Made to Crave: Chapter 4/ Day 4 Devotional
Chapter 4
Friends don't let friends eat before thinking
How many bad choices and severe consequences could have been averted if I would have just taken time to think things over, especially where my food choices are concerned? I would venture to guess, I would be about 75 lbs. Lighter than I am right now.
I must remember that desperation breeds degradation; Lord knows I have had enough of that in my life. When what is lacking in life goes from being an annoyance, to an anxiety we run the risk of compromising in ways we never thought we would.
I Peter 5: 7-8
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind.( Be alert and self controlled is another translation). Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We need measures of accountability. Friends are a good source of accountability. I need a friends who can speak rationality into my irrational impulses, who will hold me accountable, speak truth in love, and pray earnestly for me. Always pause to think it over. “ Let your love for your friends, who are standing with you, and your love for the Lord, who wants you to honor Him in the way you treat your body, make you think it over. I do not ever want to have to tell my friend that I made the CHOICE to go back on my commitment, that I made the CHOICE to go back to my brokenness, and sat back all that I have attained. That would be a high price for a brownie...Accountability is crucial. Thank God, I have two main people ( one other) who can function in this regard for me.
One example of how desperation breeds degradation is seen in the Old Testament story of Jacob and Esau. You see Esau was the older twin and thereby entitled to a birthright. Esau was a skilled hunter while he younger brother was more of a homebody. One day Esau came in from the fields famished, while Jacob was cooking some stew. He told Jacob to give him some stew but Jacob said, “ First sell me your birthright.” Esau told him he was starving to death and claimed that the birthright would do him no good dead, so he swore an oath to Jacob promising him his birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and Lentil stew.
The shocking part of this story is how much Esau gave up for just a few moments of physical satisfaction. He sacrificed what was good in the long term for what felt good in the short term. In essence, he gave up who he was in a moment of desperation.
Once again we see the temptation of food causing a Biblical person to make a terrible, life altering, decision.
Persevering through my breakdowns will result in a sweet peaceful break through. I must persevere.
My new motto ( one of them) will be “ If it is not part of my food plan, I will not put it in my mouth”. I know that if I follow my food plan, it will eventually work and it will be worth it. Just as the gardener tends to his flowers and awaits the blossoms.
Personal Reflections
1. When a friend achieves success in weight loss do you feel encouraged and inspired by her example or discouraged and envious? Do you express your thoughts and emotions or keep them to yourself? I admire friends who have success, because I know how difficult it is. I try to be encouraging because I want them to know that I notice, I support them, and I believe in what they are doing. I have never felt envious or discouraged by the success of another; partly because I love my friends and want them to be healthy, happy and successful. Partly, because I know anyone can have the same success, including myself if I am willing to do the work. It is that willingness and sacrifice that I struggle with. Those are my issues and I would never want to project them onto my friends.
2. I do want to invite a friend to help me on this journey, to healthier eating, because I understand that accountability is crucial. We all need support. I do not want to invite a friend to help me on this journey because I do not want to let her down, nor allow someone to see me falter, trip, or fall. I am struggling with pride, in that way. Also, I am struggling with pride because I have made it this far ( 300+ pounds) without that!!! However, in all truthfulness I am struggling and need support. I can admit that “ weakness”
3. If accountability is crucial what is the hardest part of making it part of my healthy eating plan? I touched on this in question one. First, my pride is an issue in a 2 fold way. Also, I fear letting someone down. Lastly, I have a hard time believing that I am worth that much time, effort, and commitment from a friend ( or anyone). I tend to always feel undeserving of love and having someone hold me accountable would be love in action.
4. If you were to imagine a life-giving experience of accountability, one that empowers you and helps you to feel companioned, rather than alone in your struggles, how would you describe that experience? That would be nothing short of amazing.
What kind of person would you want to be accountable to? Someone like me. Someone who is a planner, a type A personality, someone with willpower, determination, someone who has walked this path, or is walking this path and knows my hurt, and struggle, someone who can be and is willing to be honest ( brutally if need be), someone who loves God, loves self, and loves me.
What do you hope this person would do for you/ would not do? I would hope they would walk the path with me in understanding ( maybe buy me the Made to Crave book and Devotional), communicate openly and honestly with me, while checking in on a regular basis, however not j judging or smothering me.
How would you determine whether or not the relationship was providing effective accountability? Well I would ask myself a few questions: Do I care about how the other person will feel if I have to tell them I failed, at some level? Do I feel comfortable admitting my weaknesses and temptations to that person? Do I feel that person is being open and honest with me about myself and themselves, since it is a two way street? Would I be okay with this person seeing me have an emotional breakdown/ tantrum because I cannot have that brownie? Can I call this person anytime day or night because I find myself having a moment of weakness and need an ear, a shoulder, or a kick in the pants?
Devotional
Day 4
Consider It
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind.
Although I know there are many more serious trials than my weight struggles, issues in this area leave me feeling vulnerable, incapable, and insecure; not joyful. The scripture says to “ consider it” likely because James knew we would not “ feel it”. In the midst of a trail, we will probably not FEEL the joy, the hope, the encouragement tucked within the verse...this is why we must CONSIDER it.
My ultimate goal is peace; physically, mentally, and spiritually. If a meal choice threatens to send me into a tailspin of feeling defeated the moment I take that last bite then it is just not worth it. Our feelings may be a true indicator of what we are facing but they do not need to dictate our decisions. We have to CONSIDER it and park our minds on the truth that our triumph in this matter ( no matter how small the temptation). Triumph in this choice will produce a blessing and actual feelings of joy, because tucked in that lettuce wrap is the knowledge that I made the right choice and I do have the self-respect, self discipline, and self control to do this.
Dear Lord,
Please help me when I feel tempted today. Triumph in this trial does matter to me. I desire to persevere with your guidance. Help me to CONSIDER the joy and choose the better option.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Friends don't let friends eat before thinking
How many bad choices and severe consequences could have been averted if I would have just taken time to think things over, especially where my food choices are concerned? I would venture to guess, I would be about 75 lbs. Lighter than I am right now.
I must remember that desperation breeds degradation; Lord knows I have had enough of that in my life. When what is lacking in life goes from being an annoyance, to an anxiety we run the risk of compromising in ways we never thought we would.
I Peter 5: 7-8
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind.( Be alert and self controlled is another translation). Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We need measures of accountability. Friends are a good source of accountability. I need a friends who can speak rationality into my irrational impulses, who will hold me accountable, speak truth in love, and pray earnestly for me. Always pause to think it over. “ Let your love for your friends, who are standing with you, and your love for the Lord, who wants you to honor Him in the way you treat your body, make you think it over. I do not ever want to have to tell my friend that I made the CHOICE to go back on my commitment, that I made the CHOICE to go back to my brokenness, and sat back all that I have attained. That would be a high price for a brownie...Accountability is crucial. Thank God, I have two main people ( one other) who can function in this regard for me.
One example of how desperation breeds degradation is seen in the Old Testament story of Jacob and Esau. You see Esau was the older twin and thereby entitled to a birthright. Esau was a skilled hunter while he younger brother was more of a homebody. One day Esau came in from the fields famished, while Jacob was cooking some stew. He told Jacob to give him some stew but Jacob said, “ First sell me your birthright.” Esau told him he was starving to death and claimed that the birthright would do him no good dead, so he swore an oath to Jacob promising him his birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and Lentil stew.
The shocking part of this story is how much Esau gave up for just a few moments of physical satisfaction. He sacrificed what was good in the long term for what felt good in the short term. In essence, he gave up who he was in a moment of desperation.
Once again we see the temptation of food causing a Biblical person to make a terrible, life altering, decision.
Persevering through my breakdowns will result in a sweet peaceful break through. I must persevere.
My new motto ( one of them) will be “ If it is not part of my food plan, I will not put it in my mouth”. I know that if I follow my food plan, it will eventually work and it will be worth it. Just as the gardener tends to his flowers and awaits the blossoms.
Personal Reflections
1. When a friend achieves success in weight loss do you feel encouraged and inspired by her example or discouraged and envious? Do you express your thoughts and emotions or keep them to yourself? I admire friends who have success, because I know how difficult it is. I try to be encouraging because I want them to know that I notice, I support them, and I believe in what they are doing. I have never felt envious or discouraged by the success of another; partly because I love my friends and want them to be healthy, happy and successful. Partly, because I know anyone can have the same success, including myself if I am willing to do the work. It is that willingness and sacrifice that I struggle with. Those are my issues and I would never want to project them onto my friends.
2. I do want to invite a friend to help me on this journey, to healthier eating, because I understand that accountability is crucial. We all need support. I do not want to invite a friend to help me on this journey because I do not want to let her down, nor allow someone to see me falter, trip, or fall. I am struggling with pride, in that way. Also, I am struggling with pride because I have made it this far ( 300+ pounds) without that!!! However, in all truthfulness I am struggling and need support. I can admit that “ weakness”
3. If accountability is crucial what is the hardest part of making it part of my healthy eating plan? I touched on this in question one. First, my pride is an issue in a 2 fold way. Also, I fear letting someone down. Lastly, I have a hard time believing that I am worth that much time, effort, and commitment from a friend ( or anyone). I tend to always feel undeserving of love and having someone hold me accountable would be love in action.
4. If you were to imagine a life-giving experience of accountability, one that empowers you and helps you to feel companioned, rather than alone in your struggles, how would you describe that experience? That would be nothing short of amazing.
What kind of person would you want to be accountable to? Someone like me. Someone who is a planner, a type A personality, someone with willpower, determination, someone who has walked this path, or is walking this path and knows my hurt, and struggle, someone who can be and is willing to be honest ( brutally if need be), someone who loves God, loves self, and loves me.
What do you hope this person would do for you/ would not do? I would hope they would walk the path with me in understanding ( maybe buy me the Made to Crave book and Devotional), communicate openly and honestly with me, while checking in on a regular basis, however not j judging or smothering me.
How would you determine whether or not the relationship was providing effective accountability? Well I would ask myself a few questions: Do I care about how the other person will feel if I have to tell them I failed, at some level? Do I feel comfortable admitting my weaknesses and temptations to that person? Do I feel that person is being open and honest with me about myself and themselves, since it is a two way street? Would I be okay with this person seeing me have an emotional breakdown/ tantrum because I cannot have that brownie? Can I call this person anytime day or night because I find myself having a moment of weakness and need an ear, a shoulder, or a kick in the pants?
Devotional
Day 4
Consider It
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind.
Although I know there are many more serious trials than my weight struggles, issues in this area leave me feeling vulnerable, incapable, and insecure; not joyful. The scripture says to “ consider it” likely because James knew we would not “ feel it”. In the midst of a trail, we will probably not FEEL the joy, the hope, the encouragement tucked within the verse...this is why we must CONSIDER it.
My ultimate goal is peace; physically, mentally, and spiritually. If a meal choice threatens to send me into a tailspin of feeling defeated the moment I take that last bite then it is just not worth it. Our feelings may be a true indicator of what we are facing but they do not need to dictate our decisions. We have to CONSIDER it and park our minds on the truth that our triumph in this matter ( no matter how small the temptation). Triumph in this choice will produce a blessing and actual feelings of joy, because tucked in that lettuce wrap is the knowledge that I made the right choice and I do have the self-respect, self discipline, and self control to do this.
Dear Lord,
Please help me when I feel tempted today. Triumph in this trial does matter to me. I desire to persevere with your guidance. Help me to CONSIDER the joy and choose the better option.
In Jesus Name,
Amen