Surrender

 Hebrews 2:18

"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

I have not blogged in a few days b/c of busy-ness and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan absolutely broke my heart and I am just heartbroken about what is happening there.  I have loved ones there and thankfully, they are safe, but it breaks my heart for those that are not safe and for those who have lost their loved ones and have lost everything.  My prayers are with them all.

God impressed upon me to give up my two favorite food idols:  bread (including crackers, chips, etc.) and sugar starting last Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) and ending on Easter.  I think I accidentally said Good Friday in a previous blog, but I meant Easter.  Anyway, since last Wednesday (6 days), I have already lost 4 pounds.  It was just the encouragement I needed and I felt God reveal to me that me surrendering this part of my life instead of white-knuckling it, so to speak, is all the difference in the world.  I have not even attempted to exercise yet and I have never in my life lost weight without exercising.

I have not cheated at all, but I did have 2 grace moments the last few days.  One, was when I ordered a side salad, I forgot to ask them to take off the crutons and I was about to pick them all out when I felt the LORD smiling down on me and I felt as if I was supposed to eat them.  I thought that since He is twisting my arm, so to speak, I would eat them...so I did and had absolutely no guilt!   Today at a restaurant I ordered a salad and it had tortilla chips on them....I misread the menu.  But they were very few and I picked out what I could, but they were like crumpled in there so I had a few of those.  But I did not eat the chips and salsa and I live in Texas and could eat chips and salsa every meal.....it is one of my all-time faves!

I am just amazed at how by merely surrendering and doing what God wants instead of me trying to do this or that, I have been able to do this.  And I am not being a slave to food either way, whether it be by me obsessing and lusting over food or obsessing and denying myself and failing.  I have been very tempted at times and the LORD has been so gracious to me.

I had some ugly moments on Friday and Saturday (my favorite food days of the week) and my husband showed me such grace b/c I was taking out all my frustrations and stress on him....and I wanted some chocolate, but knew I couldn't have it!  God gave me this verse in my reading after my ugly display:

Psalm 32:1

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered."

 

Thank you, LORD, that I am forgiven and this is not up to me.