christineyountjones.com

Category: Diets and Weight Loss

  • Power for One Day at a Time

    Power for One Day at a Time

    “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:16-21

    I love this prayer Paul prayed. I pray for us that we would have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation–teach us, God.

    That we would know Him better–draw us, God.

    That the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so we know the hope He has called us to–guide us, God.

    That we would experience His incomparable great power–fill us, God.

    I need God’s power in this lifetime battle with indulgence–eating when I’m not hungry. Gluttony. Looking to food to meet my heart’s needs–instead of God.

    Just for today…I need God’s power. That’s all I need to focus on.

    A lifetime is made up of days. Daily choices that form me into who I am.

    Today I am the sum of all my yesterdays.

    Tomorrow I will be what I choose today.

    The Bible says not to think about tomorrow. Today is all I have.

    Who I will be tomorrow, three months from now, a year, 10 years…is rooted in the choices, attitudes, actions, habits, work I do TODAY!

    Today meme

    Today is all I have.

    And today I need God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead.

    I cannot do it by myself. I need God’s power to live victoriously one day at a time.

    Daily choices matter.

    “Do not be deceived. You do reap what you sow.” Galatians 6:7

  • Just Say YES

    Just Say YES

    This journey is a spiritual journey–filled with wisdom from God and learning to walk closer to Him.

    But there are times that I need practical physical steps. It’s one thing to pray about mindful eating, but it’s another to live it out.

    I’ve asked God How do I maintain focus?

    And I sensed God asking me, “How do you focus on anything?”

    At first, I thought I focused on nothing, but then thought of when I’m focusing on food. What do I do?

    I pay attention to the urge.
    I think about it.
    I plan for it.
    I act on it.

    These are the four steps of focus! And I need to apply them to my hunger.

    In God’s goodness, here’s an acrostic (that when I stop to remember it, helps me say NOPE to eating.)

    Notice the urge.
    Observe.
    Plan.
    Engage.

    If we use this when we crave but aren’t hungry, we’ll be more mindful.

    Here’s how it works. I’m watching a TV show and I think “Nutella.” (the urge) Then I think, “We have Nutella.” (0bserve) I think, “I could go get some and eat it with a spoon.” (plan) I get up and go get the Nutella and eat it–even though I’m not really hungry. (engage)

    Instead, I could’ve said NOPE! and focused on something else.

    Here’s what to do instead–just say YES!

    Yield to hunger–only.
    Extol God.
    Savor.

    When I say YES, I wait until I’m genuinely experiencing hunger (and truthfully, food tastes better then). I stop to extol or praise God who gives us all good things. And then I eat slowly and savor each bite.

    In fact, the eating, tasting, savoring can become an act of worship as we continue to extol and praise God for the wonderful things He has made, for the freedom He has given us, for His Spirit who bears the fruit of self-control in us.

    Say YES to God today!

    “God gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.” Psalm 146:7

    Praise God!

  • A Prayer for Mindful Eating

    A Prayer for Mindful Eating

    “The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

    God, I praise You because You never give up on me. A thousand million times I fall, I cheat, I indulge…and You love me and pick me up again.

    “The Lord is kind in all His deeds.” Psalm 145:17

    Praise You!

    “The eyes of all look to You.” Psalm 145:15

    This is mindful eating. Every day–all day long–I have the opportunity to look to You for my food. To wait. To trust. To honor You with my choices and in how I eat.

    Do I eat with a mindful heart of praise and gratitude? Do I stop to give thanks to the God who gives me my food? Do I honor You with temperance?

    “And You give them their food in due time.” Psalm 145:15

    Waiting on You for hunger. That is the due time. My body is due food–because it’s growling. Wait for God!

    “You open Your hand.” Psalm 145:16

    I’ve never thought about Your hand being closed. But it’s not open all the time. It is Your grace that opens Your hand. Your kindness.

    “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” Psalm 145:17

    What if the “growl” lets me know that Your hand is open to…

    “And satisfy the desire of every living thing…” Psalm 145:16

    What if with every bite I thanked You for satisfying my desire?

    Would this kind of mindful eating before You lead to You satisfying my desire for my body to be lean and healthy?