Weight Loss

December 3, 2022

Week 4 – Rest in His Strength and Sufficiency

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,”

Psalm 73:26

Being on a health journey has it’s ups and downs. It brings challenges and temptations, especially around the holidays! There have been times that I have feared failure, yet again, and other times I fear success…afraid of what losing pounds may cost me, or even worse, the expectations I may put on myself if I reach my goals…will I become extreme? Will I become prideful, or full of vanity? Will my personality change in a negative way? I think that these fears are what can keep us stuck, or going back to old habits.

Food is a good gift from God. It’s really not the enemy here. But, it becomes the enemy when we make it more than good, and turn it into an idol…something that we go to instead of God. I know I’ve been an emotional eater. It became my comfort when I was sad, stressed or mad, and my celebration during my happy times. God wants to be our comfort and our celebration. And, only He truly satisfies. I’m learning that all that food really does when I’m hurting or celebrating is bring further guilt and shame!

Because of His strength in me, I can overcome the temptations! I think we have underestimated His strength in us! We have to stop going into battles within while looking back at what was. We want to find comfort in what we always have, we longingly desire that one thing that we think will satisfy. Our love is our food, something that can never love us back! We are relying on our own strength in these moments! Romans 8:13 says, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

We think that if we are strong enough, we can do anything or be anything. But, Jesus warns us in Mark 14:38 that our spirits are willing, but our bodies are weak. I’m learning that it’s in my weaknesses God is giving me opportunities for growth. He is showing me so many areas that I can work on and improve. So many people, including my past self, have lost weight, or gotten healthy. Some have even reached their fitness goals….and most have done it in their own strength, not seeing the relation between body, mind, and spirit. But, the happiness is always short lived. Because when we are led by the flesh, we are working towards weight loss goals for all the wrong reasons. We think if a little is good, then a lot is better. We look in the mirror and cannot see the truth. A focus on the flaws increases the lies. This way steals time and energy from the most important people….God, ourselves, and our families. When we focus on willpower to lose weight, we become consumed by what we want our new identity to be. Then, we transfer our bondage to food to vanity. Satan is there waiting on the other side of good health, ready to show us any and all remaining imperfections. He’s sneaky like that!

There’s nothing wrong with improving ourselves. But, if we are going too far the other way….God has every right to step in and say “That’s enough!” He wants to show us freedom, not lead us into another form of bondage.

Others who are working on getting healthy, but doing it in their own willpower lose the fight, and their strength fails. It’s easier to give up and find comfort in what was familiar. (This has been me, over and over again!) I think it’s just uncomfortable and hard, and easy to just remain where we were than to keep fighting (especially when doing something like this in our own strength)! First Corinthians 1:25b says, “…the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” What I’m learning through this Wellness Revelation study is that until I connect to the Spirit, the true source of all power, I will continue to fail. True and lifelong self-discipline and obedience to the Lord does not come from ourselves, but from God in us by the power of the Holy Spirit! When I am physically or mentally weak, I must draw on the power of God within me. For so long, I have pushed that power aside, I think I just didn’t believe His power could work in me, or within me for something like weight loss. I felt like I would never succeed, but we must never believe our feelings. Feeling are meant to be felt, not control what we do or don’t do.

I now know that being connected to the Lord in this journey is the key to my success. No more yo-yo dieting! I want more than weight loss, I want to gain my life back! In the process, I’m finding freedom! And, when we have life, we can give that life to others, which is what I hope I’m doing! I am so passionate now about helping others, especially when it comes to the limiting beliefs that play over and over in our heads when we are in bondage! Now, I know that I must renew my mind on a consistent basis through His Word, and through godly mentors, teachers, preachers and podcasts that fill my mind with truth. The truth of who I am in Him. And, trust me…I thought I had been doing this all along in my Spiritual walk, but I was still in bondage when it came to my mind and how I thought. I believed the lies, and couldn’t see the truth, even when it was right in front of me. Living with the right mind-set helps us to remember that every choice we make is important. When we’re living intentionally, we can be His agents of change here on earth.

I’m learning to slow down, way down, and to stop living on auto-pilot in my daily routines. And, when I do this, I am more aware of the choices I’m making, the words I’m saying, and the actions I’m taking. I’m being more present in the moments, more engaged with people around me, and fully present. (I definitely have not perfected any of this….but, it is something the Lord is working on in me.)

I used to try to “balance” everything. I was trying to be a good housekeeper, a good homeschool mom, a good wife, mom, friend, Sunday School teacher, and working on myself by working out, eating right, and being consistent in my own time with the Lord. Now, I know balance is a lie. There is no such thing as perfectly balancing all the areas of my life. I was failing at ALL of it, when I was trying to balance it all. I was relying more on my management skills, and not being present in much of anything, nor was I enjoying life. Now, instead of trying to balance everything, I’m seeking wholehearted living. I wake up and ask the Lord to direct my day and to help me accomplish exactly what He has for me. I can show up as myself in every circumstance that comes up, and give what I can. I allow the Lord to direct me and live with a much greater passion and purpose. I know we all have a uniqueness about us, and I want to give my own voice, heart, mind, and body to whatever He has for me each day. And, I hope that He will use me to create hope, love, and joy in others. And, this takes belief! We can’t give away what we don’t have. We have to believe and act on truth. The truth is that God loves me and accepts me, and because of Jesus I am right with Him. He makes me righteous because He is righteous. He thinks, feels, speaks, and acts right in all circumstances through me. But, I must believe He is, or else my sinful nature takes over once again. I can trust and believe only if I’m seeking His heart throughout my day, every day. I also have to believe He loves me despite my mess, despite my failures. He met me where I was, and began His good work, transforming my mind, heart and body. We have to trust Him to strengthen us when we don’t feel like we are enough, (because those thoughts will still try to creep their way in), and trust him to remove pride in our hearts when we are again tempted to follow ourselves rather than Him. And, when we live wholeheartedly, drawing on the unconditional love and acceptance of God, that leads to true wellness.

He is sufficient for me. Sufficiency means adequate. When we live in sufficiency, our circumstances will have no power to define our worth. When we realize who we are is who God called us to be, we will be set free. Have you been held back by the chains of self-condemnation, doubt, or ridicule? When we trust the Lord is sufficient for us, these things will no longer have the power to control us. He gives us what we need, but not necessarily everything we want. We can be selfish, we sometimes are not satisfied with not having it all! But, I know I need to listen to my God-given body and be satisfied with everything about it, regardless of what I want, whether that be food or the way I look. I don’t need to have it all. I don’t want to be fixated on a number or a body shape. None of us will be enough or have enough apart from God. Only He will truly satisfy.

Many of the health struggles we have today could be avoided if we would just be proactive in eating whole foods, living wholeheartedly because we know we are wholly loved by a holy God, rather than seeking after things we think will give us the comfort or pleasure we desire. Our nation is sick. We get too much of what we want, but not enough of what we truly need (which is hearts that are healed and made whole by unconditional love, and that are set free to help set others free). We must engage our souls and spirits in shedding the access pounds. The flesh will not be strong enough on it’s own to fight a war greater than itself. We must continue looking in the mirror of our souls and spirits so that we can do the work of change. James 1:23-24 says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” We are missing out on the freedom God has called us to when we go away and forget to do the work He’s calling us to. We are invited to be a part of the solution, not the problem in the world. We can and will win this battle, not by our own strength, but by His. Now is the time to let the Scriptures search us, know us, and change us. And, we must always remember to work on ourselves before pointing out the flaws in others.

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around-life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”

Romans 12:1 (The Message)

With Love in Christ,
Dena

Advertisement
October 26, 2022

Week 1 – Embrace God’s Purpose, Desire, and Design

There’s always so much that I underline and take away from my readings. Chapter 1 of the Wellness Revelation was no exception!

I did this study in May this past spring into summer. When I went through it the first time, I underlined in green, and answered questions in the book. This time around, I will underline in purple and answer the questions in my notebook. It’s amazing the difference in underlining and answers each time you do a study! God always speaks in different ways!

The main things I took from the reading section of Chapter 1 were:

  1. In God’s wisdom and kindness, He wants to keep our hearts from bondage and destruction.
  2. He has given each of us a purpose, so that He can show us His power, and so that He will be glorified through us. (Exodus 9:16)
  3. We must give up our control, and allow Him to do the work through us. It’s not about us becoming more disciplined, or “doing” all the right things. We’ve tried that before.
  4. What we really want is love, to belong without the fear of rejection. We want meaning and purpose.
  5. We are planted and growing in His purpose, His power, and His strength. We cannot do His work in our own strength.
  6. We must surrender all of ourselves to Him, with a humble and softened heart.
  7. He desires for us to be holy – set apart from common use and dedicated to God – and whole – Christ in mind, Christ in heart, Christ in soul, and Christ in strength. When we are holy, we are whole.
  8. Through Christ, our broken, damaged, and impaired selves can be completely restored.
  9. We are His design, and as we search the Scriptures, we can discover more about what He was thinking as He designed us.
  10. How we care for the creation (ourselves), is a reflection of our Creator. It matters.

In the Respond section I noted Luke 14:26-30. When you start something, finish it!

In Your Action Plan, I think the parts that stuck out the most were that I realized the biggest obstacle that’s kept me from making positive health changes has been not believing I can actually reach my goals. It’s truly been a struggle in my mind. I must get in the right mindset, allow God to change my thoughts and renew my mind. I have to stop relying on myself, because I know I can’t do this without Christ working in me.

In the Renew section, the Lord really did some work!!! #4, referencing Leviticus 11:44, asked what keeps me from living a holy and whole life? I believe my negative thinking keeps me stuck, not believing in myself. And, then…..here’s the BIG ONE: Ultimately not believing God can do the work through me! This is satan keeping me in a stronghold, and believing the lies that I will fail again! Then, #5, referencing Proverbs 14:12, Where am I following a way that “appears to be right”? And, how might it be a stumbling block toward improving holiness and wholeness? This one really had me reflecting….I think I find it difficult to find a balance between good habits and doing these habits with a mindset of box checking, rather than a heart fully devoted to Christ and change. Doing great habits with the wrong mindset or in my own strength is a huge stumbling block because it makes me “appear” to be good, but inside I’m not. Woah….that was some hard truth. Then, #6, referencing Genesis 1:27, What does my image say about Him? Well, obviously, it ought to reflect Him. However, when I eat foods that don’t serve me or my body, I don’t feel like I’m reflecting Him at all. I feel my image says that my God can’t beat this stronghold. That was another tough truth to digest! Then, #7, referencing Ephesians 4:22-24, What hope does this passage give about how my life can be transformed in all areas, including my physical and spiritual health? The hope is knowing that I can put off or get rid of my past ways, my corrupt and messed up mind, and I can be made new in my mind, new in my body, an new in my spirit because Christ’s power lives in me!

In the Relate section, the parts that stuck out the most were #5, referencing Genesis 3:11, Who told you…..? This is where satan’s lies come into our minds. I wrote just a few down… Who told you you aren’t good enough? Who told you you’re a failure? Who told you you’ll never reach your weight loss goals? Satan likes to repeat these kinds of lies over and over in my mind to keep me stuck. Then, #6, we were to write down various lies that we have been living as truth. I wrote down several, just like the ones I wrote in #5. And, this is where some deeper work can be done! I HIGHLY encourage you to write down lies as they enter your mind, and then come up with a counter to those lies through Scriptures of truth. I have started doing this, and plan to keep doing it, even if I get a stack of 3×5 cards over an inch thick! This is the hard and heart work I need! I need to dispel the lies, and renew my mind with God’s truths! So, on one side of the card, you can write the lie, and on the other write a Scripture or two that dispels the lie with the truth of the Word. I’ll share a few I’ve started on. This will be a long process, but I hope to keep digging into this even if it takes me a year or more just working on one or two a week!

Front side of the 3×5 cards
Back of the 3×5 cards

This week we will cover week 2! If you are doing this study with us, please join our Facebook group where we will all share what we are learning! I’m so excited to see what everyone is learning!

Love,

Dena

October 19, 2022

Wellness Revelation Overview

This week I want to give a quick overview of what we will cover each week of our Wellness Revelation Study. Then, your homework will be to study through Chapter 1. Next week I will share insights I’ve picked up from the first chapter, and we will start working through Chapter 2. I hope you will also share with us any insights you learn along the way! I believe sharing with one another will make the study even better than it could be on it’s own!

Here is the overview:

Week 1: Embrace God’s Purpose, Desire, and Design

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

Ephesians 3:20

Week 2: Be Free

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

Week 3: Live Out His Purpose For You

“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.

I Corinthians 6:12

Week 4: Rest In His Strength And Sufficiency

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Week 5: Renew Your Mind

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Week 6: Attend To Matters Of The Heart

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Week 7: Be Transformed

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Week 8: Press On

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:12

I also want you to note that in the back of the book is a Wellness Revelation Workout Calendar. This is a great way to gently ease into exercise in a way that also renews your mind. I HIGHLY recommend it! If nothing else, just try it out and see what you think. You can access free resources here and the daily videos at this link. Once you see the “calendar” just click on the words for each day to watch the videos. I also have to mention the Revelation Wellness Podcast! It is another way to renew your mind while moving your body! And, there is also guest speakers, as well as Be Still and Be Loved episodes on rest days. One of my favorites for mind renewal is this one!

Have a great week tackling Chapter 1, and I’ll meet you back here next Tuesday to see what Transformations have occurred!

Love,

Dena

October 12, 2022

Wellness Revelation Bible Study Introduction

How would your life be different is you could lose what’s weighing you down and be free to live the life you were created for?

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could embark on a single program that would help you get both physically and spiritually fit, while freeing you to pursue God’s dreams and goals for your life?

Maybe you have always struggled with your weight, riding a constant roller coaster of numbers that go up and down. Or maybe you find yourself increasingly stressed out by the world and all its demands.

In The Wellness Revelation, certified fitness professional Alisa Keeton will challenge you to get fit with God so that He can free you to find your purpose. She teaches you that when you become fit physically and spiritually, you will be better equipped to love and serve others. The Wellness Revelation will change the way you perceive yourself and the way you live.

Included in this eight-week journey are teachings from Alisa, fitness training, Bible study, small group questions, and more. Alisa will encourage you to love God, get healthy, and serve others, and she will provide you with the tools to do so with courage, confidence, kindness, and freedom.

It’s time to make a change from the inside out.

-Alisa keeton -Author of The Wellness revelation and founder of revelation wellness

I am so excited to get started with this study! This week we will just cover the introduction as I’ve had several people still want to jump in, so if that’s you, it’s NOT TOO LATE! You can still order the book here, and jump in with us! Also, don’t forget to join the Facebook group to have a community to support, discuss, and grow together with! You can join that group here!

What I loved about the introduction was that the focus was an “exercise” of faith. This is not a program that you strive to do “better”, but one in which you lean into the Lord, and allow Him to transform you from the inside out. When we learn to do this, we are better able to love and help others. Calories in = receiving the fulfilling love of God so that you can give away His love to someone else = calories out. The world is waiting for us to be “fit” for love!

In the next eight weeks, lets move closer towards our true selves – the people who embody God’s love. We will face many obstacles throughout this journey, but we are on a quest to exchange the old lies we’ve believed for His truth, and to be truly set free! This will be a transforming and renewing journey, where we become more of the people we were always meant to be!

Please share what you are excited about or concerned about as you embark on this journey! We are here to support and encourage one another, so the more we share, the more we will get out of this study!

*Disclaimer: I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Love,

Dena

Still on the Journey, but the difference is already showing!!
Join me as I dig back into the Bible Study that helped jump start this journey!
September 27, 2022

Transformation Tuesday – The #1 Key in My Whole Health Transformation (Part 3)

So, it was another week where I felt in a funk. I was unmotivated to even tackle my daily good habits. But, most days I did them anyway, because I know I need to. Friday came along, though, and I was called to jury duty. This threw my day off completely, and I didn’t work out like I had scheduled to. So, I figured I’d just make it up on Saturday, but though I had nothing significant happening on Saturday besides being home alone, watching Netflix, and a movie, and eating a bunch of junk food, I did not work out, again. And, as you can see, I made a whole lot of bad choices! We all get in a funk, and our health gets thrown to the curb sometimes, and I felt awful…..in my mind, my body, and my spirit. So, Sunday, I decided that no matter what, I was going to get in a workout. That night around 9:00 p.m. I headed to the gym, did a leg workout and cycled 10 miles. Then, I told myself that Monday, I was going to stick to my schedule and follow through on all my good habits. And, I did! I got a lot done around my house, got in 10 miles of cycling, Windsor Pilates, a sermon by Steven Furtick, and my Bible Study in. I also finally tackled some work I’d been putting off on my new business that I recently launched. And, let me tell you, I feel good! Temptations are still there, but I just had to make a decision, change my mindset by renewing it with the truth of Scripture, and get to work! So, once again, you can see how very important it is to take my negative thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5

So, today I will cover the next 7 Truths of Our God-Given Identity.

I SHIFT ATMOSPHERES.

(Ecclesiastes 7:14, Galatians 5:22, Isaiah 61:3)

Be grateful in all situations because the Lord is in them all. The Spirit gives fruit that lasts! Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has anointed me. He has a purpose for me to help others and to put Him on display.

I AM HIS WORKMANSHIP.

(Jeremiah 1:5, Genesis 1:26-31, Psalm 139:13-16)

I am fully known, set apart, and appointed! I am created in His image and likeness, therefore should reflect His character. I was created very good. He is well pleased by how He made me. His works are wonderful, even how He made me is hard to fathom. He saw me before I was formed, loved me, and gave me purpose before anything came to be.

MY FATHER LOVES ME WITH AN UNYIELDING LOVE.

(John 19:16-30, Psalm 136, Song of Solomon 8:6)

Jesus loved me so much, even in my sin, that He willingly went to the cross to die for me and all creation. He died for His enemies because of His great compassion and love. He loves and protects and desires fellowship so much that He frees us from bondage so that we are free to see and know His love. He endures forever! His strong love burns like a blazing fire, a flame that won’t go out.

I AM HIS DELIGHT, NOT A DISAPPOINTMENT.

(Genesis 1:31, Psalm 149:4, Psalm 18:19, Matthew 17:5)

Jesus sees me as good. Not just good, but very good. I was created in His image. He delights in me. He crowns the humble with victory. He has brought me out of bondage into freedom. He rescued me because He delights in me. He says to me, “This is my daughter, whom I love; with her I am well pleased.”

I AM POWERFUL BECAUSE OF CHRIST, THE HOPE OF GLORY, LIVES IN ME.

(2 Corinthians 12:6-10, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, Daniel 2:23)

His grace is sufficient for me! His power is made perfect in my weakness. I delight in my weaknesses because I know when I am weak, He makes me strong! His power is my treasure. His life is being revealed through my death. Since I believe, I must speak. He will raise me with Himself. Outwardly we may be wasting away, but inwardly we are being renewed day by day. I fix my eyes on the unseen because it’s glory outweighs all. Thanks to Jesus for His wisdom and power in me.

THE FATHER TELLS ME HIS SECRETS.

(Matthew 13:1-17, Exodus 33:12-23, Jeremiah 33:3)

The knowledge of the secrets of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing they do not hear or understand. I am blessed because I see, hear, and understand. Teach me Your ways, that I may know You and continue to find favor with You. If you aren’t with me, don’t send me! He reveals goodness and glory. He tells me great and unsearchable things I do not know.

I AM GOD’S BEST FRIEND, AND HE IS MINE.

(Exodus 33:11, John 15:15, James 2:23)

He speaks to me face to face, as one speaks to a friend. We are no longer servants because a servant does not know the Master’s business. He calls us friends because He makes known to us all that the Father taught Him. When I believe God, I am credited with righteousness and called God’s friend!

Thank you for reading along! This concludes the God-Given Identities we should embrace. Next week I will continue on mindset and mind renewal by focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit and Fruitful Declarations.

Also, beginning the week of October 10th, I will be blogging through the Revelation Wellness Bible Study. If you’d like to join in with me through the study, you can purchase a copy of the study through Amazon here. And, if you plan to join in, please let me know by commenting below and I’ll send you a link to my Facebook group where we can share together as we study together. The more sharing, the more fun it will be and the more we can each get out of it!

Love,

Dena

*Disclaimer: I must inform you that as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.

August 23, 2022

It’s not easy being vulnerable, but it’s time…

Are you in bondage like I’ve been? Let’s connect!

I am a mess. Seriously, a big mess! I feel like God is taking me on quite a journey to humble me and show me that I am nothing without Him. And, I am finally realizing this truth….I am nothing without Him, but everything with Him.

All my life I have struggled with being on time, procrastination, perfectionism, people pleasing, keeping my home clean and organized, sticking to a schedule, etc.

It took some hard knocks for God to get my attention and show me that I was trying to work my way into His favor, and in the process I was putting up many idols that were blocking true intimacy with Him. I was a believer, yes. I read my Bible often and did Bible Studies. I did all the “right” things, but I came to realize that oftentimes I was doing them to check off a box, or to make myself look right in my own eyes and in other’s eyes. I didn’t realize that my heart was not right. You see, you can learn, yet not understand….and that is where I was at. It’s also possible to learn, but not change, not take the action needed to make the changes God wants to make in your life. I would read the Scriptures, and pray, but there were passages that I just didn’t “get”. A couple of those were Matthew 15:11-32 (with a focus on vs. 25-32), and Luke 10:38-42. The first passage is about the Prodigal Son. I related so much with the older son and didn’t “get” why the one that was so wrong got such a great reward, when the older son had never done anything rebellious and didn’t get any accolades. (I was the compliant child and had carried that into my adulthood, but felt like all my hard work never paid off, it rarely felt like anyone even noticed). The second passage is about Mary and Martha, and Jesus rebuked Martha for trying to work hard and serve, when Mary was just sitting at the feet of Jesus. I didn’t “get” that. (Again, I would do things to try to prove myself, but instead would be put down or things would go unrecognized). But, like I said, the Lord has taken me on a journey and revealed so many things to me, and I am so grateful!

I would say the journey of revelation started about 6 years ago. I used to be very political and share my beliefs on social media. I believed that there really was only one way to vote, and that was Biblically, and if you were a Christian, that’s the way you should vote. I upset some church members on a few occasions when I would post my views (which I felt were the right views, the Biblical views). Some of them blocked me and never said anything. But, a few of them called me a bigot, and other harsh names. I just took it as persecution for standing up for my faith. However, one time a lady messaged me and really let me have it. She told me that she would never allow her son into my Sunday School class with my radical beliefs. That hurt me to my core. It upset me so bad that I really had to pray and ask God to help me to forgive her, and show me where I might be wrong (because remember, I didn’t believe I was wrong). God showed me through that, as well as many other trials I went through, that I was a prideful person. Pride is what caused Satan’s fall! I certainly did not want to have that as a character trait! I saw others as “worse” than me. I didn’t see people through Jesus’ eyes. He created us all and loves us all the same. He loved me before I even knew Him, and Romans 5:8 tells us that “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He died for everyone while we were still sinning, while we were the worst of the worst. He loved us that much! I knew then that I needed to learn to see people the way Jesus saw people. I also learned that Jesus is all about relationships. He went out of His way to be with the sinners, the unlovely, the untouchables. I knew that I needed to do the same; to get rid of the idols of pride, perfectionism, people pleasing and more. I needed to focus on building genuine relationships with people. I needed to love even the unlovely, and God allowed me to do that, which was also a period of growth for me. So pride is where He began His work in me.

Next, He started working on my perfectionism. Like I said, I have struggled my whole life with keeping my home clean! I still do! This doesn’t sound like perfectionism, because you’d think if I was trying to be perfect, my home would also be perfect! Well, that’s not exactly how I am. I hold such high standards for myself, that I then become overwhelmed by the mess, and procrastinate starting because I don’t even know where to begin. And, I have such high standards that they are unrealistic or nearly impossible to meet. So, instead of moving forward, I freeze and get nothing done, or very little, until it piles up and gets worse and worse, and I can’t ignore it anymore. But, by then it’s so bad, that I can never get things the way I want them, so I tell myself, it’s not even worth trying. I now believe it’s a serious sickness in my mind, a way that Satan keeps me stuck! So, I ditched perfection, and have learned to just do my best. I still struggle with overwhelm and procrastination sometimes, but practicing good habits and routines definitely helps.

Then, God showed me that there was more He wanted to work on in my life. He’s great at that! And, I’m sure, as long as I’m listening, He will keep revealing more! That more was another struggle that I’ve had for years! (Over half my life now.) A struggle that I’ve just lived with, and teetered back and forth on for so long that it just seemed ‘normal’. He opened my eyes to my weight issue. I have known that I’m obese for a very long time. In fact, I’ve tried just about every diet program out there. (Weight Watchers, Weigh Down Workshop, Flat Belly, First Place, The Daniel Plan, New Life Promise, Noom, counting calories with apps or on logs, and I’m sure there was probably more than these). However, none worked for the long haul. I’d lose for awhile, and then I’d lose the battle and start regaining. It was a terrible cycle, over and over again. I always felt like God could use me more if I’d just get the weight off. However, I never saw this as anything more than food addiction, or emotional eating. (Even calling it an addiction was something new to me). However, God began to show me that this eating problem was actually not just an addiction, but a stronghold in my life. Food had become an idol. Something I’d go to instead of God. I also viewed weight loss and exercise as a chore, something that was hard to do, and not enjoyable. But, then I was introduced to The Wellness Revelation. I’d been through “Christian” weight loss programs before, but nothing that connected my heart, mind, and spirit like The Wellness Revelation did. The Lord completely renewed my mind, and He is continuing to change my heart, and is showing me that His power and Spirit are in me! And, because of His power in me, I can do anything I set my mind to, even the hard things! And, I have to say that this has been a JOY, not something that is a chore. The food has been exceptional, and exercise is something I view as worship and gratitude! I am able to use my body for health and wholeness, and as an act of worship. Movement now is freeing, as is eating whole and healthy. Some days are harder, because breaking a stronghold is not easy. Satan still tries to tempt me or make me see myself in ways other than the Lord sees me. But, I am excited to continue this journey, and this time I am confident that the Lord will take me to complete freedom and my body, mind, and spirit will continue to transform in the process.

He is a good God, and releases the captives, and He is releasing me! I have to share this with others in hopes that someone else may want to join me on this journey! If that is something that interests you, please leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to connect with you and share even more!

With love and in Christ,

Dena

May 27, 2016

The Battle of Weight Loss

diet-398613_1280

When I was growing up, I was a skinny mini.  I never dreamed that I would become overweight.  But, honestly, shortly after high school, I started putting on a few pounds.  I even had to diet while I was engaged to be married so that I could fit into my wedding dress.  Thankfully, back then, I didn’t have much to lose.  But, after baby #1, I gained a lot of weight and though I’ve tried a multitude of diets, I’ve never maintained well.  And, now after 4 babies and 18 years of being overweight, it doesn’t get easier!

When I was young, I loved going to the pool and swimming for hours!  And, I loved bike riding.  I even rode the MS 150 one year with my dad.  It was so fun!  And, both of these are great exercises that burn LOTS of calories.  No wonder I was able to remain thin back then!  Then, you know, after marriage, work, and having babies, you don’t have as much time to do those fun things like swimming, or bike riding.  I guess they just got put on the back burner.  And, my priority became kids, homeschooling, and other things.

I have tried dieting on my own, Weight Watchers multiple times, Weigh Down, The Flat Belly Diet, First Place 4 Health, and currently I’m doing Trim Healthy Mama.  I’ve learned a lot through all these losses and regains!  Here are some things that I have learned:

  • accountability is KEY.  Lose weight with a friend or two!  Surround yourself with people who will support you and encourage you on your journey.
  • Any diet can work, IF you follow the plan.  Some work better than others and have more freedom than others.  Some are also more healthy than others.  Find something that can become a lifestyle.
  • Find exercises that you enjoy, and doing them with friends can even make it more enjoyable!  I honestly don’t like to sweat.  I know that’s bad to say, but I really don’t.  I love the water, because it cools me, and I love bike riding because if you can get your speed up, there’s a nice breeze (not to mention getting to see God’s beauty through creation as you ride).  I’ve also come to enjoy Pilates for the firming and shaping that results (however, I definitely sweat)!  I also enjoy yoga for relaxation, and I’ve come to enjoy intervals because of the help with metabolism and energy.  I’ve found mixing things up and doing something different each day keeps me motivated, and helps me not to get bored.  And, I honestly think it helps trick my body and trim it quicker because it never knows what’s happening to it from day to day.  Ha!  🙂
  • The more you eat healthy, the less you crave the unhealthy.  It’s amazing what I’ve come to love to eat, and be satisfied with.  Things I never would have tried before!
  • Journaling helps me.  I weigh once a week, and journal about how I did.  Some weeks are very encouraging, others not so much, but when I keep track, I know what to do to improve.

Currently, I’ve been struggling with a weight loss, a weight gain, a weight loss.  Sometimes it feels like this battle will never end!  But, I have to remain positive, and see where I’ve come in only about 18 weeks.  I’ve lost about 35 lbs.  The exciting part is that 35 lbs is the most I’ve ever lost in any weight loss program.  So, this time, I KNOW that I will pass that hurdle, and continue going!  I have about 100 more pounds to lose.  That seems daunting when I see that number, but I truly believe it’s possible this time.  I just have to remain focused on the goal and stop the temptations before I allow them to overtake me!

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

                                                                                                            1 Corinthians 10:13

So, do you have any weight battle tips?  I’d love to hear them!  I am determined to win this battle!  Someday, I may be brave enough to post my before and after photos.  Can’t wait for that day!

belly-2473_1920