It is a delight to have with us a grace-filled perspective on the hot topic of weight loss from national author and speaker, Pam Davis, of GirlsnGrace.com. Pam shares her practical thoughts on discovering why we spiral out of control when it comes to food, a common battle for teen through twenty-something gals and today’s women.
When we choose to walk by faith in God – rather than ourselves – with His grace, dieting becomes his battle, his fight, not our own. But what happens when his grace seems less than sufficient and we end up “pigging out”? Where is God and why isn’t he strengthening me anymore?
Here is the news flash: God’s presence – full of grace that strengthens our weak will power – is for revealing where we are deceived and meeting that deception with living truth. When it first dawns on us that we are desperately weak unable to control our own appetites and sincerely cry out to God for help, that truth is met with God’s grace. The goodness of God doesn’t stop there. He wants to reveal more truth about ourselves thereby extend to us more grace.
So what is the more truth you ask?
You tell me. What was going on when you started to pig out? Was it that your schedule is so out of whack that it controls you rather you controlling it. You simply didn’t take time to eat healthy and now you are famished and pig out. Or is it that a fearful circumstance – like a financial debt, a relationship, or a responsibility – has circled you like a ravenous wolf. Perhaps that is why you have spiritually huddled in a corner and crammed food in your mouth? By the way, loading up on food is a primal way for mammals to handle stress. The extra calories will support their fight or flight strategy. It is animal instinct. But you are more than that! We who have the Spirit of God within us have the power … the power not to fight ourselves … but surrender the fight to God. Ultimately we are God’s possession. The Bible says,
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
We honor God with our body by allowing God to fight our battles, just as David did.
David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out or the jaw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine … This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head … All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. (from 1 Samuel 17).
Our Goliath appetites are no match for our weak will, but thankfully God sees an attack on you as an attack on Him. And He is more than able to defeat your lion-like temptations.
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-28
Pam Davis is the founder of Girls ‘n Grace and Grace ‘n Christ, ministries that reveal “Christ in you” to varying age levels, from girls 7+ to adults, through designer dolls, books she has authored, matching doll and girl’s clothes, events and speaking engagements. Besides a baseball wife (her husband Steve is a previous Major League Pitcher) and mother, Pam is a national speaker. You can visit her ministries at GirlsnGrace.com, GracenChrist.com , or Pam-Davis.com .
