Prayers 2
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Hello,
As someone who has struggled with weight and eating issues all my life, may I ask, how much of these things are consuming in proportion to what a medical professional has recommended for you?
This post reminds me of a story I heard about a woman who went to a ministry conference and asked the leaders, who were known for their healing ministry, to "pray the demon of fat" out of her.
Reportedly, the ministry leaders looked at each other, then one of them answered her (in reference to some interpretations of Mark 29:9,) "Sister, this kind can only come out through prayer -- and FASTING."
While some "instant shortcut prayers" might work, a better prayer might be that God would lead you to sources that help you learn how to apply healthier life habits. If one's eating habits are unhealthy, a prayer like this is like a smoker or alcoholic asking that no harm be done to their body as they continue to drink and light up (which I'm sure many of have prayed.)
Jesus told His followers to "pick up their cross and deny themselves" daily, and for many people, food might be their greatest example of this. Many people don't realize, or won't own up to how many calories they are actually consuming. It's like the coffee drink they pick up before work that having 15 grams of sugar, or the salad they eat for lunch that has enough calories for 2 meals by the time they add extra cheese, bacon, and dressing.
Now, if you've already been to a professional who has given you a recommended calorie intake that you are rigorously following as best you can (or you can find plans through your own research,) may I ask if you've talked to a doctor about further measures that might be taken, such as medication or other therapies?
What kind of exercise program do you follow? I know on a recent visit, my doctor was on me about getting back into a regular exercise routine. I've never been athletic and I hate doing it, but this is another form of "taking up my cross." I don't inherently enjoy working out but I do it because I know it's necessary.
Prayer is of course an excellent supplement to any plan for healthy living, but if you aren't taking the necessary steps, it's not a substitute for the work and sacrifice that will be required.
I had a co-worker once who, when we compared "notes", had the same medical issues I have that cause us both to gain weight very easily. She looked at me and said, "Wow. I'm really surprised you're not A LOT bigger than you are." But she failed to mention that her lunch was a supersized fast food meal (complete with diet Coke,) and mine was vegetable sticks and crackers. She also talked about her drinking binges on the weekends -- about the only time I have alcohol is when it's in a food product, such as a pasta sauce.
She wound up having the weight loss surgery. I'm not sure how it worked out for her or if she managed to change her eating patterns, as I'm no longer at that job, but I hope it all worked out for her.
I'm certainly not trying to criticize anyone, nor am I trying to make it sound like I make all the right choices (I pass by about 90% of what I really want to eat but I definitely fall off the wagon,) but my whole point is that while prayer is powerful, God does not excuse us from personal responsibility when we make such requests.
Hope this helps!
As someone who has struggled with weight and eating issues all my life, may I ask, how much of these things are consuming in proportion to what a medical professional has recommended for you?
This post reminds me of a story I heard about a woman who went to a ministry conference and asked the leaders, who were known for their healing ministry, to "pray the demon of fat" out of her.
Reportedly, the ministry leaders looked at each other, then one of them answered her (in reference to some interpretations of Mark 29:9,) "Sister, this kind can only come out through prayer -- and FASTING."
While some "instant shortcut prayers" might work, a better prayer might be that God would lead you to sources that help you learn how to apply healthier life habits. If one's eating habits are unhealthy, a prayer like this is like a smoker or alcoholic asking that no harm be done to their body as they continue to drink and light up (which I'm sure many of have prayed.)
Jesus told His followers to "pick up their cross and deny themselves" daily, and for many people, food might be their greatest example of this. Many people don't realize, or won't own up to how many calories they are actually consuming. It's like the coffee drink they pick up before work that having 15 grams of sugar, or the salad they eat for lunch that has enough calories for 2 meals by the time they add extra cheese, bacon, and dressing.
Now, if you've already been to a professional who has given you a recommended calorie intake that you are rigorously following as best you can (or you can find plans through your own research,) may I ask if you've talked to a doctor about further measures that might be taken, such as medication or other therapies?
What kind of exercise program do you follow? I know on a recent visit, my doctor was on me about getting back into a regular exercise routine. I've never been athletic and I hate doing it, but this is another form of "taking up my cross." I don't inherently enjoy working out but I do it because I know it's necessary.
Prayer is of course an excellent supplement to any plan for healthy living, but if you aren't taking the necessary steps, it's not a substitute for the work and sacrifice that will be required.
I had a co-worker once who, when we compared "notes", had the same medical issues I have that cause us both to gain weight very easily. She looked at me and said, "Wow. I'm really surprised you're not A LOT bigger than you are." But she failed to mention that her lunch was a supersized fast food meal (complete with diet Coke,) and mine was vegetable sticks and crackers. She also talked about her drinking binges on the weekends -- about the only time I have alcohol is when it's in a food product, such as a pasta sauce.
She wound up having the weight loss surgery. I'm not sure how it worked out for her or if she managed to change her eating patterns, as I'm no longer at that job, but I hope it all worked out for her.
I'm certainly not trying to criticize anyone, nor am I trying to make it sound like I make all the right choices (I pass by about 90% of what I really want to eat but I definitely fall off the wagon,) but my whole point is that while prayer is powerful, God does not excuse us from personal responsibility when we make such requests.
Hope this helps!
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Can he? Yeah I suspect he could. Will he? I highly doubt it. So better to adopt a new plan which is to find a way to eat fewer carbohydrates and other obesogenic foods. That's like what New year's resolutions are for. Speaking of which I should go work on my plan for this year to try to make some progress in that area, right after I finish the sweets left over from last year.
On a more practical note because I should at least try to be nicer than just parroting the failed all you need to do is eat less and move more advice we've all heard. This might be a good place to start: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/eating-better-six-steps-down-the-carb-mountain
I'm also trying to develop an attitude towards sweet treats similar to alcohol: it's fine to have a few on a special occasion / celebration; but if you're indulging by yourself multiple times a week then you've got a problem.
On a more practical note because I should at least try to be nicer than just parroting the failed all you need to do is eat less and move more advice we've all heard. This might be a good place to start: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/eating-better-six-steps-down-the-carb-mountain
I'm also trying to develop an attitude towards sweet treats similar to alcohol: it's fine to have a few on a special occasion / celebration; but if you're indulging by yourself multiple times a week then you've got a problem.
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I have often said that sugar is my crack, and I truly wish I were just kidding. I've never been interested in smoking, drinking, or drugs, but you put a bag of Hershey's kisses (not those dinky little "sharing size" bags -- we're talking family-sized here,) or a cake with buttercream frosting (not just a puny little slice, but the whole cake) in front of me and it's all over.
But one thing I know God is teaching me through food addiction is that it's a daily reminder to me to work at trying to have compassion for those who struggle with different manifestations of addiction. I'll verbally beat myself up for not obeying all the "rule" I try to instill on myself regarding eating ("I can only have this; I can't have that; I can only eat between such-and-such hours; I MUST workout X times/hours per week,") and then I think about all the people who are trying to resist pulling a bottle out of their cupboard.
I have spent hours in grocery stores, pacing back and forth, walking up and down the aisles continuously because of anxiety over what's on the shelves vs. what I should or shouldn't allow myself to have, and I can only imagine what it must be like for those struggling with drugs, alcohol, or smoking.
I'm sure most people have prayed "magic prayers" over their addictions as well -- wouldn't we ALL love to be able to pray, "Lord, please make my craving for X just go away," but unfortunately, except for a very few rare cases, that never seems to be how it goes, and God leaves a big part of the daily responsibility up to our own choices.
But one thing I know God is teaching me through food addiction is that it's a daily reminder to me to work at trying to have compassion for those who struggle with different manifestations of addiction. I'll verbally beat myself up for not obeying all the "rule" I try to instill on myself regarding eating ("I can only have this; I can't have that; I can only eat between such-and-such hours; I MUST workout X times/hours per week,") and then I think about all the people who are trying to resist pulling a bottle out of their cupboard.
I have spent hours in grocery stores, pacing back and forth, walking up and down the aisles continuously because of anxiety over what's on the shelves vs. what I should or shouldn't allow myself to have, and I can only imagine what it must be like for those struggling with drugs, alcohol, or smoking.
I'm sure most people have prayed "magic prayers" over their addictions as well -- wouldn't we ALL love to be able to pray, "Lord, please make my craving for X just go away," but unfortunately, except for a very few rare cases, that never seems to be how it goes, and God leaves a big part of the daily responsibility up to our own choices.
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This (or rather the tendency to be in a grocery store and wander down aisles full of temptation, is why I'm thinking about trying to transition to a curbside pickup for shopping rather than going into the store myself. But I'm careful about my spending so don't want to pay more for the same groceries. And my first experience showed that the system at one of my main stores still leaves something to be desired.