Hi, Girls! 🙂 (Using Allie’s name for her group participants! :-))
Imagine that we are continuing our study in our “virtual living room,” enjoying getting to know one another a bit better. Freshen your coffee or tea and get cozy for part 2 of our HEAL study! 🙂
- What does being “wonderfully made” mean to you?
- In what areas of your life have you been living in the dark?
- What scares you about living in the light?
- How have you hidden your struggles with food and your body from God and others?
- Reflect on the miracle of being knit together in your mother’s womb.
I spoke with Judy Halliday a few months ago about Psalm 139 and she stated a concern that many women have a tendency to think that because of things done to them in their lives or because of poor choices they have made, they have somehow negated the truth of Psalm 139. Some people, Judy shared, are convinced that, while the Lord may have made them “fearfully and wonderfully,” that now, after the way they have chosen to live, they are no longer that wonderful, amazing work of art that God intended. What would YOU say to someone who says she believes this? Is this truth? Or a lie? What IS the truth? If someone believes this, what can she do to practically change her thinking? Why is this important to experiencing transformation in the area of food, eating and our view of our bodies?
As you reflect back on the week and lesson one, your journaling, the things the Lord may have shown you in His Word or in the stillness of your time with Him, what does He impress upon you now? What words might HE want you to share here at this blog? Other participants will read your comments and others who are only “lurking” might be encouraged or challenged by anything that you have to say as well. What is in you to minister to others that God may want to have you “put out there?” Prayerfully consider this!
Lord, thank you for this material. May we allow you to use it to truly do a “new thing.” I pray, too, that others would join in. Even though we have gotten started, may other women who might be encouraged through this material join in…whether they have the book or not, Lord. I pray that we might all draw a bit closer to your heart and that you might join us in the bond of Christ, even in the many locations we find ourselves. I pray that we will find a way, choose a person or a method, that we might BE accountable to take babysteps forward. Where we have tossed food down our throats in an emotional outburst in the past, I pray we might even catch ourselves and stop and pray instead and leave the house, if need be. If we have engaged in any eating disorder behavior such as throwing up after a meal, I pray we might stop in our tracks as we head to the bathroom and surrender our next moments, thoughts, and steps to you. Help us to celebrate our babysteps forward, Lord, knowing that these delight your Father’s heart. Thank you that, through Jesus, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive the mercy and help we need in our times of trial. In His Name we pray, Amen.
In what areas of your life have you been living in the dark?Truthfully, I am not sure I am ready to post all about it here at the blog. I have shared a lot of my "darkness dwelling" stories here. God continues to work on me. Right now, I do feel like I am in a darker time…and I long for the light so much. Trying to select real life people to hold me accountable and to whom I will share. It is a challenge…and it is connected to my answer to the next question:What scares you about living in the light?What scares me the most is that if people know me, really know me, they won't like me. Yikes…the approval addiction is still so firmly ingrained in me. I know God has been working on this, but nevertheless, it sure seems to affect how I live and what "risks" I am willing to take!So, who will share next? 🙂
In what areas of your life have you been living in the dark?Truthfully, I am not sure I am ready to post all about it here at the blog. I have shared a lot of my "darkness dwelling" stories here. God continues to work on me. Right now, I do feel like I am in a darker time…and I long for the light so much. Trying to select real life people to hold me accountable and to whom I will share. It is a challenge…and it is connected to my answer to the next question:What scares you about living in the light?What scares me the most is that if people know me, really know me, they won't like me. Yikes…the approval addiction is still so firmly ingrained in me. I know God has been working on this, but nevertheless, it sure seems to affect how I live and what "risks" I am willing to take!So, who will share next? 🙂
# What does being "wonderfully made" mean to you? # In what areas of your life have you been living in the dark? I think for me my only thought right now is I want to learn to be as authentic as I can…and from you Heidi and words you have spoken you encourage me in this.# What scares you about living in the light? I think just fear of the unknown, the vulnerability that you put yourself out there and "things" can happen…but need to always remember that the Lord is always with me and guiding me and protecting me and I shall not fear.I have to agree here with you too Heidi about what will people think…if I gain weight but then the first thing that pops in my head is…if all I care about is what the Lord thinks I won't have a weight problem…I am just touching the surface here I am sure, as this journey is just beginnign for me and I am sure the Lord has a lot more in my heart that needs to be brought out into the light.# How have you hidden your struggles with food and your body from God and others? I think I have been pretty open about this for the most part…I listen to lies and believe them way too many times, lies of the enemy. "just one more bite, you can start over tomorrow, you will get it later and don't worry about it now, hurry up and eat before you have time to think about it more, just enjoy it, everyone else is eating, just eat a little, food will soothe your pain, satisfy you", UGH such lies!!!Coming to God with this is not easy because I feel I mess up way too much and I never do good enough as far as eating 0-5…but this heart thing, making sure its ALL His, has helped me, learning how thats what He wants and the rest will follow…so this is a work in progress…I am feeling very convicted could it be, or not sure of the word, about the scale. Something keeps telling me I need it because if I don't weigh I will take advantage of that and eat way too much, but if I weigh I will be confronted when I am "off"… It has been a few weeks since I have weighed. I have a lot of "what if" questions that run through my head when I think of this question…
# What does being "wonderfully made" mean to you? # In what areas of your life have you been living in the dark? I think for me my only thought right now is I want to learn to be as authentic as I can…and from you Heidi and words you have spoken you encourage me in this.# What scares you about living in the light? I think just fear of the unknown, the vulnerability that you put yourself out there and "things" can happen…but need to always remember that the Lord is always with me and guiding me and protecting me and I shall not fear.I have to agree here with you too Heidi about what will people think…if I gain weight but then the first thing that pops in my head is…if all I care about is what the Lord thinks I won't have a weight problem…I am just touching the surface here I am sure, as this journey is just beginnign for me and I am sure the Lord has a lot more in my heart that needs to be brought out into the light.# How have you hidden your struggles with food and your body from God and others? I think I have been pretty open about this for the most part…I listen to lies and believe them way too many times, lies of the enemy. "just one more bite, you can start over tomorrow, you will get it later and don't worry about it now, hurry up and eat before you have time to think about it more, just enjoy it, everyone else is eating, just eat a little, food will soothe your pain, satisfy you", UGH such lies!!!Coming to God with this is not easy because I feel I mess up way too much and I never do good enough as far as eating 0-5…but this heart thing, making sure its ALL His, has helped me, learning how thats what He wants and the rest will follow…so this is a work in progress…I am feeling very convicted could it be, or not sure of the word, about the scale. Something keeps telling me I need it because if I don't weigh I will take advantage of that and eat way too much, but if I weigh I will be confronted when I am "off"… It has been a few weeks since I have weighed. I have a lot of "what if" questions that run through my head when I think of this question…
What would YOU say to someone who says she believes this? Is this truth? Or a lie? Big FAT lie from the liar of the world, the big fat enemy!!What IS the truth? That the Lord has made them perfectly, the song that I heard recently comes to mind..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl_enJrgDSUThis is a song that explains this…there could never be a more beautiful YOU!!If someone believes this, what can she do to practically change her thinking? Practically thinking here, lay it all at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to teach you…what is it they need to do to realize they are perfect in His eyes.As you reflect back on the week and lesson one, your journaling, the things the Lord may have shown you in His Word or in the stillness of your time with Him, what does He impress upon you now? How very very much He loves me…and will never leave me and is doing an awesome work in me!!What words might HE want you to share here at this blog? I think what I want to share would be that God is everything, when you give Him everything you are He makes it all the way it should be, He is the perfect portion…He alone can heal your soul!!!What is in you to minister to others that God may want to have you "put out there?" Prayerfully consider this! He has changed my life. He has given me a reason to live that is rewarding now and eternally. I have a purpose now, and it is to live to bring Him glory. That is what we were created to do and when we live according to this then our hearts are at home….in the Lord.
What would YOU say to someone who says she believes this? Is this truth? Or a lie? Big FAT lie from the liar of the world, the big fat enemy!!What IS the truth? That the Lord has made them perfectly, the song that I heard recently comes to mind..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl_enJrgDSUThis is a song that explains this…there could never be a more beautiful YOU!!If someone believes this, what can she do to practically change her thinking? Practically thinking here, lay it all at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to teach you…what is it they need to do to realize they are perfect in His eyes.As you reflect back on the week and lesson one, your journaling, the things the Lord may have shown you in His Word or in the stillness of your time with Him, what does He impress upon you now? How very very much He loves me…and will never leave me and is doing an awesome work in me!!What words might HE want you to share here at this blog? I think what I want to share would be that God is everything, when you give Him everything you are He makes it all the way it should be, He is the perfect portion…He alone can heal your soul!!!What is in you to minister to others that God may want to have you "put out there?" Prayerfully consider this! He has changed my life. He has given me a reason to live that is rewarding now and eternally. I have a purpose now, and it is to live to bring Him glory. That is what we were created to do and when we live according to this then our hearts are at home….in the Lord.
Oooh! Good point! The point about if all I care about is what the Lord thinks I won't have a weight problem… It really DOES connect. If I care about what HE whispers to my heart, I will find my satisfaction in Him, rather than the taste of food or whatever else.What "What if" questions do you have about the scale? I know it is unsettling in many ways…but for me, it boiled down to being unsettled because for *years* I have *depended* on the scale…and now I am blatantly rejecting that dependency. In the past, I was being a "bad girl" when I didn't get on a scale…it meant I was running from "the truth." God has shown me that this is a dieting lie just like "If I eat this ____ I am bad" sort of thinking…only worse, perhaps. HE is truth! Not a number on the scale. If I hide myself in Him, I will not need any other confirmation of truth. I just have to believe he wants me to get through this ok without the scale.How very very much He loves me…and will never leave me and is doing an awesome work in me!! SO TRUE! WHOO HOO! And AMEN to the last paragraph in your comment, too! WOW! Thank you for posting. God has used you to minister to my heart!
Oooh! Good point! The point about if all I care about is what the Lord thinks I won't have a weight problem… It really DOES connect. If I care about what HE whispers to my heart, I will find my satisfaction in Him, rather than the taste of food or whatever else.What "What if" questions do you have about the scale? I know it is unsettling in many ways…but for me, it boiled down to being unsettled because for *years* I have *depended* on the scale…and now I am blatantly rejecting that dependency. In the past, I was being a "bad girl" when I didn't get on a scale…it meant I was running from "the truth." God has shown me that this is a dieting lie just like "If I eat this ____ I am bad" sort of thinking…only worse, perhaps. HE is truth! Not a number on the scale. If I hide myself in Him, I will not need any other confirmation of truth. I just have to believe he wants me to get through this ok without the scale.How very very much He loves me…and will never leave me and is doing an awesome work in me!! SO TRUE! WHOO HOO! And AMEN to the last paragraph in your comment, too! WOW! Thank you for posting. God has used you to minister to my heart!
"I spoke with Judy Halliday a few months ago about Psalm 139 and she stated a concern that many women have a tendency to think that because of things done to them in their lives or because of poor choices they have made, they have somehow negated the truth of Psalm 139. Some people, Judy shared, are convinced that, while the Lord may have made them "fearfully and wonderfully," that now, after the way they have chosen to live, they are no longer that wonderful, amazing work of art that God intended."I have sort of had a "yeah, right" response to the truth that I am wonderfully made. I was thinking along the thoughts of what is expressed in Judy's comments, but not voicing it. I need to work through this. I appreciate sunshinemama's response. I know those truths with my head and want to know them, really know them, in my heart.
"I spoke with Judy Halliday a few months ago about Psalm 139 and she stated a concern that many women have a tendency to think that because of things done to them in their lives or because of poor choices they have made, they have somehow negated the truth of Psalm 139. Some people, Judy shared, are convinced that, while the Lord may have made them "fearfully and wonderfully," that now, after the way they have chosen to live, they are no longer that wonderful, amazing work of art that God intended."I have sort of had a "yeah, right" response to the truth that I am wonderfully made. I was thinking along the thoughts of what is expressed in Judy's comments, but not voicing it. I need to work through this. I appreciate sunshinemama's response. I know those truths with my head and want to know them, really know them, in my heart.