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You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. — Psalm 4:7 NIV
Thought for the Day: It’s easy to do the right things when we see immediate results. But sometimes it pleases God more to do the right thing even when the results are not so immediate.
While I no longer need to go to my nutritionist for a weekly weigh-in, I thought you might enjoy reading something I wrote in the midst of my weight loss journey…
So yesterday I went for my weekly weigh-in with my nutritionist. I approach this time with her each week with mixed feelings.
If her scale is kind, it makes me want to throw my arms around her and call her my BFF.
If her scale is cranky, it makes me want to throw my hands on my hips in protest and tell her how unfair it is that I have to stand on that scale fully clothed. Not that the alternative is really an option; I’m just saying. Those clothes weigh something. And I don’t want that something making my numbers go up.
When I weigh at home, I don’t even wear a ponytail holder. Not kidding.
So.
Her scale was cranky this week. And I didn’t even have one lick of the redneck surprise served at the family get-together. (It’s a dessert involving chocolate and ice cream, need I say more?) Not one lick.
How fair is that?
I was lamenting via text messages with my ever-wise friend and exercise partner, Holly, and this is our dialogue after my initial whine and complaint:
Holly: What matters most is that you are being obedient and using discipline as a means of worship to Him… the numbers will fall as they may.
Lysa: Yes, but I like it much better when the numbers fall on the downward side.
Holly: They will fall. Trust me.
Lysa: I know, but it sure does make my worship more joyful when I know I am eating correctly, and I’m actually losing weight. It’s a bummer to be stuck for two weeks (and I didn’t even eat any of that stinking redneck surprise — I didn’t type that, but I sure was thinking it).
Holly: You ARE doing it correctly… you know that. It takes perseverance. We wouldn’t want it to be easy, would we? Be rare.
Lysa: (no comment . . . I couldn’t rub my toes that just got stepped on in a good way and type at the same time.)
Holly: And remember the worship is about HIM, not you. THAT will make you joyful.
Lysa: You are so right — thanks for the reminder. I’m still happy when I see the numbers go down though. That’s rare too!
And so goes another day in the life of this healthy-eating pursuit. I guess my next spiritual challenge is to be more motivated by the reality that I’m doing the right thing rather than seeing the right thing on the scale.
What a great spiritual lesson for more than just healthy eating.
It’s easy to do the right things when we see immediate results. But sometimes I think it pleases God more for His girls to do the right thing even when the results are not so immediate.
Holly is right. My focus must be on eating healthy as an act of worship to God, not the numbers on the scale.
As the psalm writer said, “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their new grain and new wine and redneck surprise abound.”
I got special permission to add in that last part.
Dear Lord, I want to be motivated by the reality of doing the right thing more than seeing the right thing on the scale. But this is so difficult at times, Lord, it really is. My desire is to worship You and please You through this journey more than anything else. I ask for Your strength to continue.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Excerpted from Made to Crave Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst, copyright Lysa TerKeurst.
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Your Turn
Did that hit you as hard as it hit me? In my weight loss (and gain and loss and gain) journey towards health, I want results and I want them now. That is how I feel about life, too. The slow trek is hard! But, as Lysa said, doing what is right as a way of honoring God is the better route. How are you doing, friend? Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full
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