The main pastor at my church gave an inspiring sermon last fall that I took to heart. I call it the "Fear of the Lord" sermon. I suppose most people wouldn't want to stick around for that one, but I'm glad I did.
He talked about how this one woman asked God to give her "the fear of the Lord" upon her diet and then he told us of the results many months later.
The first thing I did was ask God what size pants he though I should be wearing. He gave me size 10. I was a size 14. I wanted to know his opinion because our culture gives no clear idea what is genuinely healthy. Exercise was already in place, so next we went on to my diet. Generally, I increased fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates. I'm not telling you this information so you can duplicate it. I am telling it as a testimony. I am not a big salt snacker or into fried foods. I could live without icecream. So, this diet was tailored to my weaknesses, or should I say addiction and my height was a factor. God took me from eatting 3 refined sugar snacks (including liquid form) a day to 1 refined sugar snack per week, 2 if there was a holiday or big celebration.
I actually tried to get around the 1 snack and make it two. (My paraphrase:) but God told me that if I wanted his help I would have to listen to his suggestions. I had also used a scripture like "taste not and touch not." The thing is, I was being guided and not making up the rules myself. So that didn't work.
My pastor asked us a second time to ask God "What the fear of the Lord looked like to us personally." What came to my mind was that listening to His words and valuing what He has to say over other people's opinion including my own.
People started noticing my discipline saying "You have such will power." and were amazed. I used to be amazed at people who ate right. I never thought I could get to that place. Ever! It feels like a miracle. Sometimes I gave my testimony, sometimes people knew I was a Christian and understood Who was behind my success. The scripture that came to me one day was Job 23:12.
So far I've lost 17.5 pounds. I wear a size 10. I have more energy. I feel better. I have less of an acne breakout. I feel closer to God. I lost my double chin. And I've stuck to it for about 10 months. I plan to make it my eatting lifestyle. I have hope that I can stay on it. I have hope for other areas of my life where I am weak.
God took my weakness and made it a strength. My future looked like it would include tons of prescriptions in my old age. I don't believe that will be the case. I hope to be one of those gray-haired ladies who can stand up straight as they walk - that is when I get to the gray stage. That's why I exercize.
So what is your weakness? Why not ask God to give you the fear of the Lord on it. You'd be surprized at the results of His strength.
H. Stone
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