Last week my son graduated from High School! YAY! But that meant I had some family coming in and guess what??? I was afraid of being judged because my body is doing weird shifting and “stuff”! UGH! Because of this, I have been feeling very uncomfortable in my own skin!

 

So, last week I had family who stayed with me that could be very judgmental (and sometimes VERBAL ABOUT IT!) regarding body size and shape.

Yep….one visiting family member  has been obsessed about weight all her life (hers and everyone elses!) and another one is….well an abuser who is better now, but still says hateful things and has unrealistic expectations (and sometimes expects his way like a 2 year old would). Another family member is very judgmental but usually only says it behind your back.

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Oh, yes.  

That was a cocktail environment for emotional eating if ever there was one!

AND a set up for insecurity.

The closer the day came for them to come visit, the bigger my body felt and the more insecure I became!

 

Taking it to the LORD!

So, I “journalled” about it, I kept renewing my mind about who I am in Jesus and I prayed A LOT.  As I took all this to the Lord, He gently whispered to me:

 

My Love for you, Dear Child, is not based on the size or shape of your body.

 

I had a realization. (It sort of made me say “duh” because it is NOT new information for me….but oh how the evil one likes to sneak his snaky little ways into my mind!!!)

I WAS EXPERIENCING BODY SHAME!

I haven’t had that in a very long time and thought I was done with that!

But you know what? The evil one is attacking me because GOD is doing HIS work needed to heal me. I am working deeper on issues of codependency. I am back to surrendering my food to God and not thinking about other ways to lose weight….

Yep, I’ve surrendered my food and my love of food to the Lord….and am doing this before I eat each time to recenter my thoughts….but I realized….

 

I NEEDED TO SURRENDER MY BODY TO HIM TOO………AGAIN.

 

ALSO, Jesus helped me see my family members through HIS eyes. They are broken people just like me. They may be critical of me and other people, but IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN DYSFUNCTION to control and THEIR OWN INSECURITY.

They no longer will have control over me.

JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY!

HE CALLS ME HIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD AND HIS BELOVED!

Psalm 45:11

For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

Jeremiah 31:3

I have loved you, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

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Ever so gently, I felt HIM whispered to my heart….

“My Child, I (the God of the universe!) do not condemn you (2 Tim. 1:7), so why does it matter if imperfect people condemn?”

So, Dear Readers….guess what?

I am taking OFF that cloak of shame that the evil one has placed upon my shoulders!!!

I don’t have to wear it! And every time those shameful thoughts come in my head when something doesn’t fit or I feel uncomfortable in my body, I will say

“I take off this cloak of shame!”

“I WILL not wear it!”

 

I WEAR THE CLOAK OF JESUS’ LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE!

VICTORY CRY!!!

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