Made to Crave

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted a blog on here. My diet has been on my mind but not in my heart for the last month. It's been a very busy time, and first the exercise lagged, and eventually, the diet did, too. I have been meeting once a week with two co-workers, Danise and Jenny. We started the year trying to follow the Daniel Plan, a weight loss program offered through Rick Warren's Saddleback Church. You could join online for free, and we thought this might be a good way to get focused. We found, though, that while this might be a good supplement if you were already in a group at the church, it really wasn't working for us.

A friend of mine knew how hard I've been trying to lose weight and has occasionally sent me Proverbs 31 devotions when they were written by Lysa TerKeurst, who has written "Made to Crave." I forwarded these to Danise and Jenny, and when investigating further, we found there is a six-week Bible study and a book available. We decided we'd each order our own copies so we don't have to try to share a DVD--it's not all that expensive through Amazon.

The goal was for us to watch the DVD and meet tomorrow to discuss it. I finally got to watch the DVD tonight, and I am already quite inspired. On the video, Lynn talks about how this is not a "how to" weight loss program, but a "want to" program. She compared those of us who desire food with the rich man in Matthew 19:16-26 with did not want to give up his wealth for Jesus.

Lynn says something that I could relate to: that when she peeked into the depths of her soul, she realized the one thing she depended on was food before Jesus. Wow. A harsh reality. Too often I turn to food when I'm nervous, upset, bored, etc. I think I deserve to indulge when life throws me a curve, or when I want to celebrate, but what I really deserve rather than food, is to turn to Jesus.

I realized as I started to fill out the participant's guide that food is weighing me down spiritually. I think because you can physically see, taste, feel food, and there is immediate gratification in eating it, I turn to it first. Not that I don't turn to Jesus. Don't get me wrong. He is the center of my life.

If anything, sometimes I feel like it's not right of me to pray for Jesus' help as I struggle with my weight--that I'm not significant enough, or that at least my struggle with weight isn't significant enough. But my eyes were opened tonight.

The food is what I can physically see. But the bottom line is that the food is getting in the way when I let it comfort me instead of Jesus comforting me.

In the video, Lynn said that we will have a word to focus on each week. This week's word is "empowered." It comes down to making healthy choices because we want to make them. So, on with the "want to" diet.

I pray that this study will help me grow in my relationship with God as I slim down!