Dieting- There are harder things.

It seems for most of my life, my mind has had my body on a diet.  No, I haven't actually been on a diet, but my mind is telling me I should-therefore I am on a fake diet.   I have spent my time on Weight Watchers and 3 day diets.  I have spent my time avoiding ice cream and potato chips-my loves-but I have spent much of my life indulging as well. (As is indicated by the person I have grown to be.)

Currently, I am on the latest- counting carbs.  I have had a lot of inspiration from groups on Facebook and friends who have taken pictures of themselves and posted their weight loss.  I must say this diet is going much better than I expected.   That collection of chip bags that hang out in the corner of my cabinet, the ones I draw my every calorie from when I get home from school, are still there as full as they were two weeks ago.  The ice cream in the freezer only has a relationship with my husband.   I can only hope both (the ice cream and chips-not my husband) are not emotionally distraught over my ignoring them.

As difficult as it has been to avoid the temptation of those empty calories I so love, the most difficult thing I have done lately is to listen to God's voice.   I once put a post on Facebook about my husband's opinion of Facebook and Twitter and basically all social media.  I can't remember it exactly but it went something like -Twitter is from the Devil and Facebook is straight from Hell. (or vice versa)   It is so true!    All social media has the potential to be a force for the Lord and reach others but so often it is used for just the opposite.  It is used to seek and destroy.  Those posts that are stirring thoughts or comments that are going to be "just left right here" to see what drama the post can stir.   Those posts that arise anger in you that you almost lose control of your thoughts.  Those posts that let Satan creep into your mind.

Yes, the hardest thing I have faced as of late is to put Satan behind me and lift the situation up to God.  I must say that God and I have been in touch a lot lately.   Every time I feel that little snake creeping in on my soul, I have to repeat, "God, I lift this situation up to you.  You know my heart and desire.  Take control of the pain I feel and others feel.  I lift this up to you for you to take care of.  Help me understand there is a bigger picture and that with you all things are possible."  It is the hardest thing I have done- more difficult than avoiding chips and ice cream- more difficult than reminding myself to drink water-more difficult than making myself exercise.  It would be so easy to grab my phone and make social media what my husband says it is- from the Devil- but I refuse to let it.   I grab my Bible and let God lead me to what I want to hear.  And God is so faithful.  He knows exactly what I need to read- even though I say "Really God, Hear, Here?  I need some Proverbs."  But God knows, and it is so spot on it brings a smile to my heart.

At this time I am choosing to pray.  I am choosing to trust.  I am choosing to believe.  I am choosing to have faith.  I am praying to understand that this might be a long process but I have put God in control and he can see the good at the end.

Rallying the troops- Listening to God's Voice

Sometimes we are faced with situations that make us so upset-so angry we can't get control of our own thoughts.  We need someone to turn to- someone to be our listening ear.  We take to Facebook, text messaging, phones, or whatever gossip tool we have to provide us with comfort.  We want someone else to feel our pain and identify what we are going through and give us some comforting words.

I am reminded of Job who had absolutely everything.  The Bible tells us of his prosperity- ten children that he loved, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels,  five hundred oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a very large household.  Job had been blessed and Job blessed God for all that he had.

Because of these blessings,  Satan being who he was/is wanted to stir trouble.  Satan and God had a conversation about Job.  God was speaking to the blamelessness of Job and his upright character and Satan had a response that went something like this......."Of course Job praises you.  Look at what he has.  You have made it easy on him.  He has everything.  He wants for nothing. But, if he were to lose everything, he wouldn't be such happy camper.... such a blameless and upright man.  Job will turn his back upon you."  God gives Satan permission to bring misery on Job.  He can destroy his belongings. He can put him in distress, but he can never touch his life.

When Job finds out of all the destruction that has been brought upon him- the loss of his children-the loss of his belongings-Satan is sure Job will curse God.  Job is sorrowful, no doubt, but in all of his turmoil, he turns to God and Blesses his name.  (all of this from Job 1- the whole book of Job is full of Job's misery.)

We all have those moments that work against us  We have those people who want to bring us destruction.  Though we are Christians ourselves, we may be the ones who have Satan working on our emotions and our thoughts-taking control of us- to make us work for him.  We need to RALLY THE TROOPS  to get us through our turmoil.    And what troops do we need to rally?

We need to recognize the troops that need rallying is not a plural but is ONE.  God is our troop.  He's the only troop that can provide comfort and answers to our situation.  How do we rally God as our troop?  We find a quiet place, we go to him in prayer, and we have devotion with him.  We let God do his work on our situation.

Personally I am trying to read through the Bible on my own plan.  Oftentimes I find just where I am reading in the Bible are the versus I need to speak to where I am in my life.  Sometimes, I have to close the Bible and whisper, "God you know what I need.  You know the versus I need to hear.  Lead me to what I need to read."  Oftentimes I turn to the most strange places and I want to say "You have got to be kidding me.  How in the world is this place going to provide me any comfort?"  God convinces me to read on and I see what he is trying to tell me.  You see when we ask, we need to expect to be led.  When we are led, we need to listen.

Today is a day like that.  God led me to the first chapter of Job to read about his prosperity and his anguish.  This was after listening to Dr. Charles Stanley preach about listening  to God's voice.

I can only conclude that God wanted me to hear- "Rally the Troops- I (God) am that Troop.  Come to Me (God) and in all things -prosperity, suffering, and misery- I (God)will be there. "

Psalms 78:1 says Give ear O my people to my law; Incline your ears to the word of my mouth.

Go to God and LISTEN to what he has for you.  RALLY THE TROOP!