Today I received an encouraging letter from my dear friend Kelley. She has been a HUGE encouragement to me this entire week. Here's what she said:I know you can do it today!
“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” Proverbs 24:16
This is you! Weight Watchers, be gone! PPA, be gone!! You can do it!! In fact, you ARE doing it!!
I love when scripture speaks very specifically. Though a righteous man fall seven time...or ten times, or twenty times, or more...HE RISES AGAIN! What a great verse for me. Because here I am again. But it isn't the same place I've ever been before. I have all those experiences behind me. They have all be part of leading me to the here and now. Therefore, I can't despise my previous falls. They led me here. GOD led me here.
I am learning the importance of what motivates us to change. It cannot be our external circumstances. If I only want to do Take Shape for Life because I hope to feel better and look better...I will fall again. Because, in time I will start to feel better and look better. I'm already feeling better, actually. I won't be at my goal, but the external pressures will have subsided and I will make excuses to eat what I want or to be lazy or to say "yes" when I should say "no."
My motivation has to be greater than my circumstances. I am choosing this time to be motivated by a desire for optimal health and (not just an aside) to bring God glory with my body! Every decision I make has got to be in line with this goal. My need for this has got to be top priority right now. When I am faced with a chocolate fondue fountain, I will want it. My want for it will be strong. But I MUST stop and ask myself, "Does this support my goal for optimal health and to bring God glory with my body?" The answer is no. Therefore, the primary motivation MUST be greater than this secondary desire. I must start doing whatever has to be done to achieve my goal--even if that means making difficult choices, like not going to a party or even losing friends. (It could happen.)
This makes a lot of sense to me. Why haven't I been living my life like this in the first place? Because this philosophy (which came from Dr. Andersen's Take Shape for Life book) bleeds over into every area of our lives. For example, if our primary goal with our finances is to get out of debt--then every financial decision we make needs to support that goal.
Today, I am realizing that I'm still seriously detoxing. I am on edge and could rip off someone's head in a moment. I haven't, but I could. (Though there are still waking hours left in this day...so, everyone better watch their heads!) But I am so sensing God's presence and help. He is FOR me, not against me.
This is not actually about the weight. Though the weight will drop.
This is not actually about feeling better. Though I will--and I do.
This is about changing every area of my life--but particularly my health--so that God will be gloried in a greater way.
And yeah...I AM doing it!
Yes, darlin, you are SO doing it. Do you know how bad I want to share your blog with a few people? (I won't without your permission, of course.) This entry would make Dr A smile. He's gonna love meeting you. Can't wait to introduce you to him.
ReplyDeleteOh, and here's a radical thought from someone who has been where you are... a day will come when that chocolate fondue fountain won't call to you anymore. If it does, you'll rebuff it without even thinking about it. How? It's because you will love the way you feel SO MUCH. You'll know that eating food that isn't good for you will come with a price that you are unwilling to pay. And it will be as easy as that.