My weekly Sunday morning weigh in revealed a one pound-to-the-ounce loss! For the past month, God helped me lose a collective three pounds and three ounces! I celebrated with an $18.50 bottle of Bath & Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig Eau de Toilette purchase and if I don’t say so myself…I smell F-I-N-E today!
The weekly nugget God revealed to me is not a new one, but as God continues to gently and patiently parent me, I finally “got it” this time…it is, with God ALL things are possible!
These thoughts came together as I was working out on our ten year anniversary elliptical that is strategically located in our guest room. Beating the crowing rooster (yeah, like that happens in a Washington, D.C suburbia but you catch my drift…it was early!), this 30-something was warming up her drowsy body as my five year old, Jake, sleepily wandered in and plopped his groggy body on the guest room bed.
His inquisitive eyes were inspecting the spectacle in front of him. As I warmed my legs up in the routine hamster on the wheel circular motion, I twisted my center core to stretch my arms and stomach muscles. With utter amazement, Jake spouted out, “How’d you do that Momma? Can you do apple jacks (aka: jumping jacks) on the elliptical too?”
We just covered the whole simultaneous pat your head while rubbing your belly phenomenon last week, so I’m certain to Jake, my physical contortions were quite impressive and I’ll take the “drops of props” wherever this Jersey girl can get them! I graciously thanked Jake and continued my circular strides.
“No babe, I’m not going to do jumping jacks on the elliptical, it’s just not possible for Mommy to do that safely.” Jake looked a little disappointed but took it in. My mind quickly drifted in the normal stream of consciousness that makes my husbands’ face go “tilt” when I verbalize my endless thoughts to him!
Five years ago, I thought where I am standing today was impossible. I did not think I could return to my wedding weight. I reflected to my vast past “impossible” statements that sounded persuasively believable and weighed them against the truth:
Impossible LIE: “I’ll never be able to get back to my wedding weight because after my thyroid surgery, I have thyroid problems and my metabolism is screwed up.”
Possible TRUTH: Not only am I at my wedding weight, I am also off my (doctor monitored) thyroid medicine!
Impossible LIE: “It’s impossible to have a regular exercise schedule because my life is just too busy, I’ll just suffer and try to eat less.”
Possible TRUTH: I have time for the things that I deem important. I didn’t formerly deem exercise important enough to schedule it. Movement equals exercise. I take a walk around the block with my kids, I am exercising while connecting with my kids, hubby, walking partner or God. I do and will eat less because I am listening to my body and understand the difference between emotional and physical hunger.
Impossible LIE: “I’m never going to get to my goal weight, it’s taking soooooooooo long, so it’s just an unreasonable goal. I’m just gonna be content with where I’m at.”
Possible TRUTH: I am content with where I am at and at the same time I know in my spirit I am not where God wants me to be. I will continue to press on because with God on my side, I will get there. (P.S. – Nine pounds to go!)
I wondered where was my disconnect between the lie and truth? The answer – my faith deficiency in the true source, God. I had faith in “me” (my strength, my abilities) and that is why I failed and back slid. When I have faith in God to do a work in me, I have experienced sweet, slow and deliberate success. The center has to be God!
I am encouraged to read in Matthew 17:20-21, He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (New International Version)
The bottom line is that I didn’t believe God could move this formerly obese “mountain”. He has changed me. You know what – He can, He did and He will continue to do so because He who is faithful to do a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. It’s all about Him, not me!
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20-21 (Message)
He works with me. How great is our God?
My doing an “apple jack” on the elliptical does seems impossible. If the Lord wants me to do it, I have faith I will (I promise I’ll post an immediate blog to notify you!). Retuning to my wedding weight seemed impossible. I’m sure there were some people that thought a large Red Sea splitting down the middle seemed pretty impossible too!
What will you choose to speak possible, that was once formerly labeled impossible?
Thanks for your support, sharing and honesty Kim! Love the “would” — “could” comment!
It amazes me how God does care about all areas of our lives. Parts I used to deem too ”small” that I didn’t want to bug Him about. Yet continually, He mentions the “small” things in the Bible – the birds, the hairs of our heads, the mustard seeds, they all matter and so do we! It’s really humbling and encouraging to my spirit! I love you too Kim! See you and all your men at the copy-cat bear shin-dig!
Wow! Lies vs. Truth powerful stuff. Congratulations on getting to your target weight. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!
Of all the articles you’ve written so far, this one is my favorite! I too have found myself believing the “impossible” lies I’ve told myself over the years, and it’s all because I didn’t really believe God would truly take care of those lies (notice I said “would” and not “could”–I know God can do anything, but I didn’t think he’d concern himself with my issues, which seem pretty small in the grand scheme of things). Thank you for helping me face those lies and start banishing them! Love you, Steph!
Thanks SO much Kath! You’re encouraging me in prayer…I’ll try to encourage in health – IRON SHARPENS IRON!
WAY TO GO PAULA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of you! Not just for 11 straight days of staying on track (sounds a whole lot like a way of life (aka: habit) you’ve developed there!), for facing the scale (that in and of itself is VICTORY!), and for your THREE pound loss!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks SO much for letting me know your progress as you are really spurring me on!
Don’t mean to sound too “stereotypical Texas” but a strong “YE-HAW” is in order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP PRESSING SISTER! (Galatians 6:9)
Love this, love this, love this! You are so encouraging to me. I had vowed to do my weigh ins on Saturdays at the gym. We do not have a scale at home (which is a blessing). After working out and staying on track with my food for 11 days I just couldn’t wait until Saturday, I weighed on Wednesday and had a 3 lb loss. I am so excited. Which I know my water weight can fluctuate atleast that much but I have avoided the scale completely for over a year. Now I will look forward to Saturdays knowing the God is doing a good work in me. And what’s even more exciting is that I got my husband in the gym 3 out of 4 days this week. WooHoo, thank you God!!
My subscription just began. This was my first that I read and I am so encouraged. Truly it is the truth v the lies; thank you for your transparency and authenticity that helps me to grow in my faith walk particularly with health. Giving the examples to support the scripture we hear often gives life and revelance to me today. Appreciate the insights to help us all along in our journey.