Picking up from my last post this weight thing has been an ongoing struggle for me but it’s harder now. I have less time to plan meals and meal prep is just not a real thing anymore. I’m older and weight loss is harder when you’re older, at least it is for me. Did I also mention that I’m tired, and willpower is lacking when I’m tired? All great excuses, right?

I wonder, would 20 extra pounds make you tired? Hmm….

Why not look at it differently? If I’m already committed to providing good care to loved ones, am I strong enough to apply that same commitment, to my diet and exercise routine?

That sounds like willpower. Yes, but willpower alone really doesn’t work. Engaging with the Father in prayer does (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), it makes you stronger in Christ. And it’s ok to pray about your health and anything that contributes to it. Doing so earlier might have directed me to the treadmill a few pounds sooner.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, our gift from God. We are His, purchased by the blood of Christ. When we honor our bodies, we are honoring God. From that perspective, self-control becomes so much more meaningful.

If you have the same struggle I do, remember that you are human and all of us fall short of the goal from time to time but all things are possible with Jesus (Matthew 19:26). Hang in there, you are never alone (Deuteronomy 31:6).

This is the guiding vers for our Fruit of the Spirit series. Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT) 

Go to the Table of Contents to read more posts in this series as they go live.

It’s October so this must be time for 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free-Writes. The event is hosted by Kate Motaung over at Five Minute Fridays. We write daily for five minutes, or maybe a bit longer. The point is to write. Kate provides writers with a one-word writing prompt each day. Today the prompt STRONG.