Entitled? Or Robbing God?

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend last week.

She told me that her daughter has been after her to start taking better care of herself. However, my friend said she feels like she has reached an age where she is entitled to eat what she wants.

Now, what makes this conversation extremely interesting is that this friend is one of the MARI Method’s biggest prayer partners, and she routinely prays for the success of this program and for our members!

When I heard this, a scripture immediately popped into my mind:

“You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.”
~1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Now… since this was coming from a strong woman of God, I felt like I could be pretty bold in my response back to her. So I asked “Are you ‘entitled’ to trash the temple of the Holy Spirit?”

And, knowing she has a new grand baby, I also asked “Are you ‘entitled” to rob your new grand child of a vibrant, healthy grandma? ”

You see, when we stop taking care of ourselves, we bring poor health upon ourselves. And, in effect, we are robbing God!

God gives us guidelines about eating for a reason. He loves us, and wants what’s best for us. He has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of us!

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart.”
~Jeremiah 1:5

When we’re disobedient to God’s instructions, that leaves the door wide-open for the enemy to attack us with disease and illness.

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
~Proverbs 13:3

And, this friend of mine, while she is not what you’d consider obese, is storing excess weight in her danger zone – around the middle. When you store excess weight around the middle, medical science has shown that you greatly increase your chances for diabetes and heart disease.

Which is probably why her daughter is concerned for her health! She wants her mom around to be around, and healthy, for a long, long time.

Purpose and a Plan

What about you? Did you realize that God has a purpose and a plan for your life?

You may be called to preach. To teach.

…To build homes for the needy or those devastated by natural disaster.

…To be a doctor or nurse.

…To love and mentor children, grand children, nieces, nephews. Or other adults

To be most effective at any of these things requires a healthy body and a clear mind.

Whatever God’s plan for your life, there are a few things that I can confidently state are NOT God’s plans for your life:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Crohns
• Lupus
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Bi-polar Disorders
• Headaches and lack of mental clarity
• Cancer
• …the list goes on and on!

Yes, even to some extent cancer! While all cancer may not be directly caused by what we feed our bodies, it is a medically known fact that all cancers feed on sugar!

No Condemnation!

The purpose of this article is not to bring condemnation – especially if you are suffering from one of the diseases mentioned above.

Instead, it’s meant as a wake-up call.

Actually, it’s quite possible you got where you are right now because you did not KNOW how to eat correctly. You were never taught about good nutrition. You were not brought up eating real foods.

And, In our society’s attempts to make everything quick and easy, we’ve destroyed the foods that God created for us to eat!

In the name of convenience, we are eating foods filled with chemicals. We’ve removed natural, God created fats, and replaced them with high-fructose corn syrup just to make the food palatable.

We’ve bleached and then “fortified” to replace what we bleached out!

We’ve filled our meats and diary products with hormones.

We’ve boiled the life out of vegetables. We’ve breaded and fried everything else.

And, worst of all, we’ve conditioned ourselves to prefer this JUNK because that’s what we were raised on. In fact… we now feel we’re “entitled” to eat this stuff, and if we don’t, we somehow think we’re depriving ourselves!

So, is it any wonder so many people are sick, lack energy and are just plain unhealthy??

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”
~Hosea 4:6

But, now, hopefully, your eyes have been opened a bit.

So, once again I’ll ask… What about you?

Is your lack of discipline in the area of food and exercise keeping you from being everything God wants you to be? Is your lack of discipline in the area of food and exercise inviting sickness and ill-health into the temple of the Holy Spirit?

If so, starting right now, resolve to develop a healthy relationship with food.

Now, I’m not advocating that you become some kind of monk, depriving yourself of all pleasure in the area of food!

In most cases, unless you’re already battling a serious illness, it’s OK to splurge occasionally.

But your primary foods should be REAL foods… the kind that God created for you. Foods that properly fuel your body. Foods that, once you wean yourself off junk, actually taste really good!

When you make unhealthy choices on a daily basis, you are not honoring the gift given to you by your Creator.

So, next time you are tempted to disrespect your body with junk or by reaching for that extra serving, remember:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
~1 Corinthians 10:31

 

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.”
~1 Corinthians 9:27

And, best of all…remember that you’re not alone!

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
~Philippians 2:13

Don’t Know Where to Start

You can do this!

If you’ve decided you want to get fit and healthy… but you don’t know where to start… get some help.

 
The MARI Method is a Christ-centered program designed to teach you what you need to know to lose weight and get healthy. And, we help you change your thoughts and attitudes about food and exercise. That way, you can experience permanent weight loss without feeling deprived.

Don’t let your lack of knowledge keep you from completely fulfilling God’s plans for your life.

What Do You Think?

Agree? Think I’m nuts?
“Like” and Leave comments below!

Tagged as: christian weight loss, linkedin, lose weight to be healthy, Permanent Weight Loss | How to Lose Weight and Keep it Off