christineyountjones.com

Category: Diets and Weight Loss

  • The Beauty of Transformation

    The Beauty of Transformation

    Want to know one of the deep secrets to freedom from diet addiction/idolatry, scale worship, weight loss obsession, and recurring gluttony?

    It’s not really a secret. It’s right there in Scripture. It’s just that we don’t fully grasp it–yet.

    “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. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2, Message)

    Such plain words! Here’s the New International Version:

    “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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

    There’s so much to unpack here.

    The key thing I want to focus on in this post is transformation. And isn’t that what we’ve been longing for all these years?

    “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”–the Greek word for transformed is Μεταμορφουσθε. It’s the root word of metamorphosis–the very transformation that a caterpillar goes through to become a beautiful butterfly.

    God is calling us to morph/change/transform. And the beautiful creation that we’ll become has nothing to do with a clothing size or number on the scale.

    The beautiful creation that you are becoming is someone who has been radically, thoroughly, and universally changed–both outward and inward.

    I have this dream–maybe a vision–of hundreds of thousands of women who love Jesus walking in this transformation–no longer bound by low self-esteem, out-of-control appetites, or the futile search for the “perfect” diet.

    I have this dream of a mighty force of women who are so transformed spiritually because of this limp–this wound–this thorn in the flesh–that they present their bodies as a living sacrifice for God to use to transform the world!

    No longer are they driven by conforming to the world’s pattern but they are so radically transformed from the inside out that they storm the gates of hell!

    I have this dream that women in the world who yearn for freedom and transformation will come to faith in Jesus when they realize that it is only Jesus and the truth of God’s Word that can truly set us free.

    Won’t you dream with me?

  • Does God’s Plan Really Work?

    Does God’s Plan Really Work?

    Does God’s plan really work? I’ve asked myself that many times. And I’ve wondered if I’m some kind of poser if it doesn’t.

    Weight loss is slow going with God’s plan. But peace is present every day.

    Let me say that again: Weight loss is slo-o-o-o-o-o-w going.

    And I wonder: God am I doing the right thing?

    The answer to the question: Does God’s plan really work? is a resounding YES!

    How do I know? Because it was working while I worked it and when I stopped working it, it stopped working. (Say that three times!)

    Ya, that’s right:

    It was working while I worked it,

    and when I stopped working it,

    it stopped working!

    I’ve been unfocused and unfaithful. And I’m not talking just a weekend of a few cheats. I’m talking weeks…months…of breaking almost all 11 of the steps to freedom from dieting addiction. And the result: I’ve gained 8 pounds! That’s 8 pounds, ladies and gentlemen!

    Here I go spiraling down…

    So what happens when I backslide? Do I run back to my loving Father’s arms in repentance and pursue His plan again?

    Well…ahem…no.

    I spiral into a quick hunt for a “better” plan. The names of the diets change but the entire world system doesn’t. The enemy’s plan is to still distract me and bind me up with the “law” and with empty promises that the world can set me free…the only One who can truly set me free is Jesus!

    I know diets will never work, but I even considered paying almost $500 for a 21-day detox plan.

    Stop the insanity! And just return! I hear God whisper.

    So…here I am crawling back…uncomfortably heavier and desperate before God.

    As God intercepted my downward spiral, I saw this tweet from @ChristineCaine:

    When you digress

    it’s only a matter of time until you start to regress

    and nullify all your progress.

    Stay focused.

    Yup! I digressed, then regressed and nullified–not all, but a lot of –my progress.

    Thank God that He is a merciful God!

    “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling.” Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)

    I am willing! And right now it’s all I have to give to my faithful God–I am willing!

    I will not turn to the idols of this world!

    I will not fall back into old patterns!

    I will not bow down to the scale!

    I am willing God to follow you step by step, day by day, meal by meal.

    Right now…that’s all I’ve got!

    If you’re reading this, I’d appreciate your prayers. And I’d like to hear about your journey and how I can pray for you! Let’s pursue God in this battle together!

  • What’s Your Why for Your How?

    What’s Your Why for Your How?

    Why do you want to be free of diet addiction and the yo-yo of dieting ups and downs? Your “why” will drive you and sustain you–if you choose carefully.

    Is it for a smaller size? A certain weight? An upcoming event you’re trying to get in shape for?

    Sadly, these goals will never sustain us. Let’s be honest, they’re just not enough motivation when we’re facing that big bowl of creamy fetuccine alfredo or that gooey warm chocolate cake drizzled with raspberry sauce. (Yeah, I’m on vacation right now and surrounded by amazing restaurants!)

    So what’s the why that will enable us to do the how? (This is kind of like the “who’s on first base” bit, isn’t it?)

    Jesus makes it clear what his purpose was in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.”

    What is the work that God has called you to? When you’re finally free, who are the people in your life who are in bondage to the same issues who desperately need freedom? Jesus came to set the captives free. When you are free, God will use you to set others free! That’s exciting, isn’t it?

    “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14

    We are a people who are to be “zealous for good deeds”–not weight loss, not diets, not even fitness.

    Only those who are truly free can lead others to freedom.

    Our why must be gospel-centric–not me-centric. As we pursue the good of our brothers and sisters–and those who aren’t in the family of believers yet–we will be propelled to make lasting choices.

    Let’s pursue the freedom that comes through obedience today–and every day!