Encourage Yourself In Battle

January 23, 2016 – Day 245   Encourage Yourself in Battle

Today was a huge breakthrough…the weight is down to 222 pounds, dropping a grand total of 80 pounds.  <cry> 

It had been awhile since I took my measurements and thought it was time.  The numbers were so encouraging.  To me, it shows that I am doing what needs to be done!  I am still obese, but I am healthier than I have been in over a decade.  I may not be where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be.  Amen.

All the praise and glory goes to God as none of this would have been possible without Him, AMEN!

Date	Weight	Age	Height	Arm	Neck	Chest	Waist	Hips	Thigh	Calf	BMI
05/23/15	302	49	65.5	20	21.5	54.5	54.5	54.75	32	19	49.5
08/21/15	260	49	65.5	17.7165	19	48	48.22	56.5	27.16	18.75	42.6
01/23/16	222	49	65.5	15.5	17	44.5	43	47.75	26	16.5	36.5

I have been in tears thanking God for the breakthrough.  Once I received the dream that exposed the plans of the enemy I have been mad, so mad that the determination has been kicked into overdrive.  Get behind me satan or I am going to bowl you over as I march on with purpose!

I have been keeping track of everything that goes into my mouth, whether it be food or beverage it gets counted.  Trying to avoid empty calories.  Sticking to God's instructions of, "No sugar, no wheat and no flour!"

I have been utilizing the Wii Fitness game as my current exercise regiment.  During the week on days that I have to work, I do 30 minutes of aerobics and then on my days off I try to do 60 to 90 minutes depending on time and if the Wii kicks my butt that day. 

Yesterday discovered that I love the rhythm boxing.  It is not only fun but it is an excellent cardio workout.  I find it ironic that the weight that I have lost is the weight of a heavy boxing bag. 

God told me that this journey is not about losing weight, it is breaking the bondage to food and helping others to break it too.  At the moment this food addict (no, food overcomer!) is still looking at food as more than fuel.  I may not want that dessert you are eating but I do struggle not helping myself to the nuts and healthy goodies laying around.   I need to break the hand to mouth habit.  

New goal: for food to be mere fuel and nothing more.  The long term goal is getting down to the preferred weight for my height and keeping it off.

This last month taught me that even the good food has more than a few calories and they can add up quickly if I am not careful.  I fell back into the old trap of the enemy of trying to comfort my sadness, depression, anger…with food.  Even though it was the God-Approved food for me, I was looking for comfort in what I ate. 

I had to stop and pray.  I had my pastors pray with/for me having unity (and pastoral coverage) with my prayers.  I also talked to my addiction counselor and spoke with a friend who has become my “healthy-check” accountability partner.  

I discovered that I allowed my sadness and depression to shift my mindset.  My focus went off of what I was supposed to be doing daily and was focusing on the circumstances in my life. 

I “Peter’d”.  I took my eyes off Jesus (and the plan) and focused on the storm that I was in the midst of.  What happened to Peter when he took his focus off Jesus…He SANKED! 

Which is what I did.  Not only did I sink into eating too much, I sank into comparing myself to others that caused anger, bitterness and offense, I sank into the depths of self pity, I took my mind off the plan and frankly I lost my way and my joy.  

What happens when you let your mind think negativity, it festers, it grows, and it creates more of the toxic thoughts that become a cancerous destruction.  The more you think it the more you believe it.  Believing a lie doesn’t make it true, it just means that you allowing yourself to be deceived by your own thoughts.

The bible states that the battle is in the mind.  Check out Romans 8:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:12 just to name a few.

Every morning right now I have to get up and recite…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2). 

Every day is a battle.  With the battle starting in my mind, I have to remind myself not to be conformed by the circumstances (or anything) that is not of God.  My verse that I am standing and believing on is Philippians 1:6, I have to remain and constantly remember to be, "…confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."  AMEN!

I have my (God-given) battle plan in hand.  I know what “I” need to do to not only break this bondage of food but conquer the enemy.  This past plateau was a pit.  Frankly it was a wake up call.  

This is not just one battle to take a hill on one particular day, this is a war to destroy the mountain that is on the path that is my life.  I have to destroy the enemy who took me as a P.O.W., throwing me in the pit.  My wake up call has reminded me that I have been rescued by my Savior Jesus.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  If God is for me, who can be against?!?  

Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy.  As the father of all lies taunted (tempted) Him with “If You are really the Son of God…”  Jesus knew who He was, He didn’t need to defend His Son-ship or prove anything.  His response was speaking the word back to satan defeating him.  Which is what we are to do with the Sword of the Spirit (word of God) - crucial piece of our Full Armor of God.

I pray that what ever battle you are in, that you remember that you too are a child of the Father.  God has got you.  Pray for yourself.  Encourage yourself in the word.  Repeat God’s promises over and over.  Not only to remind yourself but to remind the enemy that you know who you are, you believe God’s promises and you are standing on them. 

Daily you must encourage yourself in battle.

Until Next Time, God Bless!