March 31, 2008

  Are You Thirsty? Part 2

Last week we looked at thirst from a spiritual perspective. Today as I was sitting and meditating I thought about being thirsty for specific things in our lives. Many of us have a desire to lose some unwanted pounds. Webster’s dictionary defines thirst as an ardent desire. In other words Desire is thirst.

I thought about the points from Are You Thirsty dated March 24, 2008 and thought about how I could relate those same points to weight loss.

Point one was to acknowledge our need. Many of us if we are honest have gone through periods of denial. Denial that our weight really bothered us when deep down inside we know that it did and if we haven’t done anything about it, it still does. Before the weight will come off we have to acknowledge our need and desire to have it gone-to do something about it.

After we acknowledge the need to have the weight gone and to become healthy the next thing we have to do is ask for help from the right source. God is the source of everything that we need, but He has sent some helpers, people to come along side of us in our weight loss efforts. We have to seek their help. That means whether it is a special diet, special activity or a person we have to ask for help. There are many sources of help when you are trying to become healthy, doctors, dieticians, special weight loss programs and clinics, fitness facilities, videos, books, etc.

Recognizing that everything does not work for everybody you will have to seek out the method or experience that works best for you. We encourage you to do something that will cause you to make a lifestyle change. Quick fixes don’t work and you will not be able to maintain them. For some people personal trainers are helpful. For some people it may be a special type of exercise or a special place to do it. I have learned that there are different types of fitness facilities and programs. Right now we are stressing walking, but I have friends that are personal trainers and they do an excellent job, I have a friend who owns a gym and she is an excellent encourager, you have to find the one that works best for you.

I can tell you what does not work. The right source is not the friend that sits around eating with you and talking about getting healthy or doing something but never does it. The right source is not the person that cannot do it on their own, by that I mean they are co-dependent. Both of these sources will zap your energy and neither one of you will make any progress. Find someone that has the same type of goals as you do for their health if you really want to get motivated. You cannot carry them and they cannot carry you or you will both fail.

When God reveals the plan that works for you accept it. Don’t try to change it or modify it because of what someone else wants to do or because there appears to be an easier way. Only God’s plan will work for you. If it is going to the gym at 5am go. If it is getting your own in-home equipment, make the investment. If it is joining Weight Watchers or some other program join.

Over the years God has placed many people in my life to help me with my weight. Friends that did not have a weight problem, but they would get up to go walk with me as encouragement. Personal Trainer friends that attempted to help me and I told you before I would pray for the spirit of exercise that was in them to take over my body. What I learned was that God has a perfect plan for me and when He is ready He will release me into it. Over the last several months He has put people in my life that like me want to be healthy. Like me they want to see their temples come into the will of God. We talk to each other to encourage, we check on each other, we challenge each other and we work out together.

I thank God for Yvonne, checking to see if I walked my 10,000 steps and being willing to meet me to walk to our exercise videos. I thank God for Anthony and Maria and their reminder of my accomplishments on Weight Watchers in the past. I know that everything I have gone through has been for a reason. God will use every experience to equip us and prepare us for the future He has for us. My experience with all of the different people that helped me along the way has taught me different methods for encouraging others. My experiences have taught me what to and what not to do. I am grateful for every experience.

It is my prayer that each one of us will become thirsty about being healthy. Desiring to see our bodies become what God wants them to be, His temple. Thank you to God for His constant equipping and preparing me and you. Thank you to each one that He has used to encourage me along the way and helped to develop my thirst, my thirst to be healthy and my thirst to lose the weight. Identify your encouragers. Identify the sources that really help to quench your thirst, but keep Jesus as your foundation. It is my prayer that you become thirsty as Jesus did on the Cross, holistically, thirsty.

Weekly Scripture:

John 19:28:
 28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[a]

We just worked out spiritually. If you have not worked out your physical temple get up and join us in the:

New Beginnings 2008 Workout Focus
10,000/steps per day or 70,000/steps per week Walking Program*

This is the fitness opportunity that New Beginnings is promoting for 2008. It is simple and easy and almost everyone can participate at whatever level of fitness they are at. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, a pedometer, and you're all set.

For further discussion contact contactus@mynewtemple.org or write to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html or the Fitness Blog http://mynewtemple.org/wordpress/.