Today, I’m going to review the “I’m taking steps to change” stage and what it means.
This is a great place to be! You made a plan and are walking in that plan.
What is the trait needed most at this stage? Patience.
Here is why.
Remember, your ultimate goal is to build a healthy lifestyle that you can live with. It will likely require that you try different methods until you find the one that fits the way you live.
It requires that you give yourself enough time to work your plan to determine if it is going to work for you long-term.
And if it is not working, then you patiently cycle back and forth between “making plans” and “taking steps” until you find the customization that fits you.
This is normal part of the change process.
Even when you are at the top level of the Change ladder, you may still need to roll back to the “making plans for change” stage temporarily on some aspect of your lifestyle.
For example, when I started this journey, I used to work out 5 days a week for 45 minutes to 1 hour. It worked well for me for years.
However, a few years ago I entered a new stage in my life: I got married. I gained new obligations in my work and ministry too.
What worked well for me before no longer did, so I needed to remodel my lifestyle in the exercise arena and make a new plan there.
I discovered a DVD series in which you exercise just 3 days a week, 20 minutes a session – but you work HARD during those 20 minutes.
I decided to take steps to implement it. It works very well for me and now it’s a part of my life.
I can take care of myself and still have time for everything else I need to do.
Another big issue in the “I’m taking steps to change” stage is how you handle setbacks.
There is a big difference in saying “I made a mistake” to “I AM a mistake.”
Don’t take a temporary failure in following through (which is an event) and turn it into condemnation of who you are!
Learn to see failures for what they are: Learning experiences. All a failure tells you is that your plan didn’t work for you at that point in time.
So it’s just a signal that you need to adjust your approach until you find a solution that works for you consistently.
However, I see many people who adopt a “Woe is me, I’m a failure!” attitude. They use that failure as an excuse to abandon their efforts completely.
Next thing you know, they’ve fallen down the ladder to the “I don’t think I can change” stage. There, they have a full-fledged pity party.
Seriously, why would you use that temporary event to beat yourself up, causing a permanent scar on your character? That is exactly what the enemy wants.
He wants you so focused on yourself that you forget about the victory you have in Jesus.
Consider these words from my pastor: “Failure is an event; it’s not a person.”
Also consider this wisdom from King David to his son, Solomon on building the Temple in 1 CHRONICLES 28:20:
Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
Today, our bodies are the temples, the house of the Lord. Taking care of them is part of our reasonable service and that responsibility does not end until we leave our bodies behind to go on to our heavenly homes.
So commit to this good work – and see it through to the end.
Remember, it takes faith AND patience to inherit the promises (see Hebrews 6:12). Don’t let impatience ruin your good efforts.
Keep pressing on with those steps until your change comes! You’re just a heartbeat away from the top.
Be Blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author of the Take Back Your Temple program
love the attitude. You can do it. I can do it. We can do it together. Love this program
Wonderful!
This article is so encouraging! I’ve been making small changes for a few months and they’re beginning to add up to something big. One area I need to work on is being kind to myself when I stumble. The TBYT Community has been a big help in this area.
Glad to hear that, Lee! Small steps do add up to big things!
when you talk about finding what works for you, are you saying even tracking your food is an a-ok thing.
In some God help programs for food addiction. I have inquired about it, and it was as if you need to only follow your Hunger and fullness signals. and I do agree this is what God has given us, But I was doing very well-staying focused when I tracked My intake… I was asking God for His help and this is where I came I had come here a long time ago but was looking all over for the easiest way , Nothing is easy. But I do believe all things are possible with God! any input will be greatly accepted thank you…
Hi Kristiana – the key is to follow as the Lord leads you because each of us is different. I use the app to track because it helps me to plan meals in advance and stay focused. Others might use hunger/fullness signals. Use whatever method works for you because the end goal is to finish well in the Lord, using tools that help us stay focused and in health. I hope that helps!
ThankYou, for your inspiring words of the Father, Change is not an easy thing, but it is possible with Him… you are the second person that has spoken of change, a prosses and also not using it as a pitty party opportunity, to turn back to our destructive behaviors … I have been battling this for about a week or two going back and forth knowing I have to continue to surrender DAILY in order to stay focused… Jesus is the way, truth and life. He makes the way to get to the Father… He will make the way thru every trial and Help us clean up our temples. With each victory and Failure, there is life if we seek Him for it. we will find Peace in his LOVE. Kristi
Amen, Kristian – so very true what you wrote! It is a day-by-day process, but the Lord walks with us each day to give us strength what we cannot do on our own. May the Lord bless you as you walk out your healing day by day, step-by-step with the Lord’s help.
I am taking steps to change starting with joining this program. Kimberly, you really blessed me when you said that you have a workout video that you do 3x a week. It is time for me to pull out the workout videos, I have several believe it or not, but wasn’t using them. Thank you for encouraging me today, and seeing my body totally different, as God’s Temple; that makes me want to take care of it because it belongs to God. WOW! this is powerful!
Wonderful! Yes, enjoy those workout videos – even a few minutes will make a difference in how you feel. May you embrace this process and walk it out day to day with the Lord’s help!
Love your comments. I can only go for a short walk on days it is not raining or too cold. It is in my mind and God will be there to remind me with a gentle nudge to get me going. I am going on 82 and wished I had taken better care of my body, God’s temple
Even though I’ve been at this stage before and did not persevere, I am ready to start again, committing my journey to God and seeking His wisdom and strength. My biggest prayer is that God will reprogram my mindset to desiring to live a healthy lifestyle, not just achieving a temporary victory over eating. Only with God’s help can this be accomplished. I will lean into Him and be obedient to take back my temple, to bring glory to Him!
Hi Sara – may the Lord bless you on this journey. It’s so much easier to just continue rather than stopping and starting.
Hello. I’m so excited about this course. I believe it will work for me.
Welcome, Evelyn – you’ve taken a good first step to change through joining TBYT! May the Lord bless you on this journey. It is worth taking!
One of the things that I have been doing during the pandemic is wrapping my mind around the concept of change. How when things change, I am often three or four steps behind because I am brooding or unwilling to accept things as they really are. This would often lead to bingeing and feeling sorry for myself. It’s a very debilitating cycle that has hindered me for the majority of my life. NO MORE! I am not a failure. I will learn from my mistakes. Adjust. Keep moving forward.
Thank you Kim!
You are welcome, Stephanie – let’s praise God together for the changes taking place in you and the good work He has started and will complete!
I am taking steps to change. I have made a plan for the month of June in what I will and will not eat and also the times when I will eat. I don’t feel that I am ready to hardcore exercise but I will do my best to get in 15 minutes of movement 4-5 times a week. Also, I will be doing a session of TBYT on a daily basis and this really helps me think properly.
That sounds like a good plan, Sherice. Small steps each day add up to big results 🙂
So glad to be here, I keep hearing this word over and over and I am ready to break the cycle of building and tearing down. The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives],
But the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles] Praying and believing to gain the wisdom and understanding to build on a solid foundation of godly precepts and committing to this good work of building the temple. Taking back what the enemy stole. God Bless
Happy to have you on the journey with us, Amy – thank you for sharing this life-giving word with us!
This puts things in perspective and causes me to recognize my impatience and calm down. I can live this life with patience.
Glad to hear that, Sharon! Patience really does pay off 🙂
Well, the gyms are closed due to Covid and I do not see them opening up soon. I do workout by taking my dogs on brisk walks in the neighborhood, trails and paths. May the Lord bless everyone’s efforts to take car of their temples.
That is awesome, Kolyn! One of my favorite quotes is from Teddy Roosevelt, the late president: ”Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” May the Lord bless you as you take care of His temple!
I’m a brand new member and have just started THIS part of my journey- feeling SO blessed to be here. About 2 years ago I lost 40 lbs and have kept it off but I have been in a holding pattern. (I still have another 50 pounds to lose). I was content though until recently. I have been dealing with letting an employee go over misconduct. She is someone I care about, a single mom with a couple kids and it is right before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately her behavior has left me in this sickening position. I found myself eating like a crazy person. Drive through fast food. Eating one dinner, forgetting I had eaten it and eating another – all junk. Followed by donuts. (I DON”T EVEN LIKE DONUTS). ar One night I ate an entire family size bag of chips. (I don’t even keep chips in my house). Just complete crazy binge eating, stress eating. I know I am gaining weight. I can see and feel the change. I have been afraid to step on the scale because I know I will be depressed. Anyway, a couple nights as I went to bed I whispered a prayer as I feel asleep: Lord, what am I doing to myself. Lord PLEASE show me what to do. PLEASE help me. I KNOW how to eat to lose weight – I need protein, no sugar and no processed carbs – they are like poison to me. But this hasn’t been about what I am eating. It is about WHY and the fact that I couldn’t get control of it. I knew there had to be a spiritual component. Anyway, in the morning, before my eyes were even open I kept hearing You are my Temple. I thought as a priest how I might take care of God’s temple. When I woke up I went to the internet and googled Christian weight loss and found some programs – then I saw this one. Take Back Your Temple. I listened to your audio devotional sample and I just knew this is it. SO excited to be following the Father’s led. So excited to find a program build on prayer and scripture. What a blessing already. Thank you for this ministry.
I’m feeling so absolutely positively defeated. I have been doing so much better… (not good but better) and the scale does not change. This message today is very helpful because I was feeling like a mistake. I’m going to try something different. Something that fits into my life.
Hi Deloris – This journey is about progress, not perfection. The scale cannot be your only measure of progress because unless you are using a scale that helps measure your fat percentage, it is a poor indicator of fat loss, which is what you really want. Are your clothes fitting better? Do you feel stronger and more energetic? These are all signs that you are moving in the right direction.
Here is an article I recommend you take a look at for encouragement also: https://takebackyourtemple.com/restoring-gods-temple/. Stay blessed, Sister!
been in the process of change, sugar isn’t a problem anymore and I give credit to the challenges. I still am struggling with mindless eating (popcorn), I am trying to figure out why.
Hi Susan – Would you say this mindless eating is enough to determine that this particular brand popcorn is hijacking your brain?
When you have it, do you have individual serving sizes or do you have it as a big bowl? The reason I asked is that with the latter, it’s too easy to fall into a food pit. Check this out for what I mean: https://takebackyourtemple.com/weight-loss-mistake-1-falling-food-pits/
Hi Dawn – I am so glad that you have joined us! While calories are important, the main thing is to focus on nourishment…eating food the way God made it and then whether you are eating the right amounts. You’ll learn more in the TBYT materials. Stay tuned!
Thank you for all of your wonderful council. Today this message really hit home. I will keep praying that I get it right.
As Nehemiah says… “I’m doing a great work and I can’t come down”.
God’s Girl~Jeanice
Thank you Kim for helping so many people to lose weight and get healthy! I am finally at the “I’m taking steps to change” state. My goal is to release 20 lbs. and workout at the gym 1-2 times/week, in addition to exercising at home. I know that God is on my side and it’s nice to have people who are also on the same journey to encourage me!!!
I believe I am at the make plans to change state. After school let out this year myself and a co-worker went to Planet Fitness and joined. I met with a trainer yesterday so I plan to work out 3 days a week since these are small steps. I am one who is afraid of failure and was already thinking “Get my heart rate up to 147? Is he crazy?” It’s going to be a challenge for me but I know I have GOT to stop the madness of overeating and my body is showing signs of aging as I approach 50. I want to be as fit as my 87 year old dad who can still clean his house, cut grass and fix things that need to be fixed.