If you have an hour–even if you don’t–please make the time to listen to this. It could literally be a catalyst used by the God of the universe to change your life.
The following audio file is a talk to women about, of all things, gluttony. It is by a pastor’s wife at Mars Hill Church. Her name is Crystal Munson. I really believe that this audio will have an impact on anyone who listens to it with an open heart. Trust me…listen to it, ok? 🙂 (If you honestly don’t have time, you can see a rough transcript hastily typed up by me in .pdf form by clicking here.)
In what ways can you identify with what Crystal shares? Are you ready to ask the Lord what changes you need to make in your heart’s attitude toward food? Even if you have been in Thin Within for years, you may yet have an idol of the heart. What is God speaking to you in this moment?
Michael Hyatt didn’t get to be CEO of the largest Christian publishing company in the world by chance. And he really has some great ideas. I read his blog pretty regularly. I want to share some wisdom he shared on Monday with you. Remember, as with any human advice, subject it prayerfully to the Lord. Like, for me, I go “wonky” into legalism and obsession if I “track” anything. So whenever someone suggests that, I have to ask God “Is now the time to change and start tracking again?” So far, God has said, “No. Not time.” Of course, I refer to the use of a bathroom scale and writing down my weight. I don’t do it. I don’t have a bathroom scale.
What do you think of Michael’s suggestions? Are any of them valuable for you and the place where you currently find yourself on your journey? Which ones?
What do I believe about myself and the One Who has made me? Am I junk? Can my choices over decades cause me to become junk?
What I believe about these things will radically affect how I live. The same is true for you. Conversely, the way I live indicates what I really believe about these things.
I mentioned earlier this week that I want to think biblically so I will live biblically. The scriptures declare that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) by the sovereign King of the universe. Do I believe this?
Or do I believe that I am junk? Where does that belief come from? Do I think that I can get in the way of God’s perfect creation? Has my behavior somehow rendered his declaration of my “fearfully and wonderfully made” status, null and void? No way! What is thinking biblically in this case?
For the LORD Almighty has purposed,
and who can thwart him?
His hand is stretched out,
and who can turn it back?
– Isaiah 14:27
It sounds pithy and trite, perhaps…but it isn’t just a cute phrase on a button or t-shirt.
“God doesn’t make junk.”
And His purposes can’t be thwarted. He created me fearfully and wonderfully and that is the way I am now, too, no matter how I have lived over the years. I am still precious in His site, beloved, and treasured. This is thinking biblically. If I believe this, I will live accordingly.
If I believe what the bible says about God’s character and the way he wove my body together, the fact that he, as my shepherd, speaks to me and guides and directs me (see John 10), then I know that this eating thing is not without his care and concern. I know that the way he designed my body to work will be effective to accomplish what He desires:
1.) My body has a need for physical fuel 2.) My body will signal me when it needs food. 3.) My body will signal me when it no longer needs food. 4.) When I follow these signals (living out my belief that this is true), I will be at the size/weight God has determined is good, normal, right for me. It may not be the Barbie Doll size and shape, but it will be His perfect will for me. Do I really want anything else?
There is joy and peace in believing him and what he says. He has made my body to be reliable. It is trustworthy to signal me what it needs.
Am I junk? No matter what condition I currently find myself, the answer is NO. God hasn’t made junk and I can’t thwart the works of his hands. I can believe him: No matter where I am right now, my physical signals for hunger and satisfaction are reliable. I can hearken to heart hunger, head hunger, and physical hunger…giving each what they need accordingly.
Do you struggle with believing that you are junk? Do you think that, in the years since your birth, you have “messed up” what God has done? Are you willing to reject these lies and to ask God to help you to think biblically so you can live biblically? If you feel so inclined, share with us what God is doing in your heart and mind right now. I am praying for you.
You are making your way through Day 4 and Day 5 this week.
In addition, as you have time, consider these questions and tasks:
1.) Memorize 2 Corinthians 4:7 and take time each day to thank God by faith that it is true. Lord, thank you that I have the treasure of your Holy Spirit within my earthen body. Thank you that power need not reside in me, but that you, Lord, provide the power I need for living. It is evident to anyone that any power they see is from a wonderful, all-powerful, glorious and compassionate God, instead of from me. Do your own version of praying this verse! 🙂
2.) For two weeks, now, you have been trying to eat when hungry and to stop when physically satisfied. This principle sounds so easy. Take some time to journal about the difficulty of this “simple” goal. It is simple, yes, but if you are like most of us, you may have found that it is NOT easy. Have you found yourself getting angry? Are you feeling emotions more intensely? All of this is common. Week three is when many quit trying. What can you do NOT to give in to the temptation to quit? Will you choose to recommit to giving God your eating and to try to apply the keys to conscious eating?
3.) Darlene (Abigailsing), at SparkPeople, said the following:
I have a chair in a quiet place in our home that I am trying to get in the habit of retreating to when temptation comes…
How about you? Can you designate a place, not just for eating, but a place that will be your retreat place, where you will take a “time out”–a chance to refocus on the Lord and your godly goals to honor him with your eating–when you feel temptation or an erosion of your commitment? Consider creating a place and then try it out. Let us know how it goes!
4.) Continue these practices this week: 1. Adding to your attributes of God list. 2. Praising God daily for three things on your list (or more!). 3. Writing three things in your journal that you are grateful for. Sometimes we really have to stretch in order to do this, but it is worth it! Ask God to show you.
5.) Focus this week on learning your satisfied signal and abiding by it. Journal about what it feels like for you and how you feel emotionally about stopping eating or when you don’t want to stop eating. Ask God to clarify “5” for you this week.
6.) Can you share with us the two extremes of “the path of my performance” and any evidences of either there have been in your life? Is the cross of Christ beginning to be a stabilizer for you?
7.) Are you observing and correcting? Or condemning yourself and staying in that place of condemnation? Resolve to observe and correct, break camp and move forward! Confess not only your sin, but confess, too, Christ’s sufficiency to redeem your sin! He took care of it. It is gone!
8.) Give yourself plenty of time for the Mirror, Mirror Exercise.Some of my thoughts about this material are at these links (other posts from my blog over the past almost 4 years): December 15, 2006 June 16, 2009 June 17, 2009
Be sure not to rush and to ask the Lord really to direct you…to make this time your special time with your loving, heavenly Father. Ask him to show you what needs healing and what he is healing and what has been healed. Let this activity be a PRAISE-FEST! 🙂 Let us know how it goes. I am praying for all of you this week!
9.) Be sure to check in here and to respond to any others who are posting. God may have given you a ministry of prayer and encouragement to other people in our study and we would love to hear from you.
10.) If you can make it to one of the chats this week, please do. The first is this morning (Tuesday, June 29) from 7am-8am Pacific time. Go to this link to find out how to chat. Join us, even if you are late! No need to be prepared in any way. Just bring an open heart and join in! 🙂 Another chat is scheduled for this Friday, July 2nd, from 5-6pm Pacific time. Hope you can come to one or both!
11.) Visit our book study website at God Is Doing A New Thing and see if there is anything there that can encourage you! The chat transcripts are pretty easy reading (they look long but can be read pretty quickly) and very uplifting!
12.) Will you pray for one another and for me? I am being slammed…hard. Thanks so much. I am sure you all are, too.
Please come chat with us tomorrow, Tuesday, June 29th, at 7am Pacific time. Even if you are late (we end at 8am Pacific time), feel free to join us in progress.
Visit this link for instructions about how to join us. Hope to see you!
I hope that you experienced joy overflowing during the past week as you practiced gratitude! For those continuing in our study of the Thin Within book, be sure to bookmark the new website set up to consolidate all the information for you! I hope you enjoy having everything in one place! I will add to it each time we have a chat or new assignment. You can find assignment links, links to all of the study locations, chat transcripts and more there.
This week’s assignment (part 01):
1.) Continue to keep a cumulative list of all the characteristics of God and how he treats people. Share with us here what some of the attributes of God are that are blessing you! It encourages us to hear!
2.) Continue to take a few minutes at the beginning of your study time each day to praise the Lord for at least three of the things on your list. You can also do this whenever you find yourself focusing on yourself, your weight, your frustration, food…anything! Instead of focusing on those things, take your attributes of God list and focus your heart, mind, thoughts, words on HIM! 🙂
3.) Read and complete Days 4 and 5 material. Day 5 will require a lot of time and prayer for some of us. It took me years to be able to get through this material with my whole heart. I look forward to seeing what God shows me this time, too. If you have questions that come up along the way, don’t hesitate to post them here or at one of the other locations. I check all sites daily (or just about).
4.) Continue to ask the Lord prayerfully if you should use any of the tools that have been introduced in the book so far. Please do not assume you should. Many of us with dieting pasts find ourselves very challenged to walk in freedom if we start tracking anything. But since we know that God IS doing a new thing, it is possible he will lead us to “go there” to see what he is up to! Keep this in prayer. 🙂 Let’s be open to the fact that he may be leading us to trust him in new ways!
5.) Post insights that God gives you while reading. When you post, you encourage others!
6.) Come chat with us! The next real-time chat at the Thin Within website is Tuesday morning 7-8am Pacific time and then Friday we will join together at 5-6pm Pacific time. Click here to find out how.
I am so thankful for Kim! She is now my official “assistant.” I am so thankful for her help and support.
