Forgetting What Lies Behind

Well everyone, or no one, this is my first attempt at blogging. I have been wanting to write a blog for a long time, but never really thought I had anything that anyone would actually read. Now, after some encouragement from a friend at church (thanks LuAnn), I am finally doing it. So here we go.

Philippians 3:12-14 
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

So, that is my inspirational verse for this blog. I will mainly be talking about my weight, and how it is affecting my relationship with God, at least in the beginning. I might venture out into new things as I grow and gain wisdom, but for now the topics will be about the dreaded issue for most women...weight.

Until recently, I didn't realize just how much my weight affects my relationship with God. I have realized that, far too often, I run to food for comfort instead of God. Far too often I try to handle the pain of my inadequacies with unhealthy eating. It comforts me for a short time, but ultimately it only leads to further feelings of inadequacies. It's a vicious cycle. Why do I do that, knowing that only God can truly meet those needs in my life?  Well that's what I'm on the road to figure out. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that anyone who has a weight issue has something lacking in their relationship with God. For me, food is my comforter, not God and therein lies the problem. God should be my comforter. God should take that place...nothing else.

When I read those verses in Philippians this morning, I really took hold of this..."Forgetting what lies behind". How often do I remind myself of the past? Of times when I missed the mark? How many times do I call myself a failure? The answer to these questions would be...um...everyday. Sometimes multiple times a day. What good does that do me? What harm does that do to me? I can tell you this: talking or thinking or speaking that does absolutely NO good. Thinking that way can only cause harm. Constantly telling yourself that you are never good enough or allowing yourself to think such hateful thoughts about yourself will just exasperate the problems that are already there. We need to stop constantly badgering ourselves. That is exactly what the devil wants! He wants nothing more than to completely ruin you. He wants to bring you so low that you feel like you could never possibly do anything worth while for God. 

1 Peter 5:8

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Notice he seeks someone he can devour. This tells me there are some he cannot devour. Let's be those people. Let's quit abusing ourselves. God does not see us as we see ourselves. For instance, if someone were to ask me what I think of myself...well I don't think a good thing would come out of my mouth. I'm constantly telling myself that I am not good enough. I'm not a good enough mother. Wife. Friend. Christian. Am I judging myself according to God? The answer is no. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are his workmanship. His original masterpiece. So I will leave you with this for today.

Psalm 62:8
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah