Full Armor of God Diet

Our June goal has been to ride 200 miles. We are all going to get there, too. Here is our new goal for July:
ride 200 miles
do 600 push-ups (that's 20 per day
do 400 minutes of strength training.

These exercise goals are so awesome. Here's a goal for me that's hard to measure precisely: I would like to work more on simply being content. I have so many blessings, my heart should be filled with thankfulness. But why is it we humans always seem to want more? For me, this includes being content with an appropriate amount of good food. Instead of eating to excess, how about being content with one serving at each meal? So, while we're doing all this great exercise for our bodies, let's also remember to be content, not overdoing it with too many calories, and let our hearts be thankful for so many blessings we receive each day from our Lord.

"The fear of the LORD leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

How wonderful it is to listen for God's voice and follow His guidance. When we ask for His wisdom, He will answer. If we ask God to show us habits we need to change to maintain better health, He will show us. The question is, what will we do when we hear His voice?

Isiah reminds us if we listen for God's voice, He will guide us and encourage us: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

When God reveals lifestyle habits I need to change, I want to follow His guidance. It's not always easy. But I know I can do anything with Jesus according to His will. (Philippians 4:13) Since God has helped me overcome an obsession with sugary treats this year, I've been wondering what my next battle will be. It became very clear to me this past week while I was researching some information for a health presentation. I listed out 7 factors proven to impact health and longevity, and for the audience, I underlined those items that I personally work on (the other areas are not an issue for me):

7 Health Factors Proven to Impact Health and Longevity:
Sleep 7 to 8 hours
No eating between meals
Eat breakfast regularly
Maintain proper weight
Exercise Regularly
Moderate or no use of alcohol
No smoking

Then I heard God's voice loud and clear. "No eating between meals"

I immediately responded "Wow, God, I'm not sure I can do that. I think that would be harder than giving up sugar."

Without a second's delay, God reminded me "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."

"Yes, I know, but I may not be strong enough on this point?"

Again from God, "I said all things"

Now I know it's important not to ignore the voice of God. So I set a goal to stop eating between meals for the month of July, and decided to start practicing these last few days in June.

The next day, I found this Bible verse in Isaiah and realized that God was showing me a step I need to take. "No eating between meals" is the bullet item I underlined and emphasized myself, and God pointed this out as an area I could work on - this is the way, walk in it."

God has revealed this to me. For me, this is the way He is directing me, so I need to walk in it. If I pray and rely on His strength, of course, I can do this.

I believe God directs each of us in the areas we are ready to tackle. I pray that you will listen for His voice and see where He is leading you. I pray that when we hear His voice, we will always follow it.

Have you ever thought about how great it is to be steadfast? It feels terrific to set a goal and stick with it until you've reached that goal. Peace is the blessing we receive from God when we dedicate our lives, including our bodies and our health, to Him, and then stick to those goals.

"You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

Since we set a goal to ride 200 miles in June, I've been pushing myself on my bike more than ever. It's wonderful to feel stronger every day with my heart pumping, my lungs breathing, and muscles getting stronger. Here is a Bible verse to remind us to also be strong in Jesus.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

This reminds me that with Jesus we don't need to be afraid to try something new, to set a goal, to accomplish something for Him. He will be there for us all the way.

What if God had a plan for your life but you didn't allow Him to fulfill it? And "What if" is not really the correct way to ask the first part of this question because we know for certain that God does have plans for your life. And they're wonderful plans.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

The uncertain part is the second part of this question--our part. What if, by our choices and actions, we don't allow God the opportunity to fulfill His plans for our lives?

I have been thinking about this in terms of my health. What if God has plans for me to experience good health, to live a long, active life, but I don't let Him fulfill those plans? If I choose to eat too much pizza, overindulge my appetite on a daily basis, and avoid exercise, I could be missing out on the blessing of good health that God wants to give me.

What an amazingly sad thought. In fact, Isaiah reminds us how tragic it is to miss out on God's blessings because we continue to follow our own way instead of His way.

"Woe to the obstinate children,"
declares the LORD,
"to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,
heaping sin upon sin;" Isaiah 30:1

God wants the best for us. He has marvelous plans. This includes good health. He plans for us to be water skiing or snow skiing or riding our bikes or walking a mile--whatever it is we love to do--maybe even when we're up to 100 years old! He plans for us to be serving Him with a long, active, healthy life.

Let's pray that we will make the right choices daily so that God can fulfill His plans for us.

Once again, I fell for a lie. This was a new lie.

Before I admit the lie I fell for, let me tell you how amazed I am that through God's power, I have been able to remain dessert-free. This year I have passed up cookies, do-nuts, cake, ice cream, etc. I am almost to the point where I don't even consider the temptation for these sweet treats (the same as I never consider eating meat). However, in the grocery store (and this is what happens when I go grocery shopping without praying for God's wisdom and spirit to help me choose only healthy foods - this is what happens when I think I'm strong enough on my own now) a thought occurred to me: "You know, they make those ice cream treats sugar free. There really is no reason to continue denying myself a sweet treat when I can buy the version with Splenda!"

Of course, I immediately agreed with the thought and found myself Breyer's version of Splenda-sweetened ice cream bars. I thought it was a splendid idea. (Get it? Splenda?) But I should have recognized the trap. It was a lie. I gorged on those ice cream bars the same as I would have on the real sugar variety and ended up eating way too many calories and feeling downright blah.

Here is the real lie: You're missing out on something. Don't you feel that craving? You need something sweet to fill that craving?

Here is the truth: I am content. I am practicing being content in all things. I am content with the good-tasting, healthy, life building food that God has given me. When I make good healthy choices, I'm not missing out on anything except for the poor health that comes from the wrong lifestyle choices.

Paul practiced being content, and we should, too.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

If we remain content with the wonderful food God has provided for our good health, we won't fall for the "You're missing out on something" lie.

To keep our motives correct, we need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit keep our hearts pure. The Holy Spirit can help us keep our motives for weight loss focused on God. While sin tears us down, the Holy Spirit renews us and builds us up through God's power and through His mercy.

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[b] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you." Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

Do you ever feel like God is not hearing your prayer? Maybe you need to check your motive. Listen to what James has to say about this question...

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3 (NIV)

I know I need to check my motive for weight loss every day and keep my focus on Jesus.

I had the funniest question pop into my mind after reading my previous blog entry where I stated "I only want to lose 10 pounds." I wondered: Does God want me to lose 10 pounds? Or is it just me who wants this? Is it His will, or is it mine?

Of course, I believe God wants us to maintain our health so we can serve Him better. But when I ask myself this very specific question, I start feeling a little perplexed. I have always thought of this in terms of "I want" not "God wants" and it feels a little uncomfortable for me to tell myself that God wants me to lose 10 pounds.

It takes me right back to the question: Am I doing it for Him, or am I doing it for me? I want to keep my motives pure and remove vanity from my heart, but I think it keeps sneaking back in. If God wants me to lose 10 pounds, then when I pray for His strength and pray "thy will be done," if I submit to His will, then I will be successful.


Here is a passage I plan to ponder more this week from Job 22 (especially Job 22:27 - what a powerful verse!):

21 "Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.

22 Accept instruction from his mouth
and lay up his words in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:
If you remove wickedness far from your tent

24 and assign your nuggets to the dust,
your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,

25 then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.

26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.

27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.