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Monday morning is my time to check my weight. Today, I was dreading it. I'd had a bad week. It wasn't good news.
I've struggled with my weight since I was a teenager. It's in the family. My dad had a weight problem, as did his mother. Sadly, my two adult children struggle with their weight as well.
I've worked hard over the past two years to lose weight. I lost 20 pounds in 2017, and I've lost almost 40 pounds in 2018. I'm still hoping to make that goal by year end.
I must admit that it's pretty scary to realize how quickly I can put the weight back on — how quickly I can lose control of my eating. I don't want to. I've been feeling so much better with the excess weight off and wearing clothes that I haven't been able to wear for a long time. I feel lousy and guilty when I overeat. So, why do I do it?
Romans 7:14b-15,18-19 – The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. (NLT)
I find these words comforting. The apostle Paul obviously struggled in his life, so why should I expect that I wouldn't also struggle?
Even more comforting is the fact that Jesus died for my sins. He took my sins upon Himself on the cross so that I could be forgiven.
The struggle is real. It's hard. Eating is such a big part of our lives, especially at this time of the year with all of the Christmas festivities and entertaining taking place. Everyone loves shortbread, and I have a friend who makes the best shortbread ever! Of course, there's the Christmas dinner with all the trimmings — and some people even have to endure two of them in one day! Thankfully, I haven't had that experience.
So, what to do?
2 Corinthians 12:9 – Each time [the Lord] said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (NLT)
By God's grace, with the help of the Holy Spirit, there is strength to be found, even when we are feeling weak. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. We will make mistakes because we are human, but we can learn from our mistakes and press on.
Today is a new day. I am back on track.
If you're struggling with something, don't give up. God is only a prayer away, and He is waiting and willing to be Your strength when you are weak.
Philippians 4:13 – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)
Prayer: Father God, forgive us when we are weak and do things that we don't really want to do. Give us Your strength so that we can overcome our weaknesses and do the things that we want to do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen, Dee. Have a wonderful Christmas season.
Very good.
(CO)
Thank you, Dee. I struggle with this also. I have that verse in Romans marked with “diet.”
My prayers are with you this day and every day, that God will help you through each day to meet your goals.
Thank you, Dee.
Just what I needed to read today.
God bless you richly. Richly!
Great topic for this time of year when so many struggle with overeating. Sending prayers your way for success and wishing you and your family a healthy new year filled with many blessings!
Dee, my heart goes out to you as you struggle with weight fluctuations. May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you victory. He’s already overcome temptation and sin so I pray you’ll also be an overcomer. Blessings.
Every word of your devotional struck home with me. Yes, we know there is much to be learned from our struggle; this is one area where indeed we are slow learners.
Praise the Lord that each day is a fresh start.
Dear Dee,
Thank you and God bless you for sharing such a heartfelt devotional with us this morning We all have different struggles, that is for sure.
Praise God, The struggle is real…But so is God!!! From whence cometh our help.
Good word Dee, thanks for sharing. We have our struggle, it keeps us needy for Jesus. My daughter really struggles with her weight too, so l know it is hard for you. Won’t heaven be great when we get rid of these issues once and for all?!
Christmas blessings.
Thank you so much. I too struggle with my weight. I don’t want to “eat” but seem to have this “addiction” to food. Every day I ask God for help yet at times I give in to the addiction. Your message certainly explained what I am going though and why. The bible verses are so encouraging. Again I thank you.
God bless.
Hi Dee,
I read with interest your devotion on Struggling. I can imagine how difficult the Christmas season is for you!
But we must never judge a book by it’s cover or a person by their appearance.
Christmas blessings.
Hi Dee,
Thank you for this devotional. I appreciate your reference to Phil. 4:13 as I have relied on that scripture over and over again and find great reassurance in it. The Lord is good!
Blessings to you for your writings.
(B.C.)
Dear Dee,
Your story is my story. I found that reading your story helped me to relax and refocus on God’s grace. I wonder how I can know what I need to do in many areas of my life, and show self-control through the Holy Spirit, and yet, even though I eat healthy, I continue to eat more than my body requires. To have the gift of Christ, we are blessed.
(USA)
Dear Dee:
I am so proud of you!! The Lord is too! Please never forget that. He knows all our struggles and He is helping us every day. Your devotional is beautiful and so are you. I know He will guide you and protect you from the enemy who is so devious.
God bless you and your family as you praise the birth of our Saviour this season and all the year through.
Dear Dee,
Thank you for a thought-provoking subject matter with today’s devotion.
It’s good to be reminded that our weaknesses can be forgiven and discipline can be our goal with constant prayer and grace from God.
Your talent is appreciated.
(On)
Wow. This devotional hit the nail directly on the head! It was like you were talking directly to me. I to have struggled with weight control all my life. My desire for chocolate knows no bounds. I am in a period now where self-control is lacking and I need to pray every day for strength.
Thank you for verbalizing this affliction so well and for giving hope to those of us who have similar problems. The scripture references are particularly helpful.
Thank you for writing this devotion.
I too struggle with doing things I know I ought not to do and then I feel so guilty afterwards. Your story and the scripture passages have reminded me of my humanity and to always take it to the Lord.
Thank you for your encouraging words and I pray you reach your goal.
Blessings for Christmas and remember, turkey dinner plates come in smaller sizes too, haha.
CONGRATULATIONS !!! On your weight loss. Accentuate the positive. Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad day. As one of many, who know how difficult it is I ask you to be kind to yourself. God loves you and is rooting for you.
I am 80 years old and like you have struggled all my life with weight loss attempts. Right now I would love to be 40 to 50 lbs. lighter. My weight goes up and down all the time.
Stand in front of a mirror and praise yourself for your accomplishment.
You are doing well. Keep up the good work. Have a blessed Christmas.
Good morning Dee! Yes, many of us have various struggles and temptations especially around this time of the year. Everything seems so tempting, overeating, overspending over indulging etc.
It is a wonderful time of the year if we would just put our priorities in the right order. It is really all about the miraculous birth, isn’t it? I wish I had given that fact more thought in my younger days when I wore myself out entertaining! I remember the words of a dear lady who once said, “when I say the Lord’s prayer, I say LEAVE me not in temptation Lord, but deliver me from evil”. I use those words now.
May you and yours have a very blessed Christmastide!
(Ontario)
Thank you for sharing your struggles in today’s devotional Dee. I’m sure it has resonated with many readers. First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss thus far. Having a week that doesn’t have the results we’d like isn’t nearly as important as is the fact that a person sticks with it, faces that daunting scale and gets right back on track. There’s a reason negative words such as “guilt”, “shame”, “loser”, “cheated” have been removed from the weight loss jargon and instead, uses words of support and encouragement.
To lose 60 lbs is no small feat. That’s absolutely terrific!! Please, when you find you’ve overeaten, replace thoughts of feeling lousy and guilty (that only serve to make you feel worse), with your own simple prayer for God’s support as you’ve written in your devotional.
Hi Dee
I know exactly what you are talking about. I’ve had to struggle with my weight all my life as well. My girls and I get together to bake cookies every year and that is a struggle because the cooks HAVE to test their creations. I, too stepped on the scale this morning, and it is amazing how quickly the numbers go up. To date, I have lost over fifty pounds, but still need to lose a bit more. Stepping on the scale is a reality check which shows me that I definitely need to go back on track as I never want to go back to where I was. As you said, I feel so much better with more energy as well. Praying that you will persevere as this is my prayer for me as well. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas season and a healthy new 2019.
You speak to an issue of mine as well Dee. We live in a world of access to food and resources to be able to have it.
I am reminded that we really do not need to eat quantities I find myself eating particularly as I age, am alone and not as physically active. Food was the center of our social lives growing up where mother thought she was doing us a favour with celebrations centering on food and family gatherings where we received much of our adult sense of love from family.
With parents working in my generation we ate lunch in restaurants, grabbed a coffee and muffin on our way to work, snacks at break time etc and often ate out where quantities at night were excessive or poorly planned nutritionally.
Whereas in El Salvador where I lived for several years, few of these cultural activities were practised and I was more active physically. Not only this, families lived on a budget I find myself using for food for me alone.
Merry Christmas to you Dee and may your new year be a happy and healthy one.
(Ontario, Canada)
Dee:
Wow! That’s 3 in 2 weeks from you. I told you you were good and to keep the old “pen” working.
Hi Dee,
I hope you can achieve your goals, the physical ones as the spiritual ones.
We wish you and yours a Blessed Christmas,
And you are not the only one who struggles with weight, Dee….5 pounds, 50 pounds, 100 pounds…your words are excellent ones for anyone who struggles with anything!
Thank you.
(Texas)
Dear Dee,
May God bless you so you can be an overcomer with weight loss – as you appear to be in other ways.
May He give you will power to meet the eat and beat it.
Enjoy a little bit of everything at the Christmas tables.
And worship the King of Kings who came at Christmas to be the POWER for us to overcome.
Keep writing.