A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my jeans were fitting differently.
And not in a good way.
The jeans that had previously required a belt in order to stay in place were now staying in place quite nicely all by themselves.
Not good.
If there is one thing my over-the-years battle with weight has taught me, it’s that if you want to stop a run-away-train from running away, you have to do something.
You have to act.
And act quickly.
Because the train. will. run. away.
Truth is I wish I were more disciplined.
I wish I was more consistent over the long term.
I wish I was one of those people for whom eating “clean” was a no-brainer because I so highly value a “mean-bod”.
And while I do sometimes, I don’t sometimes too.
This is my battle.
Well… one of them anyway.
But I do want to do better. I do want to fight the #fatdemon well and do so to maintain this house, my body, that I’ve been given to walk around in and in which to live the only life I’ve got.
But I can’t just wish.
I can’t just hope.
I have to act.
Acting is passing McDonald’s when I’ve waited too long to eat and all I want are those doggone salty fries.
Acting is ordering water with lemon when I’m out to eat even when I know good and well the establishment offers a suberb, freshly-brewed sweet tea.
Acting is choosing not to slather butter on my bread, pushing the bread basket away from my end of the table, or asking the server not to bring it it all.
Acting is not just about my food life either.
If I hope for a marriage made in heaven. I have to act.
I have to prioritize time with my man.
I have to hold his confidences close and be the woman in whom he can trust.
I have to talk to him with respect and honor him with my actions.
If I hope for no regrets in my motherhood journey, I have to act.
I have to give my children quality time but quantity time as well.
I have to smile at my kids when they enter my space, even if they are driving me crazy.
Even though, I don’t know everything about Jesus, I have to teach them what I do know so that hopefully they will want a relationship with Him for themselves one day.
If I hope for a life filled with passionate and purposeful pursuits, I have to act.
I have to work with excellence at every job I am given, no matter how small or how menial.
I have to believe that I have what it takes to get where I want to go, then be willing to pay the price with time, education, training, and experience to get there.
I have to allow myself to dream, to think big, and to believe beyond what I can see… then be disciplined to do what it takes to move beyond my current borders.
If I hope to be a confident woman, I have to act.
I have to speak well of myself and stop using my own words out of my own mouth to tear myself down.
I have to deal with my weaknesses, but understand my strengths… and utilize them.
Most of all, I have to believe that because God lives in me, I can conquer the world and, in that world, I can also climb and overcome whatever mountain He has allowed in my path.
Bottom line?…
My actions matter.
Everything thing I put in my mouth today will affect the jean size that I wear five years from now.
Everything I do today affects my my every tomorrow.
This is simply the truth…
What do you hope for?
What are you actually doing today to bring to life those hopes and dreams?
Act.
Everyone I know hopes.
Everyone I know wants to do better or be better in some facet of their experiences.
Everyone I know struggles with an area of their life where their actions don’t quite match up with what they say they desire.
It’s OK to admit it.
It’s OK to pray about it.
So let’s pray.
For ourselves.
For each other.
For that which we hope.
For that which we dream.
For those places or situations in which we need to act.
We serve a God who not only wants us to hope but he helps us to act.
We just have to ask.
God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes.
Philippians 2:13 (CEB)
It’s a beautiful thing to see women praying for each other.
So here we go…
As always, feel free to pray about A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G…
But if you are helped by having a topic to focus on for prayer…
Act.
Again… feel free to pray about anything that concerns you.
But if today’s prayer focus resonates with you, pray in that direction.
So how exactly does this work do you ask? Keep scrolling for the details…
So excited about prayer this weekend!
Help spread the word!
If you are new to our prayer on Fridays or need a little refresher here are the details…
1) Post YOUR prayer.
First, scroll to the end of the post to find the section for comments. Keep scrolling to the end of the comments to find the empty box where you can leave your prayer request. Click “Post Comment”.
2) Pray for someone else.
Then, look above you in the comment thread for the person who posted just before of you. Hit “reply” and pray for them. That way we make sure that everyone gets covered!
Please don’t feel insecure about your ability to pray for another sister or feel that her request is above your spiritual “pay grade.” Just pray with your heart. God hears. He works with the words that we have and then He takes care of the rest.
3) Post your pic!
Make sure we can “see” you! Go to Gravatar.com so that others can see your face in the comments! (It’s easy! Just click on the green button labeled “Get your gravatar today” )
4) Pray more
Once you have left your prayer request and prayed for the person above you, if you have a few minutes feel free to reply and pray for any other comment/prayer you see in the thread.
I don’t why I thought I’d never have to ask for prayer for my health… Yet, here I am. Got bad news from my blood work a few days ago. Got bad news at the chiropractor today. The good news is, if I ‘act’ now, in prayer and faith, I believe my results can take a turn for the better. So, please pray with me to be disciplined and obedient so I can be a good steward over the body God has given me. I pray to live long enough to see my great-great grandkids, maybe even some great-great-great!
I need to eat for strength, and I’m working so hard for a whole year of ups and downs. I need to loose weight. Be more disciplined in my use of time too. So much depends on me with being 60 next October 3rd. And being a full time caregiver for our precious 28 y.o. daughter. I’m floundering. I know with God all things are possible. I just need the wannas enough to act in obedience to Jesus. Praying for you Shellye; God is able to deliver thee! Love & prayers♪
Leslie –
I just sent a prayer up for you. May you be blessed and feel God’s presence.
Elizabeth
Hi Leslie;
Praying that God will give you the strength you need to do what is needed to lose weight, I can identify with you. I will be 60 next January. I need to lose some weight. walking is something that have always help me. I just have to be intentional about it. I know I need to use my time more wisely. I have ask God to give me power for this. Really as a Christian, all I need is to connect to the power that is already in me. what is working for me is, allowing my DVR record while I do the things I need to do. I want to be around also for my great-great and even greater grandkids to have an influence on them for Jesus. Hoping for the same for you.
I need to eat for strength, and I’m working so hard for a whole year of ups and downs. I need to loose weight. Be more disciplined in my use of time too.
My prayer request is for guidance in God’s glorious Word for direction in taking the next steps with a project. Thank you in advance for your prayers, they are cherished here and in Heaven.
Katheryne, I have prayed that the Lord will speak to you through His Word to guide you in the next steps of your project. May you have a blessed day.
Our Father in Heaven, there is none like You, in all the earth. You are marvelous. The heavens declare Your glory and we stand in awe of You today. Thank You for the blessing of another morning and a new month. You are the Author of all that is good. You are the Author of our salvation. We need You today, as we did yesterday, and as we will tomorrow. You are the source of everything that we need. You are the source of Life. I join my sisters this morning in praising Your name and petitioning You for today’s portion of what we need. Father, hear our prayers for healing, both in our bodies and souls. Teach us Your ways Father. You have the words of life through Jesus. Thank You for sending Him. We bow to acknowledge Your sovereignty. We ask for forgiveness for when we fail to turn to You. We ask for forgiveness of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. You are so merciful Father. Teach us to be the same as You. We long for You. We long for Your presence. We long to be able to be present with each other for as long as possible. Therefore, we trust You with all of our hearts and do not lean to our own understanding. As we acknowledge You in all of our ways, we know that You will direct our paths, just as You promised. You are wonderful to us Father. We love you. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.
Chrystal’s message today hit me right between the eyes–I’ve been playing around with weight loss, resisting things like tracking my calories and exercising. I’ve lost enough weight that people have noticed and complimented me, but I’ve been here before–complacency is next, and then regaining everything I’ve lost as the holidays approach. It’s not just for appearance–now it’s pre-diabetes, joint pain, advancing age. I am crying out to God to break this cycle, to pick up my cross and follow Him.
Hi Katherine. I have prayed for you. That you will be filled with His Spirit, and that it will all surround and envelope your life and work through you in your project. He loves you deeply my dear.
My prayer echoes Katherine’s wonderful praise above.I also have a request for total healing in Jesus Name. I thank you so much in advance for your prayers.
Mary Ellen, I pray that God would heal you from the crown of your head to the soul of your feet. He knows your needs.
Marilyn. My sweet soul sister! I have struggled all my life with more weight than I needed, and trying to get rid of the excess. I have finally hit my target weight-only took me 65 years, but whatever…I am here. Now-as you said-here come the holidays-gulp! I am praying for you Marilyn. That God will come alongside you, and walk with you, and encourage you as you diligently seek to do the right things. Jesus is interceding for you also, and Who could we have in our corners that is better?
Praying for you today, and adding you to my prayer list.
Mary Ellen, thank you so much! I am 64,and you are an inspiration–maybe when I get to 65 in 6 months, I can be much closer to where I need to be! But all of the blogs, devotions and emails I’ve read this morning have been “messages from the Lord” on the same topic–He has not forgotten me in this struggle, and is with me! Blessings on you, my friend!
I am praying for your health and dependence on God to be the healthiest you can be.
Lord thank you for this day and allowing me to see this day.I thank you for my friend telling me about the book. It has been enlighten to me. We sometimes think no one has a struggle but me.
As this post started with jeans fitting different and not in a good way, that was me yesterday morning. I have lost weight by going to God and not food for comfort and celebration. I wanted to use the spiritual experience to witness to other and I have, but I feel like I am under attract now and don’t want my witness of depending on God for everything to be undone. Plus I can’t afford to buy new clothes so I need to stop going and start loosing again. This post was such and answere to my cries out to our Father God. I know I need the prayer support.
Hello Belinda,
I guess we are all having an issue with that #jeandevil. LOL! But I pray that you hold strong to your faith and keep fighting the good fight. Remember that God sees and hears and He is with you even when you hit a bump in the road. The devil always attacks those who love the Lord. I know that you will continue to be a witness even with this minor setback. Keep pressing toward the mark! (Phil 3:12-16) God loves you and so do I!
Ladies, I am in cape town , south africa and always get in at the tail end of prayer. I however have a testimony today. I got inntroduced to chrystal when she was doing blog 8 I think, stop, drop and roll. At the time u had to use blood pressure tablets, now 3 or more months later, the doctor informed me that I no longer require the tablets. I have taken baby steps with Chryssy as my mentor in my ear every monday. I also attempted a 5km run which I can no proudly say that I am shuffling it. I turned 51 in october, I am applying small changes to my journey everyday.
I still have much weight to loose.
My encourangement and prayer for all today is that we keep Yehova Nissi as our banner He is our all sufficient one. 2Corinthiwns 2:14
But thanks be to GOd,who always leads us as captives in CHrist’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere
a
Amen
stay blessed. Love u Chryssy
Ladies my prayer today is a thank you prayer to the great I Am. I got introduced to Chrystal on blog 8 stop, drop and roll, which is exactly what I am still doing. Now almost 3months into it, the doctor took me off blood pressure medication. I akso attempted a C25k , which I completed and am proud to say I am shuffling along well. I dont really look at the figure on my scale because I’ve come to know that I am more than that number on the scale. I give YEHOVA nissi all the praise.
My prayer for all of us today is 2 Cor 14 but thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. Amen
This one’s for Gillian! Glad to hear your off your BP meds! So HAPPY you completed your C25K! That’s AWESOME! God please continue so very gracefully, your love & support as you guide Gillian thru these times, we have faith that you are patient, forgiving & uplifting forever God! In JESUS name AMEN!
I would like to ask God to continue leading me in the paths he’s chosen in all areas of my life, keep my friends & family safe & healthy. I would like for God to guide me in the right direction concerning my new THRIVE by Le-Vel premium lifestyle & business venture. LAST but NOT LEAST, God, help me to learn how to pray better, I thirst for MORE knowledge of your works, & help me get my children to church! AMEN!
Dear Lord,
Keeping opening the doors of direction in Meg’s life. Please allow her Thrive business to grow and to touch others. Use her in a way that she is able to help others reach their own healthy lifestyle. Give her children the same thirst she has for you in her life.
Lord, you know all the burdens and heaviness of my heart. Forgive me for not bringing them to you on my knees like I should. Lord, help me to be a better wide and mother and employee. Help me to shut down the computer and focus on the world around me. Help me to remove some hard scales that are on my heart and keep me from seeking you in prayer.
Lord, please help Meg B. in her business venture. Help her business to thrive and be a blessing to her and others. Help her to speak the issues of her heart when she prays, knowing that there does not have to be a formula, for you hear our prayers and answer them. Lord protect her and her family and give her peace that they are covered under your wings as we are told in Psalm 91. Lord, also make the way clear for her to get her children to church. And bless her, Lord. Motherhood, working, they are all demanding. Help her to rest any cares or burdens at your altar of mercy and leave them there. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
Lord, please provide Melissa with the clarity and focus she needs in order to move away from the computer and become the best person she can be.
In your name we pray. Amen
I ask for prayer for guidance and faith. I have let my struggles get in the way of gratitude towards all my blessings. Instead of focusing on not having heat and worrying incessantly about my children and not meeting their needs, I forgot about the blessings we do have. I’m blessed to be able to wake up each day and be a mother. I have four beautiful and healthy kids. We may not have a car, heat of other necessities, but we do have compassion, kindness, understanding and one another. With a heavy heart, I ask for all anxiety and worry to be cast aside.