"What lessons about supernatural provision apply to emotional eating and weight loss so that you don't block your blessings?"
I asked the Lord about this in prayer after a women's Bible study meeting on Mark 6:10-44. Later on that day, He answered me.
If you are believing God for a health blessing on your weight loss journey, here are 4 things to check to ensure that you don't block your blessing.
4 Questions to Prevent Blocking your Blessings
Ask yourself these four questions to ensure that you don't block your blessing.
1. Are you acknowledging God as your source?
When we got to the story of how Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:30-44), intrigue gripped me.
Are you relying on God to supply wisdom and strength daily to do the right thing?
Or are you relying on your own willpower?
If the latter, you are looking in the wrong place.
Willpower runs out eventually and your flesh gets weary.
But God's strength never runs out!
2 Corinthians 4:7 says,
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
It is frustrating and discouraging when we focus on our own weaknesses, limitations, and shortcomings.
That is focus on the clay outside, the flesh.
However, it is encouraging and strengthening when we set our hearts on God's strength, wisdom, and sufficiency daily.
We are thankful for the POWER at work inside us. We focus on the treasure within.
That is why it is wise for you to start each day in prayer.
We humbly ask God for His wisdom to make wise choices and the strength to carry them out that day.
Try speaking this confession: ''Lord, I thank You for the good work that You have started in me and Your power at work in me.''
Say it again. God is committed to His work within you.
He never gives up on you. Never give up on yourself.
Focus on God's good work in you.
2. Are you blessing the transformation process or cursing it?
Many years ago, I watched a reality show called ‘Bulging Brides,’ which featured women working to get in shape for their weddings.
The show supplied each of them with a fitness trainer and a nutritionist to help.
However, instead of embracing the process to change their bodies every day, the women complained about it constantly.
- They complained about the food the nutritionist asked them to eat.
- They complained about the exercise the fitness trainer asked them to do.
These women were cursing their efforts!
While they did lose weight in time for their weddings, their curses would likely make them gain it back afterward.
Why? Because the same eating and exercise pattern that helped them lose weight would be similar to what they needed to maintain it!
So why curse it?
Don't do what they did.
Speak words of encouragement to yourself every time you eat healthily and exercise.
Remind yourself that every small step you take in the right direction is making a difference.
Recognize that it will take time to re-wire your brain to think differently.
Know that blessing your daily effort will not only help you get the results you want but ensure you keep them.
3. Do you have doubtful habits that need breaking?
Consider the warning in James 4:17:
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
If you are maintaining a thought pattern or habit that you know is not good, then that is a doubtful habit.
To run your race in the Lord well, doubtful habits must be broken.
Why? Because they cost too much to keep them. They cost you peace and freedom.
The first place to break the doubtful habit is in your heart.
As long as your heart believes that you need that habit to get you through the day, it will remain.
You need a new belief.
Ask God to change your heart as you renounce your connection to the doubtful habit.
Express your desire to keep it out of your life in obedience to Him.
He will show you the provision you have made for the doubtful habit, how to remove that provision, and how to move forward without the habit.
But understand that every change comes with a period of adjustment.
Be willing to go through that period of adjustment as you learn a better way to get through the day.
You will learn to walk in faith and enjoy each day more as you leave doubtful habits behind!
4. Is your transformation in service to Kingdom business?
While looking good is nice, I believe God will bless your weight loss efforts when your primary reason is about kingdom business.
Here are some examples of kingdom reasons to lose weight:
- Being a good example for your family
- An energetic mate for your spouse
- Serving as a positive role model for a struggling friend
- Having vitality to use your Spiritual gifts to benefit the body of Christ
- Being able to go where the Lord sends you without excess weight standing in the way
Use 12-year old Jesus' words as your guide. Luke 2:49 records them:
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Think about how you are moving through your day now:
- Do you conduct your daily affairs with kingdom business in mind?
- Or are you instead focused on worldly matters, entertainment or habits that indulge your flesh?
If the latter, then it's time to shift priorities.
In the end, what matters most in life are the things relevant to your Father's business.
If you look at your weight loss effort as a means to help yourself better conduct kingdom business, you will add a whole other dimension to it.
To receive the fullness of God's blessing on your weight loss journey, ensure that you apply the previous 4 principles.
Not only will you find the process easier, but more enjoyable!