Biggest Loser, perhaps. My journey into self control. #1

I decided to up the accountability anty I have decided to give you all *gasp* quick weekly updates of my weight.  In addition I will “bless” you all by giving you a monthly wrap up with pictoral evidence. Yikes!

Vital Statistics April 23, 2009:

5 foot 6 inches tall, 238.8 pounds ( which is 17.1 stone or 108.3 kilos for my european readers)

I know, ghastly! I am just blessed to have a husband who notices that i am a bit softer but not enough to think I am fat… God Bless the man!!  I really should have his eyes examined but I kind of like him thinking the way he does! 😉

Last night as I was craving extra portions of dinner:) I started thinking about self control and what does it really mean and how does it benefit me.  It is easy to start thinking along the lines of why deny myself.  It seems to be much more gratifying to eat whatever I want when I want it.  In today’s world culture, more so in the USA I am afraid, we have become such an instant gratification society.  If it takes effort we are disinclined to take part.

So, how does self control help me?  While the short term may be hard the long term benefits are tremendous.  This not only is in relation to weight loss, smaller dress size, or a healthier me.  This is also true in relationships, education,  my relationship with God and family.  For example, as a mum sometimes it would be easier to not be involved in my children’s activities, school, interests, daily devotions etc.  I know  scandalous that I would say that, but it’s true.  By going outside of myself and investing in my children’s lives, I have the benefit of really getting to know them and growing closer to them as they grow.   While it may be easier to lay on the couch reading a good books sometimes, I can see the benefit of  sowing good seeds in their lives as they grow to be genuinnely good godly children.  Ok, so they may be 12, 6, and 2 1/2 respectively but the truth remains.

Here comes the fabulous part, when I screw up with self control, whether it be with my kids or my new diet, God, family, and even weight watchers(!) give me grace to dust myself off and get myself back on track.

The keys are:

Be honest with yourself about what happened and why.

Confess your sin/transgression/ or overindulgence.  Apologise (hey you can even apologise to yourself if you ate too much cake 😉 )

Make restitution as needed.

Stay accountable Whether this be a prayer partner or friends at weight watchers, when it comes to matters of self control it is near impossible to succeed if we are not in an accountability partnership of some sort.  I included the following Bible passage as an example of the ultimate accountabilty and cheerleading section a girl, or boy, could pray for!

Hebrews 12: 1-3

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us runwith endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Pray for Grace in whatever situation you are struggling.  We are NOT PERFECT.  We will stumble and need a hand up.

Strive always to attain THE STANDARD but realize that we can not do it alone.  It is through this struggle that His grace through my battles with self control are so sweet.

Romans 5:19-21

¹⁹For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased,grace abounded all the more, ²¹so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.