Honoring God

^"19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

When I went on my "diet" and lost the first 25 lbs. I did it for health reasons. I stopped losing for about a month and then started the "Body by God" program through our church. It was there that I learned that God created our bodies to do specific tasks and eat specific foods. Unfortunately, I wasn't doing much of either the tasks or eating the right foods. While I had made some healthy choices relating to food, I still didn't exercise much. Changing what I ate and when made all the difference in the world. The next 15 lbs just dropped off and I was at a size in clothing I didn't think I'd ever be back to. That was the bonus of trying to be healthy. For once, I was taking care of ME!

November 2008 changed all that. Taking care of me was put back at the bottom of the list of things to do. Taking care of Mom became my new priority. And, I still had my own family to attend to as well. Looking back, I wish I had realized that it would have been possible to continue taking care of me in the midst of all the stress and chaos. But, it all happened so fast and thinking ahead about anything just didn't happen. So, I ate what was available. Unfortunately, most of it was processed food that I hadn't eaten in almost a year. And, so the pounds piled back on...about 15 or so. I haven't checked in a while but I'm afriad the "or so" is adding up...yikes!

It is time now to make the healthy choices and for some reason it's not as easy as it was the first time. Until today. I realized this last weekend that the reason I was feeling so tired and had headaches was because I was not honoring this temple that God had given me. God wants us to feel good. He wants us to feel beautiful. He created us. Why would he create anything that isn't beautiful and good? Yes, there are snakes and bugs and wild critters that may harm us and that we may argue are far from beautiful, but to God, yes, they are beautiful.

So, I vow today to God and myself to take care of this temple he created so that I may continue to love Him and others as he has commanded. Because when I'm tired and have a headache, I'm not very loving to anyone.

Lord, thank you for this body you have given to me. Help me to make the healthy choices needed to maintain it and live according to your will. I pray that those around me will feel the love that you have commanded me to share. I pray that I will teach my children to do the same, to go out and serve in your name!
I praise you for who you are in Jesus' name.
Amen

I'm off to eat an apple for lunch and do my exercise video (already walked 1/2 mile)!
Day 1 of a new me!!