Hmmm…if I really stop and get still about this “issue”…that of my body, how I feel about it, how it functions (and, admittedly, how it *looks*…which I hope to be less of an issue for me as I grow up!), and ask the Lord “Lord, what do YOU have to say about it? What is your heart about this?” I come away with a very different viewpoint than when I shut him out of this. He is interested! He does care!!!
Let’s all ask ourselves some questions:
Can I be still, quiet my heart and mind for a bit and wait on the Lord, wait to hear the HOLY Spirit (as opposed to “the condemning spirit,” or the “perfectionist spirit” or…whatever else) testify to my heart what the Lord’s mind and heart is for me in this? AM I healthy? AM I functioning the way He intends? Is there anything that I am in denial about, anything I fear, anything that I idolize in this area of my life? What does *HE* want of me? Does he want me to be more active and prayerfully, joyfully, worshipfully move my body more frequently? Am I obsessed and does he want me to have freedom from insisting on 90 minutes of cardiovascular workouts each day and strength training 4 days each week? Does he want me to allow more “meat on my bones?” Or does he want me to realize that I am making my heart work too hard by carrying extra weight on my frame? Does he want me to come to peace with food and my body in a way that my physical body doesn’t seem to indicate I need to? Do I fixate too much on clothes…does my vanity with wanting to look a certain way keep me from being humble, modest and able to be set free?
What does the *Lord* want for me?
These are questions that we can benefit from asking — but let’s ask the LORD what the truth is! As we do, we may come out of the experience better able to have a vision for where we are heading with the Lord as our guide relative to food, eating, our bodies and views of ourselves.
On page 76 of the HEAL book, the authors give us examples of “Body Vision Statements” of others who have allowed the Lord to guide and direct them in this process. I, too, want to allow the Lord to give me His vision of what he wants for me. Part of my Body Vision Statement includes “To release fear, to make peace with my body, to rest in a lifestyle where I keep the proper balance and don’t become focused on me, but on serving others and the Lord…”
How about you? What does the Lord have to say about these things to you?
Thanks to all of your posts, I've now bought the Heal book :-)I'm planning to have this conversation with God on my walk tonight (that's the best time for me to "be still", ironically). Really looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.
Thanks to all of your posts, I've now bought the Heal book :-)I'm planning to have this conversation with God on my walk tonight (that's the best time for me to "be still", ironically). Really looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.
YAY! That's what I want to hear! LOL!
YAY! That's what I want to hear! LOL!
Wow Heidi,This blog entry was amazing and just what the Lord wanted me to see RIGHT NOW! The first question that hit me was Is there "anything that I idolize in this area of my life?"The Lord gently whispered to me about the way *I* want my body to look. I am idolizing having a smooth tummy and back with no bulges and a flat tummy. I am idolizing the shape and size I was while on Weight Watchers and being obsessed with the diet. I admit, I WANT THAT AGAIN. I want the “skinny” comments. I want the admiration of other women. From the blog: Does he want me to allow more "meat on my bones?" *Yes, I think He wants me to accept that there is more "meat on my bones" right now. "Or does he want me to realize that I am making my heart work too hard by carrying extra weight on my frame?"*No. That is the issue. My body is healthy right now with the size I am. It would be different if I weren't at a healthy weight right now, but in all honesty, I am still in a healthy weight range. "Do I fixate too much on clothes…does my vanity with wanting to look a certain way keep me from being humble, modest and able to be set free?"*Yes, that’s it, isn’t it???? I not only fixate on clothing size, but how I look in those clothes. The Lord is doing something in me. It's not only releasing the food to Him, but this body to Him in every way possible. GREAT INSIGHTS!
Wow Heidi,This blog entry was amazing and just what the Lord wanted me to see RIGHT NOW! The first question that hit me was Is there "anything that I idolize in this area of my life?"The Lord gently whispered to me about the way *I* want my body to look. I am idolizing having a smooth tummy and back with no bulges and a flat tummy. I am idolizing the shape and size I was while on Weight Watchers and being obsessed with the diet. I admit, I WANT THAT AGAIN. I want the “skinny” comments. I want the admiration of other women. From the blog: Does he want me to allow more "meat on my bones?" *Yes, I think He wants me to accept that there is more "meat on my bones" right now. "Or does he want me to realize that I am making my heart work too hard by carrying extra weight on my frame?"*No. That is the issue. My body is healthy right now with the size I am. It would be different if I weren't at a healthy weight right now, but in all honesty, I am still in a healthy weight range. "Do I fixate too much on clothes…does my vanity with wanting to look a certain way keep me from being humble, modest and able to be set free?"*Yes, that’s it, isn’t it???? I not only fixate on clothing size, but how I look in those clothes. The Lord is doing something in me. It's not only releasing the food to Him, but this body to Him in every way possible. GREAT INSIGHTS!