"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." I Timothy 4:15 (NIV)

I think we all get to a place sometimes in our life where we have to honestly assess, "How I am doing?"

It's not really a conversation I have with a friend or family member. It's one of those middle of the night contemplations where there's no one to fool. There's no glossing over the realities staring me in the face.

I know certain things about myself need to change, but it's easier to make excuses than tackle them head on. Rationalizations are so appealing:

I'm good in every other area.
I make so many sacrifices already.
I need this comfort in this season of life -- I'll deal with it later.
I just can't give this up.
The Bible doesn't specifically say this is wrong.
It's not really a problem; if I wanted to make a change, I could -- I just don't want to right now.
Oh for heaven's sake, everyone has issues, so what if this is mine?

And on and on and on.

Excuses always get me nowhere fast. That's why a few years ago I had to get honest in the area of healthy eating. Even if that's not your issue, I suspect these same scripts of rationalization have played out in your mind over other things.

So, the cycle continues day after day, week after week, year after year.

A whole lifetime can be spent making excuses, giving in, feeling guilty, resolving to do better, mentally beating ourselves up for not keeping our resolve, feeling like a failure, and then resigning that things can't change.

One day, I finally decided I didn't want to spend a lifetime in this cycle.

Nothing changed until I made the choice to change. I had to want it, spiritually, physically and mentally. The battle really is in all three areas.

Spiritually: In Colossians 3:1-5 we are told to set our minds and our hearts on things above. In order to do this, I have to put to death whatever belongs to my earthly nature which sets itself up as an idol in my life.

Idolatry is trying to get my needs met outside the will of God. I couldn't deny it. This described food for me at times.

For the sake of my spiritual health, it was time to get honest.

More times than I cared to admit, I turned to food when I should have turned to God. I relied on the temporary high of food to try and quiet the cries of my spiritually hungry soul. And no matter how I tried to excuse away my struggles with my weight, I wasn't at peace.

Physically: I couldn't keep my weight stable in a medically healthy range for any period of time. I would loose weight, but then I would always gain it back. And then to top it all off, when a doctor did some tests to determine my body mass index, my percentage of body fat had crept up to the "danger" category.

What?! I knew I was feeling sluggish and frustrated by the extra weight, but no one would have looked at me and thought I was at risk. Except now a doctor was telling me that if I didn't make some changes, I could be in trouble. The tests told me things the naked eye couldn't.

For the sake of my physical health, it was time to get honest.

I needed a healthy eating plan -- not a fad diet. I needed a plan that would help me make realistic changes to improve my overall health and help me shed the excess weight the right way.

I couldn't deny it. It does matter what I eat. My weight is a reflection of what I consume.

Mentally: Don't settle. Don't compromise. What happens when you cut the "com" off of the word compromise? You're left with a "promise."

We were made for more than compromise. We were made for God's promises in all areas of our life. I am made for more than a vicious cycle of eating, gaining, stressing -- eating, gaining, stressing...

For the sake of my emotional health, it was time to be honest with myself.

I was made to consume food. But, food was never supposed to consume me.

Sweet friend, getting honest with myself -- spiritually, physically, and mentally -- in my struggles with my weight was a crucial first step to finding victory. Is there an honest admission you need to make today?

I'd love to walk with you through the process of change. It's why I wrote my new book, "Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desires with God, Not Food." And it's why I'm sharing realistic, researched-based eating plans I now use on my blog today.

Remember, as a Jesus girl, it is possible to rise up, do battle with our issues, and using the Lord's strength in us, defeat them -- spiritually, physically, and mentally -- to the glory of God.
Dear Lord, help me be courageous enough to speak honestly to You and to myself in those areas I'm giving in to compromise. Show me how to rely on Your strength for more self-discipline in my life -- not for my glory but for Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

A great step to encourage you on this journey is the FREE webcast Lysa is offering every Monday night beginning January 10 -- February 14. For more information, click here.

Visit MadetoCrave.org to read success stories of people who have found victory with their food issues using Lysa's new book, "Made to Crave."

Order your copy of "Made to Crave" by clicking here.

Visit Lysa's blog today for realistic, researched-based eating plans.

Application Steps:
Visit Lysa's new "Made to Crave" website to download free resources and watch her inspirational videos by clicking here.

Reflections:
What issue do I have that consumes way too much of my mental energy and produces stress in my life?

Power Verses:

Psalm 27:8, "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." (NIV)

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.