So very nice to meet you!
Found you on Alabama bloggers list...in my district...came to see you....fell in love and became a follower. I loved this post. I lost 57 pounds from June 4th until October 9th when my dad died....since then have gained 20 back...but...I am back on track...and will get back where I was...cause He is on my side...
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the post I needed to read today. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteIf I've heard from one woman, I've heard from 10 the very same thing! Thanksgiving and Christmas was a buzzard on the body, and for some of us, on the soul as well! Time to shed the excuses and get back to it.
ReplyDeleteI know I told you before, but I love the new look. So you, sister. A very good fit.
peace~elaine
Oh, you're so right, Deb. When we cheat him, we're really cheating ourselves. Amazing that it takes us a while to figure out what we really know in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteLoved your post. Thanks for your always sweet comments!
Great way to make your point! I totally get what you are saying.
ReplyDeleteAnd about those jeans? Good for you for tossing them!!
this is too funny b/c it's so true. great post...again...you write in a such a way...I sit up and listen. ☺
ReplyDeleteYup. Although sometimes when He arranges things so we will spend time with Him, we are usually not too happy about the circumstances. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you tied this together. We do need discipline in all areas of our lives but it is so hard sometimes!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your profile. You obviously have a heart for God. It's interesting, just less than an hour ago, I was reading to my 80 year old mother over the phone from the book of Daniel. You know, the dreamer of all dreamers. I was impressed how Daniel was told over and over by God that he was highly esteemed. What a blessing to be a child of God! Blessings to you.
ReplyDeletewow. that is all i can say. wow. that really touched my heart because i have struggled with both for most of my life. i feel your pain about the weight loss:) I worked and worked my tail off and lost 11 pounds in a few months. it was very slow about 2 pounds a week. yea, well it only took a week to gain 4 of them back! good luck with both, i can't wait to hear more
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know you're a winner at the blog; hop over for details as you can.
ReplyDeleteLove you.
peace~elaine
Congrats Deb!
ReplyDeleteOh Deb,
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great analogy! I loved it, and what a great reminder to not slack, because it's so easy to do so... Thanks, I need to look at everything in that light. And good luck with those wells. So important, what a guy. What a girl you are, too!
Kate
thank you for stopping by cute post about your jeans... great reminder about god we need to put him first always.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm your newest Friday Follower!
ReplyDeleteCome visit me at mom-et-al.com
-Maria