I have been
around and around this weight loss mulberry bush, and I refuse to do it
again. Not one more time! I’ve done it so many years, it’s no longer a “diet,”
but a “tried it.” I give up! Never plan to go that route again.
So what now?
Love.
Yeah. Could it really be that simple?
We are to
love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39), which means I am to love
myself (a very hard thing for me to do).
Here are a few other Biblical facts on love:
- It’s the first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22
- God has given us a spirit of love (2 Timothy 1:17)
- Love never fails…always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
- It covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
Do you hear what the Bible is
telling us?
Love never fails.
Always perseveres.
Read this
prayer Paul prayed for us (Ephesians 3:14-19):
For this reason
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole
family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to
the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in
the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which
passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
I don't think I fully understand the power of God's love. Instead of
beating myself up, yet again, about all that I am not and all those things at
which I have repeatedly failed, I will endeavor to begin to soak in the love of
Christ.
It may not
be for you, but for me…learning to accept that simple fact that God really
loves me is difficult at best; pert-near
impossible if I can’t manage to love myself.
Learning to
accept God’s love is only half of it.
Learning to love others with the love of Christ is the other half. I’m nowhere near where I need to be; I’m not
a people person. I wonder…can I love
them from afar? ::::grin::::
Then there’s
grace. Such power packed into that
little word. When I rely on Grace, I don’t
have to try and change myself. I can’t,
anyway. If I could accomplish that, not only would I be rich, but I would have been thin years upon years ago. One more thing: I can’t mention grace and power without
mentioning authority. I don’t have the
time or the blog space in one post to even give the introduction of this.
But I am on to something.
Something good.
Something really, really good.
I have gone
back and forth on this weight loss issue.
One day I think it’s a very unfair physical thing; another day, I decide
it’s spiritual. Either way, God’s Grace
will be the only way I will ever be successful. Here's the kicker: It's really not about the weight. Obviously, this post is not even the tip of
the love/power/grace/authority iceberg on this subject. I may get my preaching boots on yet.
We sang
this song at church last night. It
touched me in a way it had not before. Some
of the lyrics:
I looked
into the eyes of a Savior
I saw love
stronger than death
I kissed
the scars that bore my freedom
As I lay my
head on Your chest.
I’ve seen I
AM,
And now I
know that I am loved,
I’ve seen I
AM
Now I know
who I am.
A powerful post.
ReplyDeleteI have issue with our modern day, narcissistic rendition of the love your neighbor as you love yourself verse, but I'll spare you since I totally agree with the gist of this post.
See, see...I can practice self-control. Yes, I can. :D
Deb
haha But no! You come right back here and put it out there!! I am very interested!!! We are all in this together, and I am researching and learning...so let's hear it!! ☺
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DeleteI don't know if I agree that the actions you listed show self love, Deb. I think they show selfishness, which is very different than the kind of self love God wants for His children. I think self love is far, far deeper than getting into the short line at Wal Mart. In fact, that scenario would not even come to my mind when thinking about self love.
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DeleteDeb...self-loathing doesn't necessarily make one suicidal.
DeleteDefinitely, the love of Christ is very different than the love we are able to give. And I can see exactly where you're coming from. However...a person can not like themselves...even hate themselves (that is, hate the way they look, hate what they did, what they're doing, what they've become, who the are) and still like conveniences. They will still eat the foods they like, even seek comfort in food, drugs, alcohol...the poison of their choice. Those things are the only place they find comfort because all the layers of self hated keeps them insulated from feeling love from family and friends, or even the love of Christ.
I had some big issues stemming from a past choice I made, in addition to the weight issues, and in addition to always feeling less than adequate (which probably played into the bad decision and the weight issues). I had a very loving mother, but couldn't/didn't accept she loved me, was sure my dad didn't love me, blah blah blah...
Fast forward 20 years. I was sitting in my car during lunch, something I often do. I was reading the Bible and talking to God..but this day was one of those days when a verse you come across jumps off the page and slaps you. That verse was love your neighbor as yourself.
I know God was telling me to love myself. I had long since gotten forgiveness for the deed. I had been through counseling to "get cleaned out," so to speak. But even after counseling, I still had all the feelings of hopelessness and discouragement, low to no self-esteem, and there were times I was seriously depressed. There was never a time when I liked myself.
What I think you aren't understanding (and you are blessed to not understand this) is that people (even Christians who should know better) can believe the lies of the devil, and not be able to find one positive thing about themselves. I was in that place, and there are times I still deal with that. I hated who/what I was. Even with that loathing, I functioned. I always took the path of least resistance. Still do, haha But it wasn't because I had selfish love for myself, it was because that's what people do. Doesn't have much to do with love, that's just the way we are. All those things you listed...human nature. You can get mad because someone cheated you/elbowed you/whatever, and maybe even madder because you are already beaten up, only by your own emotions, scars, memories, and negative thoughts...you get the idea.
In order for a person to love others, they will have to be in a place to love themselves and like who they are. I think if one doesn't accomplish this, eventually a root of bitterness with take hold, much like unforgiveness (which is probably very related to self hatred...not being able to forgive ones self, in this instance) and what we end up with is a mean, hateful, selfish person that likes no one, not even herself. And not many people will like her, either.
Interesting post today! I agree with you, weight control one day seems physical, another day it's a spiritual problem. Hard to separate between the two.
ReplyDeletePlease share your conclusions as you find them!
Thank you, Jerralea. I'll certainly be sharing. The figuring it all out can be very confusing.
DeleteI think you are on to something, Meg. I think you should continue to meditate and study these things. And preach on when you feel like preaching, we all need to hear it!
ReplyDeletebetty
Thank you, Betty!
DeleteApparently my response to your request was unclear. I'll have to think about it and try again later.
ReplyDeleteI understand. It's a really heavy subject. I am enjoying the dialog about it.
Deletehaha no pun intended.
DeleteNo. My subject is not a heavy subject. That's the problem, you see. The "it" to which I am referring is simply my take on one little Scripture verse. (Which is that if we care enough about ourselves to look out for ourselves in a human nature kind of way, we already have enough to care about our neighbor, too.) Not addressing whether or not we need to care more about ourselves, stop loathing ourselves or any aspect of the bigger issue to which your post actually rreferred.
DeleteThe "it" to which you and Dawne are referring is bigger and heavier. I wasn't disputing, or criticizing that bigger thought at all, just the current interpretation of one verse.
I knew not to go there...
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