A deeper kind of Determined...

I'm in week 2 of the #MadeToCrave online Bible study. Man, oh man! God knows me so well & knows exactly when I need anything. This week our word has been #Determined  with our key verse being 1 Peter 5:7-8. To have a word like that with all that's happened this week was only a God thing! He knew what I'd face this week...He knew how I would feel most loved & cared for by Him. God's timing is perfect.

See, I've always been the person to say I have a lot of determination, but when it came down to it most times I wanted the end results without all the work & objections. I'd find excuses to convince myself that I could give up. This was a really hard truth to admit especially to myself. Because of giving up so many times, I started labeling myself as being a quitter, etc. I'd frustrate not only myself, but others that would show support only to have me back out.

This week, there has been a difference though. One I haven't truly experienced before that I know of. This time I know it's the Holy Spirit doing this through me. I've never had so much determination! No joke, EVERY time something came up or thoughts overwhelmed me with situations we know of that are out of my control, I prayed our verse back to God. I was #determined to let Him have control. I was #determined to trust Jesus with all these messy issues. It has been the neatest thing to live & see of myself.

And then with the junk food! I've NEVER looked at heavenly Reese's & not wanted to taste their sweet heavenly flavors! God strengthens me while standing in that checkout line at Wal-Mart by reminding me that yes it's good, but it's not beneficial to me. And I check out & leave the store Reese's-free! I've noticed I'm finding healthier food desirable, just like Lysa talked about...I'm retraining my taste buds & body to like salad, veggies, fruits, etc. It's awesome! All glory to God!

Sure I can have it, but is it beneficial??

This verse...sheesh! It's stuck in my head & heart all week. That's a good thing since this has been the first week of the Made to Crave online Bible study through Proverbs31! :) This really hasn't been as tough as I was expecting...key words being "so far". I know I will have my days as we all do. It has helped keeping my cravings under God's control & keeping them in perspective to the bigger picture of God's plan for me. Food has controlled & ruled over me for waaaaaayyyy too long!

One way the Holy Spirit has helped me through this journey of discovering God through my food/weight struggles is with this verse. I've faced cookies, Nutty Bars, high fructose, chips, & candy this week...every time I would say to myself (even out loud, if needed), "Sure I can have it, but is it beneficial?" And every time I said, "No, it's not" & walked away. Will this happen EVERY time in the future? No. But if I can say no 90-95% of the time by reminding myself of this verse, then that shows me the progress I need to see! :)

Now, this verse isn't talking just about food. It's talking about anything you or I crave or desire & indulge in MORE than God. Indulging in non-beneficial things causes not only me to stumble, but others watching me to stumble too! Is everything bad?? No, no, no. "And God looked at what He made & said, 'It is good.'" The problem is when I go in excess with the good...which turns it to bad for me. Anything in excess is sin...just sayin.

So, I ask...what have you been indulging (or allowing/entertaining/spoiling/pampering) in that is causing you to go backward rather than forward? What do you take way too much pleasure in that is hurting your relationship with God? What is that one thing(s) that when you think of having to give it up, you cringe?? Mine was food...& now I continue my journey of working through it. ;)

One final thought...

Philippians 4:8

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

                

It's ok to crave!

God made me to crave! This has been such a relief to learn & sink into my heart depths. I was made to crave Him. It's when I start craving other things more than God that my life gets twisted. I've been going through the Made To Crave online Bible study with Proverbs 31 & it's been such a blessing! Did you realize Jesus Himself gave us an example of how to deal with temptation? So did Eve in the Garden of Eden...except hers wasn't focused on God.

Eve focused only on what she wanted. She didn't look away. Satan had convinced her through her craving, her eyes, & her value that indulging in this would be eternally satisfying. Jesus, on the other hand, focused solely on God. He replaced Satan's twisted truths (or lies) with God's Truth! He overcame!

I've personally struggled with this for years & always thought cravings were horrible...like a ball & chain that I could never get rid of. What about you? What do you do when you crave that junk food, or that next new gadget, or that next promotion?? What thoughts go through your head & what actions, if any, follow??

2 more days!

Sunday is the big start day for our Made to Crave online Bible study! :) Wahoo! Wanna join me & 36k+ women in learning to crave God over food?? Click below to sign up. All you need is the book...you can get the journal & participant guide as well, but only the book is required. :)

SIGN UP here... or click the P31 button below.

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My Favorite Verse.

Let me just start by saying I have many fav scriptures! One I've held most all my life is Philippians 4:13. The Message version reads, "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One Who makes me who I am." That verse has gave me hope in so many situations I've faced since I was a teenager. God is able & because I am His child through Jesus Christ, He enables me to make it through ANYTHING! What a promise! :)

I would have to say that for this season in life though, my favorite verse would be Ephesians 3:20. From the New Life Translation, "Now, all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." In the Message version, it says God can do more than I could imagine or ask or guess even in my wildest dreams! Isn't that awesome?! :) Let's break this verse down...stick with me for just a minute...

First, anything done in God's magnitude can give glory ONLY to God as it is something that humanly we couldn't have done if we tried.

Second, God is able. Do you realize just how powerful that statement is?? God can do ANYTHING. Just like in my life verse. God isn't restrained by limits, especially our limits. We can't put Him in our favorite box. He's bigger & greater & stronger than any other! And that power, if we have received Jesus in our hearts, is in us! Can you believe this?! :) Again, like my life verse...I can do anything when God is doing it through me. WAHOO! :)

Third, I've experienced this part of the verse in 2013. See, in 2012, I had a year from the pit. It started with my grandma passing away on January 8th & just snowballed from there. My husband left me closer to the end of that year (this was the last time he left...we had many times of him leaving & coming back!) & that separation lasted 2-3 months. But then...that's a favorite PHRASE of mine! But then, God caused a miracle. In the first week of January in 2013, He changed my husband's heart. My husband came home & worked ALL YEAR on our marriage & family. I couldn't have asked God for this in a husband if I tried! Kima has worked hard at what's hard in our marriage. He's replaced same-ol-ways with new-Christlike ways! :) It's been awesome & God can be the ONLY One to receive glory! :) Do we still struggle?? Yes! Just like any couple. BUT, God is Head of our marriage & family now, & that in itself makes ALL the difference.

So, now I ask you...what's your favorite verse/quote/song?? Something that's seen you through some really hard times or some really great ones. Please share in the comments as I'm sure your story can help someone in a similar situation that can't find the strength to share right now. ;)

Lots of love,
Jenn

Join me & other ladies for the "Made to Crave" Bible study starting this Sunday! :)

Welcome!!

Glad to have you here! You are loved. You are special. You have a purpose greater than you know. You are the only you this world has! :)

I pray as I start this journey of sharing pieces of my life that you would find encouragement, hope, & understanding in the posts. I'm human just like you, so I have struggles just the same. But, life can be really awesome too! :) Feel free to comment, share your tidbit in life, etc on any post you find hits home.

My contact information is also available if you'd like to message me for additional advice, counsel, encouragement, or accountability. :)

Lots of love,
Jenn