You are logged in to the blog of Susie Larson, and it is my privilege to be her guest today! My name is Mary Englund Murphy, and I am a speaker and writer with Looking Glass Ministries.
I hope you all had a great day celebrating the birth of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, are you ready for the New Year? Are you already starting to make your resolutions? For years, my resolutions always included something about losing weight. I thought I could do it by sheer determination, but my resolve never lasted till the end of January.
Losing weight for me has been a life-long war, and I finally realized I needed to face it as a war. I needed a battle plan and I needed to prepare myself for war just like a soldier. I’d like to share with you some excerpts from my book Winning the Battle of the Bulge: It's Not Just About the Weight that may help you with your dieting resolution, or for that matter, any resolution you may be making next week.
2 Timothy 2:1-5 – “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. “
As you read those verses, reflect on the differences between a soldier and a dieter.
Ø Dieters depend on their own strength and wisdom.
Soldiers develop strength and depend on the wisdom of their superiors.
Ø Dieters want all the answers and demand guarantees before they commit.
Soldiers commit to find the answers and know that victory is guaranteed through obedience.
Ø Dieters focus on self to gain personal results.
Soldiers focus on others to create a team unit and develop future recruits.
Ø Dieters aren’t interested in a sensible training process that requires time and effort.
Soldiers know the only way to victory is through the process of intelligently planning and preparing.
Ø Dieters quit when the circumstances aren’t “right.”
Soldiers endure hardship under all circumstances.
Ø Dieters want instant results.
Soldiers know results will be slow and steady.
Ø Dieters want a limited, short-term commitment.
Soldiers are committed for the duration of the war.
Ø Dieters make their own goals.
Soldiers make the goals of those who enlisted them their own.
Ø Dieters get caught up with the world’s standards, expectations, and methods.
Soldiers avoid any outside entanglements that might hold them back from victory.
Ø Dieters use their own weapons (fad diets, appetite suppressants, surgery).
Soldiers use the weapons provided by their superiors.
Ø Dieters follow their own rules.
Soldiers follow the proper rules of engagement.
Ø Dieters win occasional victories, but eventually lose ground and gain back their weight.
Soldiers hold the line because they have patiently prepared and executed their plan.
Are you discouraged? Have you tried and failed too many times? Remember this: God will not just do for you on the battlefield; he will be for you on the battlefield. The Bible says he is:
Ø Your Defense— Psalm 59:16
Ø Your Guide— Psalm 48:14
Ø Your Foundation—1 Corinthians 3:11
Ø Your Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Strength, Stronghold, Shield, Refuge, and Savior 2 Samuel 22:2-4
Ø Your Guard—2 Thessalonians 3:3
Ø Your Shelter and Tower—Psalm 61:3
Why would you want to serve under any other commander? Why would you want to give one inch to the enemy?
You can do it this year! Prepare a battle plan and follow through!
Blessings, Mary Englund Murphy
Visit me at www.winningthebattleofthebulge.com
Those truths are good with any resolution!
Posted by: Anna | December 27, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Great post! Thanks for the insight and encouragement.
It is much wiser to be a soldier than a dieter.
Blessings,
Sue
Posted by: Praise and Coffee | December 26, 2007 at 03:53 PM