Oh my word, friends, I really did not want to write this post. NO-I mean – I really tried digging in my heels and said “no way”, but God always has the last word. This is not my usual post-there areĀ no poetic words just the plain hard truth. A punch in the gut kind of truth that God let me know was exactly what I needed. So here goes…
2015 is now here and with it began an attack of words from all sides like – healthy, goals, strength, willpower, food, exercise and the list goes on. It’s not that I have never heard those words before or acceptedĀ them for what they had to offer, but this time is different. You see I have been following the “closet eater’s diet” which is reaching in the closet for something salty or sweet, crunchy or satisfying, often and at times when I was not hungry.Ā Every time I was feeling tired, stressed, overwhelmed, happyĀ orĀ depressed, I turned to my pantry and begged to be filled and satisfied. Every time I did this I knew it wasn’t the answer and as much as I wanted to change, I lacked the thing I needed the most.
For many of you that would be motivation, willpower and a pantry with only healthy food choices, but for me it was God. I Ā bargained that tomorrow I would change and tomorrow would be the day to get up and get moving and then it would arrive and the routine I had started did not change. Please know that I have been very successful in the past and have let life circumstances bring me down and become my ultimate excuse, but this time is different. Why? Because I am getting a swift kick in the behind from the person who knows me best and who loves me beyond all imagination.
So I am going back to one of my pivotal verses from last year-Zephaniah 3:17 for strength and to remind me that God does delight in me, loves me and wants to be my strength. How can I shine for God if I can’t even take care of my physical self in orderĀ to persevere for Him?
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
God rejoices over each of us no matter what, but I want to rebuild myself from the inside out. I want my heart to be strong for God and this will only happen when I surrender it all to Him-minute by minute, day by day, week by week!
I would cherish your willingness to love and pray me through this road to a healthier me. I am not setting number goals or a time limit because as we all know, God does not work that way. His timing and His plans are always perfect.
My mantra each day will be:
[Tweet “Each day is a new beginning, a “do over” blessed by God’s grace!”]Ā Grab the gift of new mercies that only God can give!
I would love for you to join me on this journey of allowing God to be in charge and turning to Him to satisfy all our needs.
Love from a former “closet eater”,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
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So thankful each day is a new beginning and a “do over.” His mercies are new every day! Love your encouraging post. Thank you, Mary. Sounds like God is taking us down similar paths this year. Blessings!
I will pray for you too Julie in this new year and new path to follow God to a healthier you. It’s a good thing a “do over” is granted daily because there are many days that I need it. Glad to see you here today! Blessings!
Oh, Mary, I can so relate…when my stress level starts to rise I feel the need for a carbonated coke. Blessings and grace, Kasey
I love that we are on the same team! š God surrounds us with such great support-we just need to accept it when it is given. Blessings!
I love your openness in this post Mary! My hubby and I did a cleanse and totally changed our lifestyle/eating habits together last year. Together, we lost 100 pounds, is that not INSANE???? We did it together, which I think was the big thing, having an accountability partner to get you through those times when you lose a little willpower helps alot. Now, you couldn’t pay me to go back and eat the foods I used to, or snack out of boredom like I used to. I will be praying for you and look forward to see how God uses this journey to help inspire others too!
Wow! How wonderful that you and your husband were so successful. I know the accountability piece is huge and I know that prayer and seeking God will be just as important for me. I appreciate your prayers because there will be many moments that I will struggle. Blessed by your encouragement and your story.
You’re brave to share and I believe God will honor your desire. Thanks for sharing yourself here and then sharing your post at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Thank you Kristin! You know God is behind it when you are shaking at every word that you type and hitting publish is the hardest thing you have ever done. Putting this out there is a blessing but one that will continue to unfold with time. Thanks for your encouragement and weekly linkup. Blessings!
From one “closet eater” to the other, I hear ya, Mary! It’s my struggle this new year too (among many others). But I will lift you up in this request that is so very sweet and authentic too. I’m glad you surrendered to the Lord’s prompting to share, my friend. You are speaking to the millions on this one I believe, so your impact through the Lord is far-reaching! Hugs to you and Happy New Year, sweetie! š
You are my biggest cheerleader and encourager. I found that writing this post has been one of the hardest things I have ever done especially when my dad was questioning me about it. I cherish your prayers and I continue to pray that my words honor Him and shine for Him. Blessed you are my friend and love your heart. Hugs!
Oh Mary, my friend! I’ve been on that same exact diet for so long- the “closet eaters”!! I’m with you on breaking free from it this year with God, the only one who can truly save us from those crazy unhealthy choices. Praying for you and holding your hand from afar (actually not that far š ) throughout this journey!
I know you understand this even better than I do, Candace! I am so blessed that we are on this journey together and I would be even more blessed if we could meet soon! š I appreciate your encouragement and prayers and please know the prayers are coming right back at you! Hugs!
I so totally relate to what you’re going through! Hanging on to His new mercies every. single. day!!
Thanks for sharing yourself…
Thank you for your encouragement and understanding. I hang on to His new mercies everyday and it makes all the difference. Blessings!
I’ve got to get healthier and lose the weight because of the Fibro for one thing. Perimenopause – hormones!! – make it VERY difficult. š
Walking this with you, my friend.
Getting older just makes it difficult to get and stay healthy because our bodies function differently. I will be praying for you as well as we work toward becoming healthy and shining for God.
Good for you, Mary! Strength and grace to you … His mercies are new every morning. š
Blessed you stopped by Kate! Community and prayers will see me through and knowing that God loves that I am turning to Him for all my needs is His way of saying “I got this girl”! Keep praying! š
Mary, My Dear Friend, I am linking arms with you on this journey! I am so thankful I can physically be present so we can support each other. Let’s WALK this road together with Jesus between us and reminding us we are HIS.
How blessed am I that not only does God take me by the hand but my dear friend will too? Thank you for always being by my side Terri-your friendship is such a gift.
Thanks for going here, Mary. Truth be told, most of us are in this place, and if we aren’t right at this moment, we sure have been in the past.
The holidays bring out the worst tendencies with tempting morsels everywhere we look and memories and emotions and expectations that we’re trying to navigate without totally losing it. Sometimes there are more tears than laughter as we try to hang on til the whole thing is done.
No wonder we’re mindlessly grazing, eating without thought or plan, discouraged and overwhelmed as we reach for another plate of cookies. If we ever needed community, this is it. Thanks for providing that for us today …
Community is what supports me here and God is who supports us all. Stepping out in faith is a scary thing but this is only the beginning from what I can tell. God has been laying a lot on my heart. So glad you are nearby always ready to encourage and keep me going. Hugs!
Hi Mary! Oh my, what a smile I had on my face when I read your title!! I am a closet, and a not-so-closet eater myself. I am very hopeful that this cycle of eating because I’m bored, hungry, not hungry, sad, happy etc. ends in 2015. YES, I will follow you!
My husband and I embarked on the South Beach diet adventure, and I feel strong now. May God bless us both in this year of getting healthy!
Happy New Year my friend š
Ceil
Now I’m smiling because you’re smiling! I love how when we surrender our addictions or struggles, God does make us strong. It is all about letting go and letting Him do the thing He does best! Thankful that you will be praying with me along this journey and please know the prayers are coming your way too!
New mercies every day in this struggle many of us know too well. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Blessings and hugs!
Thank you Deb! One of my favorite verses is Lamentations that promises us new mercies every morning! God is so faithful and that is what will strengthen me in this journey!
Mary, I am lifting you up in prayer. I so understand when our emotions get in the way and lead us into unhealthy habits. I am an emotional eater and have struggled with diet, eating healthy for years. Needless to say, I have over 75lbs to lose. Yikes! This week I am trying to cut out sugar. I went to the store last night and grabbed and candy bar and ate it, because it’s so habit for me, that I forgot my goal. I’m pressing the reset button today. Will you pray for me too?
Barbie we will pray each other through this! I understand about bad habits but we can learn new ones and God will walk this journey with us! I love having you as my friend!
Grace is always extended when we ask for ir, when we unmask and remove the layer of protection we think we wear strong. Live fills in the holes that are hidden in our armor because we are meant for community, fellowship and friendship. We are made to lift one another in prayer and in encouragement. You are making that hardest first step and God rewards diligent obedience. Praying for you!!!
Many Blessings and cheers of support to you, Mary!!ā”
Your words are such a blessing! I love how God’s grace is ever present and ever filling up the gaps in our armor which is only made strong by God! Thankful that you are praying and in community with me.
Mary, aren’t we grateful that He continually works in us & in every area of our lives. May 2015 be a healthier one for us all! Blessings!
Amen! God loves making all things new and God promises us that each day! 2015 is going to be amazing because of all that God will do in and through us!
I will be loving you and praying for you through this journey, Mary. I have been pondering how I want to reflect Christ in every part of my life. And my battle with food that continues on, it does not reflect a trust in Christ of who He says I am in Him. It’s so convicting. May 2015 be a year of healthier choices for both of us so we can SHINE for Christ.
Love you. xoxo
Amen! May there also be joy in our journey as we struggle but become closer to Jesus in the process. I pray we all may shine for Christ in all we do including the physical realm. Love you Beth for your encouragement and prayers.
I feel your pain!! I didn’t eat like I should in December but didn’t do too bad as I met my goal of maintaining. Now I just gotta get moving again so that the scale continues to drop. Let’s encourage one another to keep turning to the only One who can truly satisfy!
I would love for both of us to encourage and hold each other accountable. This is a hard journey as you know and it is only through community and more importantly trust in God that we will overcome.Love you and love that you are walking this with me!
Mary, may the Lord fill you with his nourishment. The soul food that will lead you in truth that will give you all joy and peace. May he just pour into you this year. Cheering your authenticity this morning.
Blessed by your words and your support. The Lord will pour into me and I pray I will always have a posture of obedience and willingness. Blessings, Kelly!
Privileged to read your post today, Mary. May the Lord bless you and pour Himself into you, and into all of us. We can relate, believe me!
This means so much Betsy! I am blessed by community that embraces and wraps their arms around me with their words and prayers. Thank you for being part of this community for me today. Blessings!
Thank you for being obedient and sharing what God placed on your heart. I am right here with you. Please know that I’ll be praying for you. š
~Candy
Your prayers mean so much, Candy! Thank you for joining me in this journey through prayer. I am blessed by community around me which I know is God’s way of reassuring me that it will be okay. Blessings!
Dieting through faith is the best way to go! Last year I felt God asking me not just to transform my heart, but also my body – and started off on a journey to lose weight, eat better, exercise more. Set a goal of pounds to lose, but He ended up teaching me a faith lesson instead – the numbers on the scale never seemed to budge, but as I kept relying on Him to help me eat better and exercise more, I somehow dropped a clothes size even though I didn’t get the satisfaction of meeting my goal on the scale. Good luck! I’ll be there with you this year keeping after the same thing (especially after these holidays!)
I love your story! I feel God is definitely getting my attention and wants me to step out to lean into Him. Oh my but it is difficult. I love knowing that you are with me on this journey. Praying for both of us as we follow God’s lead in the new year. Blessings!