First Signs Of Progress
Time for today’s weigh-in. Drumroll, please….
From last week, that’s a weight loss of 2.6 lbs. The crazy part is that I was still at 307.4 on Sunday morning. In trying to figure out what made the difference, I can only place my finger on one thing: prayer.
Thankfully most of the people who read my blog are Christians and understand that. In the event that there is someone who doesn’t, maybe they’ll call this a “post-hoc fallacy“. Not to anger you, but that seems like a really nice way to explain away faith. The problem is for those of us that believe in the power of prayer, you can’t convince us that after trying everything else with no results that prayer did not cause the results. Could I have done it without prayer? Maybe. But I’ve tried before and failed every time.
I won’t rehash my last post, but you can consider this one an extension of it. Glory to God, all this week I’ve been able to:
- maintain a reverent prayer posture and attitude
- get up early and exercise (even if I complain about it at first)
- be unnaturally diligent in healthy, responsible eating habits
- continue doing a Bible study on disciplined eating (and actually benefiting from it) that I’d prefer stopping
Three days might not seem like much, but trust me it feels like a lot. Especially because I’m finally denying my habitual, emotional, “normal” cravings and replacing them with more healthy and even spiritual practices that will change my life. The only thing that causes me consternation is that my stomach feels empty almost all the time, and I don’t like how that feels, so if this is the lifestyle change I want, will I feel this all the time? My suspicion is that no, once my stomach shrinks to an appropriate size and my body gets used to only getting the food it needs and not everything it thinks it wants, it will slow its roll and be happy with what I give it.
Thanks for your prayers. Don’t stop now! Within two weeks I hope to be below 300 again.
-j
Prayer for the Elder Meeting
Calling all members of the ACC! The time is coming upon us for the National Elder Meeting for the Eastern conference. As usual, there’s a prayer and fasting schedule if you’d like to participate. Tom and Lilly Shurance organize it every meeting. From their email:
If you would like to sign up for a 1/2 hour prayer slot, you can do so by e-mailing us at TOMANDLILLY@WADSNET.COM. When you e-mail us, we will reply to your e-mail to confirm your time. (If you do not receive a reply e-mail from us, please e-mail us again!) If you are in a different time zone, please designate which time zone you are referring to.
We will be displaying the names of those who have committed to pray at the following website: http://www.xanga.com/tomandlilly
All of us have concerns about our churches. The Bible tells us there is much power in prayer (Matthew 21:22) and especially in corporate prayer (Matthew 18:19-20). We encourage you to get together in groups to pray for the future of our church. Also consider fasting during part of this time as a way of expressing that you are serious about these issues. We will not be telling anyone how to pray or what to pray for. Ask the Lord to examine your own heart and to direct you in this endeavor. Search the scripture for what it says about prayer and fasting and put that into practice. Those who have participated in this event in the past have been truly blessed as they spent time interceding for the church and its leadership. Remember, prayer is a discipline and a sacrifice. Your church is worth your time and effort!
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.
What are you waiting for? Sign up!
-j