I'm memorizing a verse to help me deal with the days that I feel burdened by what to eat and what to wear. Oh-you too? I'm not alone in the battle to try to fit a body into clothes that are too tight in the thighs and too lose in the waist and have mental freak outs when packing for a trip?
What if I bloat from the airplane ride or from those salty snacks the airline is always wanting to push on me? I think they are trying to calm my anxiety about being up in the air in a metal tin can going super speeds. But I'm not looking for a meal or an article of clothing to calm me down these days, no matter how much drama I create for myself when I grab the oversized suitcase because: what if we go out to a nice restaurant to eat? Who wants to live in shorts every day while on vacation? Not someone who is worried about hiding her legs.
So here it is, I know you've been thinking, just give me the verse already, I've got to go figure out what I'm making for dinner tonight and try on three outfits to see which one will be the most flattering for my waistline.
I want to introduce you to a new concept in living on planet earth.
STOP worrying.
Yep, the bible tells us this over and over again and this time I hope to convince you (and myself) that if we take head to it's message we will be able to enjoy our days more often.
Matthew 6:25 NLT.
That is why I tell you not to worry........about everyday life.......whether you have enough food and drink, enough clothes to wear.
(Pause for dramtic effect!!!)
Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
So why this verse? and Why start here?
I've been working with christian women for over 20 years. I've heard all the stories of struggle to fit in to culture, to church, to a pair of jeans, to the luncheon celebrating women. And I have told some similar stories myself of not feeling good enough, not knowing if I will fit in to the group, the jeans or the meal prepared. I spent years with food allergies and not sure if I was going to be able to eat what was offered. I worried constantly about all of it. And here in the bible I find a very true, very real, very necessary word to clue me in that it's just not necessary for me to worry about any of it. Did you catch the "about everyday life" part of the verse? Or the "why I tell you not to worry" part?
If we look back to the beginning of chapter 5 you will see that Jesus is teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. He tells us the (BE-attitudes) we are supposed to adopt and then goes on to teach us things. About Salt and Light, about the Law, about Anger, Adultery, Divorce, Vows, Revenge, Love for Enemies. And Chapter 6 continues the teaching. Giving to the Needy, Prayer and Fasting, Money and Possessions and how we can not serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other.
Do you see how verse 25 whittles it down to actually worry about eating and clothing? You cannot serve God and be enslaved.....to money, to possessions, to the culture, to food, to clothing sizes.
Just STOP.
Verse 27 asks the question...Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
I believe that this verse is one to memorize because it helps us to remember when we are struggling and worrying about fitting in (to all those things in this world and in our closet) that we have been created for so much more. And life is meant to be lived.
This is one of my tattoo's. I love to tell others about the "why" behind the birds and flowers and it comes out of this chapter. Verse 26: Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Verse 28: "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Verse 30: And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.
God cares for you. So stop worrying!
Why do I share this with you? One, it's God's word and it's good for us to learn to live by it.
Two, did you know that you don't need to worry anymore or punish yourself about food and your clothing size?
Your thoughts about these things are "self chosen" worry, and it may feel good in the moment to beat yourself up about your eating and clothing-you litterally are creating stress that produces "alertness hormones" such as adrenaline and noradrenaline; which overtime, these fight or flight hormones can deminish your metabolism-you know that fire that ignites to get your brain and body working, the fuel that allows us to live an energetic life?
So worrying about food and clothing is counterproductive as it just causes a backfire effect to your body. It shuts down metabolism and no fire equals not energy to live. Ever wonder why you are always so tired? Hormones out of whack? Let go of the stress of worry. Embrace what God has been offereing to you all along. His PEACE. His PRESENCE.
I desire for my clients to see how God designed them, whole and complete. That their identity is what "He says" about them, not what this world continues to peddle as the truth. Weight issues and food fear was something created by the culture to keep you worrying and not living. Now this doesn't mean that we don't work on trying to achieve some goals in the realm of a healthier lifestyle, but we move from the worry into learning to live more present in the body. Work on your thinking, create a calmer environment and learn from all the things life is offering to you. Life is more than food and clothing. Discover how working with a mind, body and eating coach (that's me) can help you start living your best life now.
Coach Shel
DammGirl Coaching LLC
A Mind, Body, Eating Coach for Christian Women who want to stop diet culture shame and discover God's design for healthy living: mind, body and soul.
Comments