As I approached chapter 3 in Thin Within, I continued my running list of God’s attributes and the way he relates to me, His child. Praising Him for these truths sooo lifts my spirit and starts my day with my focus where it belongs…on Him! I only read, studied and prayed my way through the bottom of page 31.
Before I go ANY further, I want want WANT you to know how I feel about the “goal setting” activity. THIS IS IMPORTANT! 🙂 Thus, the additional video:
Giving Glory to God is the foundational purpose for your life. (Thin Within, page 28)
Note what is NOT the foundational purpose–that of being THIN! Or of weighing 135 lbs … Or a million other things that we might tend to chase after!
If we allow God to form and shape our character, we will become more like Jesus… (Thin Within, page 28)
Truly, this should be our #1 goal and the goal through which everything else is sifted! If goals that we set and our response to our behavior about these goals keep us from becoming more like the Lord, then we have to do some serious adjustment either of our goals, how we are thinking about them, or all of the above.
Therefore, I URGE you, I BEG you…do NOT make your physical goal a number on the scale! My goal is worded this way on page 31…as I shared in the video:
“After praying about it and inviting Him to indicate His will to me, my goal for [the end of the summer] is to be able to have more wiggle room in my Levis jeans (which are currently tight). I want to be able to move in them, work in them, ride horses in them without being goosed or rubbed raw.”
This is my physical goal regarding my size. It is NOT a weight. It is not even a “size”…it is “this pair of jeans will fit this way…” more than that.
If you feel like God wants to really shrink you down in size a lot by the end of the summer, then I encourage you to word your goal differently, too. “…my goal is to be…able to sit in the airplane seat in September without a seat belt extender…” or “…to be able to shop for clothes in Nordstrom’s instead of ‘Big and Beautiful’ stores” or… “to be able to sit in the chairs at the dentist office in August, without feeling the sides pressing in on my hips uncomfortably…”
See what I mean? 🙂 PLEASE ask God if he would have you do the same. Tell us about it here, ok? 🙂
PLEASE DO NOT USE THE BATHROOM SCALE AT ALL!!! I know this is radical, but you know how I have been singing the song “Focus on the Lord Focus on the Lord?” The scale is THE BEST WAY TO STOP FOCUSING on the LORD and to focus on yourself and your supposed performance! PLEASE DON’T GO THERE! You and I both have done that before and has it served us well? NO!
For the summer, will you PLEASE do something radical? Ask a best friend to keep your bathroom scale in the garage at her house and not to give it back to you until September? Or, better, throw it away?
PLEASE!
Judy Halliday likes to say that if we put as much effort into hearkening our God-given signals on the God-given HUNGER SCALE as we do on the man-made bathroom scale, we would release any excess weight and have lives of peace and joy! The scale is a tool of condemnation and can you condemn yourself into positive change? NO WAY!
Oh, my…I really am making a BIG deal about this. I mean it!!!!! In fact, I meet with my accountability partner in just about a half an hour…I am going to walk my talk and do that very thing…ask her to take my scale and lock it in her trunk!!! I don’t want it back!
Who is WITH ME!!!
Heidi, this is amazing…when I started blogging about this journey…the Lord had me change the name of my blog from 'Nurturing Self' to 'Loved Without Measure'…which blew me away. Ofcourse it means how much He loves me…but it is also telling ME that I shouldn't put a 'measure' on that love…to just let Him love me as He will and not worry too much on what I see as 'results'. So I'm with you…this is a huge step for me…but I will put away my scale which is in my family/school room right now taking center focus as you walk in…yikes. I loved the video by the way. Also wanted to say how great you look. I know that you need to do this for your own reasons and what not…but sometimes we need to hear it from others that we are just wonderful as we are. That area that you want to dwindle down (LOL) just gives you a feminine shape. I think we can be too hard on ourselves at times.
Heidi, this is amazing…when I started blogging about this journey…the Lord had me change the name of my blog from 'Nurturing Self' to 'Loved Without Measure'…which blew me away. Ofcourse it means how much He loves me…but it is also telling ME that I shouldn't put a 'measure' on that love…to just let Him love me as He will and not worry too much on what I see as 'results'. So I'm with you…this is a huge step for me…but I will put away my scale which is in my family/school room right now taking center focus as you walk in…yikes. I loved the video by the way. Also wanted to say how great you look. I know that you need to do this for your own reasons and what not…but sometimes we need to hear it from others that we are just wonderful as we are. That area that you want to dwindle down (LOL) just gives you a feminine shape. I think we can be too hard on ourselves at times.
By the way…the name of my blog is 'Loved BEYOND Measure'…I think I posted 'Loved without measure'…lol. But I couldn't figure out how to change the link to it…so it is still http://nurturingself.blogspot.com/ I don't know…I'm in a bit of a daze at the moment…sorry for the rambling.
By the way…the name of my blog is 'Loved BEYOND Measure'…I think I posted 'Loved without measure'…lol. But I couldn't figure out how to change the link to it…so it is still http://nurturingself.blogspot.com/ I don't know…I'm in a bit of a daze at the moment…sorry for the rambling.
Heidi,Super, I love this one, it hit home. My goal is to stop thinking about food all the time, and to turn to God more frequently. (I am a little uncertain what it means to bring my thoughts CAPTIVE to Christ. I know I need to think of him, talk to him always, but I am not sure how to make my thoughts captive to him when I am having negative thoughts.)I will look at the videos, if they are short and more frequent, long and less frequent, are just as they are. I just love this walk with you, every part of it.God Bless.madaline
Heidi,Super, I love this one, it hit home. My goal is to stop thinking about food all the time, and to turn to God more frequently. (I am a little uncertain what it means to bring my thoughts CAPTIVE to Christ. I know I need to think of him, talk to him always, but I am not sure how to make my thoughts captive to him when I am having negative thoughts.)I will look at the videos, if they are short and more frequent, long and less frequent, are just as they are. I just love this walk with you, every part of it.God Bless.madaline
If you truly don't want those yucky scales, ask your acctbility prtnr to THROW THOSE YUCKY THINGS AWAY! Do it Heidi! I recently moved to an Island in the West Indies and I PITCHED those scales… left em behind…. 5 weeks ago. And you know what, my pants are about to fall off of me! KEEP the goal about Him… not the size of my behind! 🙂
If you truly don't want those yucky scales, ask your acctbility prtnr to THROW THOSE YUCKY THINGS AWAY! Do it Heidi! I recently moved to an Island in the West Indies and I PITCHED those scales… left em behind…. 5 weeks ago. And you know what, my pants are about to fall off of me! KEEP the goal about Him… not the size of my behind! 🙂
Good point, Becky!Madaline, the trick is, rather than try NOT to think about something … which causes us TO think about the very thing we don't want to think about, we have to replace the thoughts with things that pass the Philippians 4:8 test… Replacing lies with truth, self-condemnation with God-exaltation…stuff like that. Hope this helps!
Good point, Becky!Madaline, the trick is, rather than try NOT to think about something … which causes us TO think about the very thing we don't want to think about, we have to replace the thoughts with things that pass the Philippians 4:8 test… Replacing lies with truth, self-condemnation with God-exaltation…stuff like that. Hope this helps!
I have the same problem with negative thoughts. I have to make an effort to look for all the little things in my life that are going WELL and to be grateful for those…instead of always dwelling on the negative. I think I tend to be too perfectionistic and it can steal my joy if I let it. It's that pendullum thing again.
I have the same problem with negative thoughts. I have to make an effort to look for all the little things in my life that are going WELL and to be grateful for those…instead of always dwelling on the negative. I think I tend to be too perfectionistic and it can steal my joy if I let it. It's that pendullum thing again.
Essy…thanks for your kind comments. I am not sure about weight or anything like that, but I do know that I need to be more intentional about moving my body to be a faithful steward of this temple…and when I do that, things "firm up" some and fit in the package differently. LOL! I am committed to NOT obsessing, though. I want to be like Jesus more than I want "wiggle room" in my jeans! LOL! If I can do both, praise God! If not, I am ok with that as long as I glorify him and glory in the cross of Christ! Thanks again!
Essy…thanks for your kind comments. I am not sure about weight or anything like that, but I do know that I need to be more intentional about moving my body to be a faithful steward of this temple…and when I do that, things "firm up" some and fit in the package differently. LOL! I am committed to NOT obsessing, though. I want to be like Jesus more than I want "wiggle room" in my jeans! LOL! If I can do both, praise God! If not, I am ok with that as long as I glorify him and glory in the cross of Christ! Thanks again!
Hello Heidi, last week I went a bit ahead and read Chapter 3. And you're right, I gave a number to one of my goals, got on the scale to see if I had achieved this "goal" and I felt condemned. (I don't want to go back there.) I absolutely agree not to make a number a goal. Thanks for articulating this, I didn't really understand this is what was going on until I read the blog today. So tonight, I will change my goal to one you have suggested. Thanks for letting God use you again. And I ditto what Essy says…You look great!!!
Hello Heidi, last week I went a bit ahead and read Chapter 3. And you're right, I gave a number to one of my goals, got on the scale to see if I had achieved this "goal" and I felt condemned. (I don't want to go back there.) I absolutely agree not to make a number a goal. Thanks for articulating this, I didn't really understand this is what was going on until I read the blog today. So tonight, I will change my goal to one you have suggested. Thanks for letting God use you again. And I ditto what Essy says…You look great!!!
Hi! I'm not quite up-to-date with you all. Had guests this past week, so it was hard to get the time to read/etc. that I normally have. Some of this is a second read for me. I do struggle with the scale. Just don't think I can totally throw it out the window. I go to Curves, so the ideal for me would be to do their weigh and measure once a month, but it scares me to think of getting weighed and measured without knowing ahead of time what that scale is going to say. The culture here is so different in Japan. If I don't condemn myself, they will! HA! It's rather intimidating to have a size 2 do my measurements. I always laugh it off, but sometimes it drives me crazy. I do need victory in this area so that I can help my daughter. She struggles and I hate to see her going through all this as a teenager, but if she can learn these principles now, it will help her the rest of her life!Loved the video! You're great, Heidi! You know how to get the point across! Keep them coming! I'm not sure about my goal. I'm praying about it. I tend to think in numbers, but there are some clothes in my closet that I would love to be able to wear!
Hi! I'm not quite up-to-date with you all. Had guests this past week, so it was hard to get the time to read/etc. that I normally have. Some of this is a second read for me. I do struggle with the scale. Just don't think I can totally throw it out the window. I go to Curves, so the ideal for me would be to do their weigh and measure once a month, but it scares me to think of getting weighed and measured without knowing ahead of time what that scale is going to say. The culture here is so different in Japan. If I don't condemn myself, they will! HA! It's rather intimidating to have a size 2 do my measurements. I always laugh it off, but sometimes it drives me crazy. I do need victory in this area so that I can help my daughter. She struggles and I hate to see her going through all this as a teenager, but if she can learn these principles now, it will help her the rest of her life!Loved the video! You're great, Heidi! You know how to get the point across! Keep them coming! I'm not sure about my goal. I'm praying about it. I tend to think in numbers, but there are some clothes in my closet that I would love to be able to wear!
It's scary, but I'm with you! I've been using the scale as confirmation that I'm doing this right, but I guess God is big enough to let me know, huh? :)Heidi, you are awesome! I LOVE the videos! I just wish it didn't take so long for my computer to load them—I'm still on dial-up. But I just journal or do something else until it's ready to watch—and they are definitely worth watching! Thank you for all the time and effort you are putting into this study for us.God bless you!~Kathy
It's scary, but I'm with you! I've been using the scale as confirmation that I'm doing this right, but I guess God is big enough to let me know, huh? :)Heidi, you are awesome! I LOVE the videos! I just wish it didn't take so long for my computer to load them—I'm still on dial-up. But I just journal or do something else until it's ready to watch—and they are definitely worth watching! Thank you for all the time and effort you are putting into this study for us.God bless you!~Kathy
I appreciated the clarification too, Heidi. The videos help so much.In HiS Grace — I did the opposite with the scale — used it for condemnation ("See? I KNEW it wouldn't work"). So no more of that. I think I wanted to see where I was at the beginning of all of this too. I never realized how negative I was about myself or how hard it would be to stop it. The enemy is working overtime on me right now but I'm persevering! Every day is new in Him.Lately, too, my moods have been pretty crazy around my period and I have headaches that last for days (not terribly painful, just wearing over time) which make it hard to concentrate and come from a good place. Hoping all that will be gone for another month in a few days. Sorry if that was TMI!
I appreciated the clarification too, Heidi. The videos help so much.In HiS Grace — I did the opposite with the scale — used it for condemnation ("See? I KNEW it wouldn't work"). So no more of that. I think I wanted to see where I was at the beginning of all of this too. I never realized how negative I was about myself or how hard it would be to stop it. The enemy is working overtime on me right now but I'm persevering! Every day is new in Him.Lately, too, my moods have been pretty crazy around my period and I have headaches that last for days (not terribly painful, just wearing over time) which make it hard to concentrate and come from a good place. Hoping all that will be gone for another month in a few days. Sorry if that was TMI!
Heidi, You are hilarious and I LOVE IT! I needed that good laugh this morning AND I needed to be reminded AGAIN that I am not a number. I was tempted to put a number in for goal one, but honestly my goal really is to accept my body for what it is and to love it as His creation and as HIS daughter. Also, I want to be able to wear my clothes comfortably, which means keeping my focus on HIM and NOT a "scale number" or on food. I want to consistently eat consciously while sitting and not with distractions such as TV or computer. And I need to make sure I am slowing down and tasting my food. So, a goal is to do this CONSISTENTLY. All this must be done by focusing on Him and not on rules or myself. Anyway, thank you so much for this blog. It is great to know we are all in this journey together.I just love this "radical" way of thinking! I'm not planning on weighing myself for the next 2 months until I have another doctor's appointment. WOO HOO. FREEDOM FROM THE SCALE GOD!!!
Heidi, You are hilarious and I LOVE IT! I needed that good laugh this morning AND I needed to be reminded AGAIN that I am not a number. I was tempted to put a number in for goal one, but honestly my goal really is to accept my body for what it is and to love it as His creation and as HIS daughter. Also, I want to be able to wear my clothes comfortably, which means keeping my focus on HIM and NOT a "scale number" or on food. I want to consistently eat consciously while sitting and not with distractions such as TV or computer. And I need to make sure I am slowing down and tasting my food. So, a goal is to do this CONSISTENTLY. All this must be done by focusing on Him and not on rules or myself. Anyway, thank you so much for this blog. It is great to know we are all in this journey together.I just love this "radical" way of thinking! I'm not planning on weighing myself for the next 2 months until I have another doctor's appointment. WOO HOO. FREEDOM FROM THE SCALE GOD!!!
I am not inly enjoying this study – I need it! I am drawn to what God will reveal through this every day!! I really needed the part about– If I put as much emphasis on my relationship with God as i did checking out the scale and MY performance- things would be alot different- I work at a Hospital so scales are EVERYWHERE- But I am not going to weigh while doing this study- And I pray that habit will then be gone forever!- God Loves me just like I am- but i want to please Him by running to Him God Bless all- Your posts are encouraging- Heidi- Thanks for all the time you are giving to this- God is smiling!!!!
I am not inly enjoying this study – I need it! I am drawn to what God will reveal through this every day!! I really needed the part about– If I put as much emphasis on my relationship with God as i did checking out the scale and MY performance- things would be alot different- I work at a Hospital so scales are EVERYWHERE- But I am not going to weigh while doing this study- And I pray that habit will then be gone forever!- God Loves me just like I am- but i want to please Him by running to Him God Bless all- Your posts are encouraging- Heidi- Thanks for all the time you are giving to this- God is smiling!!!!
Senkyoshi–I wonder if I might know you…I used to be a journeyman senkyoshi over there.You can probably figure me out by my name. And I'm CherHim in the TW boards.Anyways, good to have someone in Japan on the this journey here whether I know you or not. I used to go to a gym there. I know how you feel. Also to not fit in their clothes!Heidi,I have to pray about the scale thing. thank you for the challenge.Thank you so much for serving God by serving us in this way, too.Cher (CherHim)
Senkyoshi–I wonder if I might know you…I used to be a journeyman senkyoshi over there.You can probably figure me out by my name. And I'm CherHim in the TW boards.Anyways, good to have someone in Japan on the this journey here whether I know you or not. I used to go to a gym there. I know how you feel. Also to not fit in their clothes!Heidi,I have to pray about the scale thing. thank you for the challenge.Thank you so much for serving God by serving us in this way, too.Cher (CherHim)
Hi everyone (From Connie ~ I guess our computer does not let just my name be on these posts)I have enjoyed the comments very much. I have heard alot about "negative thinking" and it is hard to take our thoughts captive – but one thing that has helped me so much is to remember that our enemy is the one heading these thoughts up and helping to make us think them. It is so true that we need to think on the Phil. verse, but also to just downright rebuke those wrong thoughts and the author of them. Ask God to take back ground given to the enemy in even letting those thoughts reside for one second in our mind. :o) After all God wants us to succeed and our enemy does not and so he's not going to be very fair in how he trys to derail our efforts!!God Bless you all!!Connie
Hi everyone (From Connie ~ I guess our computer does not let just my name be on these posts)I have enjoyed the comments very much. I have heard alot about "negative thinking" and it is hard to take our thoughts captive – but one thing that has helped me so much is to remember that our enemy is the one heading these thoughts up and helping to make us think them. It is so true that we need to think on the Phil. verse, but also to just downright rebuke those wrong thoughts and the author of them. Ask God to take back ground given to the enemy in even letting those thoughts reside for one second in our mind. :o) After all God wants us to succeed and our enemy does not and so he's not going to be very fair in how he trys to derail our efforts!!God Bless you all!!Connie
I am with you Heidi! In fact, I have been with you from the start (June 1st). the scale has been a stumbling block to me for almost 40 years now….if I lose weight, then that lower weight becomes my focus, and then I covet an even lower weight and I stop looking to God…..if my weight stays the same or is up, then I become filled with discouragement and end up overeating that day, and usually the following days. Again, my focus is not on Christ, but on my own desires, my SELF. Enough!After reading your challenge, the Spirit of the Lord moved upon me powerfully to give up the scale this summer, and simply focus on HIM. Trust in Him. Look to Him and get out of His way…get out of self. This morning, I counseled with my husband about it, and he volunteered to hide the scales for me so I won't be tempted (and I WILL be tempted!)to peek. I am committed now to WAIT on the Lord and allow Him to do His work in me…that He may show forth His strength in my weakness.I am so excited to join you in being "scale-less" this summer! Thank you for inspiring me to do this.With love,Joy
I am with you Heidi! In fact, I have been with you from the start (June 1st). the scale has been a stumbling block to me for almost 40 years now….if I lose weight, then that lower weight becomes my focus, and then I covet an even lower weight and I stop looking to God…..if my weight stays the same or is up, then I become filled with discouragement and end up overeating that day, and usually the following days. Again, my focus is not on Christ, but on my own desires, my SELF. Enough!After reading your challenge, the Spirit of the Lord moved upon me powerfully to give up the scale this summer, and simply focus on HIM. Trust in Him. Look to Him and get out of His way…get out of self. This morning, I counseled with my husband about it, and he volunteered to hide the scales for me so I won't be tempted (and I WILL be tempted!)to peek. I am committed now to WAIT on the Lord and allow Him to do His work in me…that He may show forth His strength in my weakness.I am so excited to join you in being "scale-less" this summer! Thank you for inspiring me to do this.With love,Joy
Wow, Joy! WAY TO GO! I am loving not having my scale around to tempt me! WHOO HOO! This feels like freedom to me…at least in one respect. YES! 🙂
Wow, Joy! WAY TO GO! I am loving not having my scale around to tempt me! WHOO HOO! This feels like freedom to me…at least in one respect. YES! 🙂
Heidi — Your post was exactly what I needed to hear today — even though you wrote it almost a year ago! I DID write a "number" in the blank for my first goal. I went back and erased that immediately! I have set a goal similar to yours — about fitting into some of my summer clothes more comfortably. Also, I had plans all day long to wake up tomorrow morning and weight myself the very first thing. I am NOT going to do that now! Thanks for giving me permissions not to. In fact, thanks for being very firm about not doing it. Any "diets" I have been on previously have all expected me to weigh-in at least once a week. Hallelujah! I don't have to do it! This is truly all about God!
Heidi — Your post was exactly what I needed to hear today — even though you wrote it almost a year ago! I DID write a "number" in the blank for my first goal. I went back and erased that immediately! I have set a goal similar to yours — about fitting into some of my summer clothes more comfortably. Also, I had plans all day long to wake up tomorrow morning and weight myself the very first thing. I am NOT going to do that now! Thanks for giving me permissions not to. In fact, thanks for being very firm about not doing it. Any "diets" I have been on previously have all expected me to weigh-in at least once a week. Hallelujah! I don't have to do it! This is truly all about God!
Hi, Believerkjk! So glad that you are making use of these posts a year later! 🙂 That video is so silly! 🙂 I had fun making it, though. You said: I have set a goal similar to yours — about fitting into some of my summer clothes more comfortably. Also, I had plans all day long to wake up tomorrow morning and weight myself the very first thing.I am NOT going to do that now! Thanks for giving me permissions not to. I am thrilled for you! I believe that weighing and using the scale regularly is often NOT helpful. Our clothes can tell us if our size is changing, but I know that, for me, my heart and conscience tell me if I have been obedient and if I am walking with the Lord, glorifying him in my choices and don't release any weight in a week, is that really a problem? Would I rather go outside of his will with my eating (by eating LESS than I need) so that I can lose weight? No…not me. Been there, done that. In fact, thanks for being very firm about not doing it. Any "diets" I have been on previously have all expected me to weigh-in at least once a week. Hallelujah! I don't have to do it! This is truly all about God!Yes, it is! More than we sometimes realize. I hope you will join the next study we have. It will begin in about a month. I will be posting about it on Monday.Hugs to you and thanks so much for writing!
Hi, Believerkjk! So glad that you are making use of these posts a year later! 🙂 That video is so silly! 🙂 I had fun making it, though. You said: I have set a goal similar to yours — about fitting into some of my summer clothes more comfortably. Also, I had plans all day long to wake up tomorrow morning and weight myself the very first thing.I am NOT going to do that now! Thanks for giving me permissions not to. I am thrilled for you! I believe that weighing and using the scale regularly is often NOT helpful. Our clothes can tell us if our size is changing, but I know that, for me, my heart and conscience tell me if I have been obedient and if I am walking with the Lord, glorifying him in my choices and don't release any weight in a week, is that really a problem? Would I rather go outside of his will with my eating (by eating LESS than I need) so that I can lose weight? No…not me. Been there, done that. In fact, thanks for being very firm about not doing it. Any "diets" I have been on previously have all expected me to weigh-in at least once a week. Hallelujah! I don't have to do it! This is truly all about God!Yes, it is! More than we sometimes realize. I hope you will join the next study we have. It will begin in about a month. I will be posting about it on Monday.Hugs to you and thanks so much for writing!
Heidi,
I am doing this study with you but am not able to see today’s video. I did see the one from a few days ago. I don,t see anything to tap on for today’s video.
Thanks!
Here is the link from the thinwithinbook.wordpress.com site. I will see if I can find the one from this blog and posts it, too. 🙂