Struggling With Weight

Over the past 3 days, I have had 3 conversations with people who really are struggling with the ability to lose weight/keep weight off.  These are some of the most precious, dear saints I know, and my heart really goes out to them, as I know that they really are fighting.

I myself am battling my own personal battle with the bulge!  It seems that being mid 40's makes the fight that much harder, but as I shared with these precious saints this week, the option is not really an option!

Here are some of the things I shared with them, that I believe apply to whatever struggle we face with our bodies, be it addictions, lusts,....whatever.....I believe these things apply:

1. Don't treat your body as an enemy.  I Cor 6:13 says that "the Lord cares for the body." (NLT).  Eph 5 says we are to "take care of our body."  Our bodies are to serve us as we go thru this life and experience life thru the 'vehicle' of our mortal bodies.  Our mindset needs to be that rather than fight our bodies, we need to seek to understand them, to bless them, to treat them well, as we would a friend.  Sometimes our bodies get 'ornery', get sick, diseased, much like a car if you dont maintain it right.  More on that later..?? 
2. Realize your body has 'genetic propensities'.  We are all 'flawed' from the fall of creation, and our bodies inherit propensities and tendencies from our forefathers.  You may have a propensity to weight gain.  Or it may be toward alcohol addiction. It may be toward sexual deviation (ie, homosexual bends, etc..etc..).  There is no limit to the directions the 'sinful nature' can go, but each of us has our OWN propensity that we must bring to the Lord.
3. Our propensities must be 'crucified'. (Romans 6)  This is where the challenge comes.  I can not allow my propensities to rule me, whatever they may be.  The real me, my spirit man/woman, must be sovereign and in control, ruling over my own personal Kingdom, ie, my soul (emotional life), my flesh (body).  If I allow my body or soul to run the show, ....trouble....BIG trouble!
4. Receive GRACE and dont try to fight by yourself! "The grace of God teaches us to say NO to ungodly lusts (food, sex, whatever is 'out of bounds')"  (Titus 2)  Grace is God's supernatural help to do what we naturally COULD NOT do in our own strength. 

Again, my heart goes out to those of you who really fight this battle.  As you can see from above, we ALL have our own battles with our bodies and it's various "misdeeds".  But my prayer is that your heart and soul would be comforted in your Father's love, REGARDLESS.  He loves us in all our imperfections, and is WITH us as we fight our own personal battles, unti the day we get NEW, redeemed bodies!

May you be relieved, and not burdened of heart.  May you fight the good fight with grace, knowing you are created in the image of God, cherished, beautiful in His eyes.

Again, GRACE, GRACE, GRACE to you, in Jesus' Name....!!

PB