Are you in the process of learning to live healthier? Maybe your New Year’s resolution was to eat better, exercise, or in some other way improve your physical health? Join us for the next few days as we offer scripture, insight, and encouragement to help on that journey.
Today’s scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 9:17 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Lynnette Pullen): Well, here we are in a new year with our new resolutions. I’m sure lots of us made an earnest, sincere goal of weight loss. Several years ago, I did the same thing. I honestly and humbly came before God and asked for help with my weight loss. I told God that I had tried on my own and had been dreadfully unsuccessful. I would gain and lose over and over. I had reached the limits of my own abilities and needed help. I told God that I wanted to be healthy, strong, and fit. I confessed that I dread exercise and love to eat. Of course God already knew this, but I felt I needed to confess it.
As I review my goals, I found my weight is definitely not where I would like it to be. I express my frustrations to God. I felt ashamed that I had not been able to lose as much weight as the magazines and doctors say I should. I lamented at my lack of self control.
God spoke softly to my heart and I felt God saying “But Lynnette, you asked me for help. I am helping.” I started thinking that I must have failed somehow because if God is helping me and I have not reached my goal, it must be my fault.
I talked to my wonderful partner about my frustrations and she listened with such grace and patience. Then she began to help me retrace the last several years. She reminded me when I started on this journey I had horrible eating habits and very little consistent exercise. She recounted with me the painstaking process of learning new eating habits, and most of all finding an exercise that I actually love and will do frequently. As we reflected together, I realized that I have grown so much over that last two years. The changes have been so gradual that I hadn’t noticed how drastic they were.
A little more encouraged but still frustrated, I told God that I see how I have been guided in the right ways to help me achieve health. I thanked God for the help and apologized for not recognizing my divine intervention. But then I asked God, “Why have I not met my goal weight? Did I fail you somewhere?” God gently and quietly put Matthew 9:17 on my heart:
No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.
I understood. God was telling me that I needed to be changed on the inside first — that my mind, my thoughts, my habits needed a makeover more than my body. If God were to grant me a new body without renewing my mind, I would most certainly fail. I realize now that I need to look at overall health to see my progress, not just weight.
Prayer for the day: Thank You God for being patient with me as I struggle with understanding your plan. I know your will for me is best. Help me to continue to patiently strive for health to glorify and honor you.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.