Starting Point

Yes, if you are reading this, you have arrived at my starting point. Every journey has one. Some journeys have several. I could say that my particular journey has had several starting points but I've decided that, because I am approaching this with a new heart, this is my fresh, new, clean, very, very beginning, starting point.

We are all born into sin and we all are given a new starting point when we enter our lives, reborn, as followers of Christ. Being a follower of Jesus does not mean that we do not fail. It does not mean that we will never again fall into the trap of sin. It simply means that we have been redeemed. We have been forgiven and we are called to a new way of life. Christ has a plan for your life. He has a plan for my life. He has had great plans for us since before we were even formed in our mother's womb. (scripture)

If you are a believer but you struggle with food issues, it may be a sign that you are deep in the sin of gluttony. It is a huge part of our culture (here in the United States) to eat with abandon. Gorging ourselves on food is a sin that, really, is very out in the open and is not really spoken about in the church very often. I was really very unaware of how wrong my eating habits were until I discovered an online course called The Lord's Table at the website Setting Captives Free. What I realized was that my behavior was, in fact, sinful and not honoring to my Savior. I had to come to the harsh reality that I was living a sinful lifestyle and that I was displeasing Jesus nearly all day long with my eating. That was a hard pill to swallow and I knew that I needed to ask forgiveness and make changes right away.

It was one and a half years ago that I came to Setting Captives Free. I got halfway through the 60 day Lord's Table course and decided that I needed to start over due to some issues I was still struggling with. I nearly got halfway through the course a second time and, again, really began to struggle. The problem is that the second time I gave up. I was tired and I was angry and I felt overwhelmed. Overcoming an addiction is so difficult. Even with Jesus on our side it can be so hard and it can be so tempting to just give up. So that's what I did. I think a big part of what caused me to give up was losing my accountability partner. My very dear friend and I were doing the course together and we had also been on a journey of weight loss together for over a year. Then she got pregnant.

Being pregnant is no time to be dieting, of course, and so she had to put her efforts on hold. Rather than continue on my own, still leaning on her for support (which I know she would have gladly provided), I simply gave up. I used it as an excuse. Now, here I sit, all 45 lbs that I lost back on my body and I have felt sorry for myself and blamed so many outside factors when, the reality is, it is my responsibility.

So, here I am today with a new starting point. You see, I felt like I had a bit of a God moment this morning in church. Basically what happened is this: Today, while I was in church, I felt led by the Lord to start again. The speaker today (comedian Bob Smiley) gave an admonition to use what God has given us and where he has us at this moment in our lives for his glory. I thought to myself 'what do I have going on right now, where can God use me?' I was really stumped... for about a second, and then my weight came to my mind. I realized that he was calling me to lose the weight for his kingdom. That this could be a huge part of my testimony.

I really felt like he was speaking to me. I felt him telling me that there was a reason for my weight. That it was all a part of his plan for me. I knew he was showing me that I could change and become a new creation and that he was going to use me in a way that I can't even imagine right now. That he was going to use my testimony to change lives. I mean, I can't even explain how certainly I felt this. It was like he spoke it into truth and I just knew that it was his plan for my life.

So, here I am, at the starting point and I am ready to run this race because I know that he will bring me through to the other side where he will be waiting with a big smile and open arms and telling me "I told you I would get you here." I hope to see you there, too. :)

Starting out,
Forever Changed <3

My before photo will be posted tomorrow.