Praying God's Word: Overcoming Food-Related Strongholds

Food - I love it. I have never been super thin. It seems like I have always been the average weight for my age. (However that has changed.) I really was never concerned about my weight, therefore I have never been too concerned about what I eat. I just eat. If I am going to have a slice of apple pie with ice-cream for breakfast or lunch - what is the big deal? AND who said that I couldn't eat half of that pan of brownies that I just made? AND didn't it make me feel good to have the Cold Stone ice cream at 10:00 at night? Do you see what I am doing to myself? Food and I do not have a good relationship. All things are good in moderation and although I am not gorging myself everyday, or most days for that matter, I need a little self-control. I am sure that I am not alone in this. We hear on the news all the time how Americans are obese, choosing poor foods and not exercising enough. Eating is not the only "food-related" stronghold, but not-eating or purging the food that is eaten. I think that you can agree with me that many of us do not have a healthy relationship with our food.

Well, here is the real kicker. It is not so much as our relationship with food, but our relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Beth wrote a great chapter and I encourage you to read it. She ends it by talking about First Place, a Christ-Centered Health Program. If you are struggling with the way you view food, maybe it would benefit you to check out First Place.

Here is one of the Scripture prayers from the chapter:
"Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me but I desire not to be mastered by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12) Lord God help me to recognize and discern what is not beneficial for me. Help me see that authentic liberty is being free to do certain things and free not to do others."

Praying God's Word: Overcoming Addiction

I am about half way done with the book by Beth Moore. I like what Beth says at the beginning of the addiction chapter - "Addiction is one of the cruelest of all yokes because it deceives us unmercifully and ruthlessly. It comes to us like a friend, promising to bring comfort. It kisses us on the cheek like Judas, stealing from our treasury, then rents us for a cheap fee to the opposition." I like that description and chances are you know what Beth is talking about. You, in fact, probably have an addiction. Consider it. Do you have something in your life that is promising comfort, but is stealing from your relationship with God? Do you have something that you can't stop doing, but is not God- honoring?

Oh Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely. You hem me in - behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. I do not need to feel shame or fear in Your intimate knowledge of every detail of my life because Your Word says that Your knowledge of me is wonderful! Thank You, Father! (Ps. 139:1-6)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:23-24)

God's Blessings to you!

Praying God's Word: Overcoming Feelings of Rejection

Everyone has been rejected somehow. From breaking up a relationship, losing a job, not getting chosen, or being rejected for what you believe might be some common ways of rejection. For the Christian, it is important to not get hung up on feelings of rejection. When we are scared to put ourselves out there, whether it is a new relationship or getting up on stage to present something, we might be losing out on a blessing or a way to share Jesus. Is there something that you are scared to do? I am not admitting to anything, but the next time I start to pull away from something because I am scared, I am going to think about this prayer....

You, Lord, are my shepherd; I shall not be in want. You make me lie down in green pastures; you lead me beside quiet waters; You restore my soul. You guide me in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6)

God bless you this week!

Praying God's Word: Overcoming Feeling Unloved

There are times in my life that I struggle with love. Sometimes I put the love from my husband so high on a pedestal that when he disappoints me, I feel so let down. I think that we humans do that to often. Replacing God's love for the love from others. They are going to fail. Only God's love is constant.

Humans, me included, sometimes feel unlovable. How can anyone love us, including God? A quote from Beth Moore in the book says, "What heartbreak we must bring to God when we continue to disbelieve His love. What more could He have said? What more could He have done? Believe even when you do not feel. Know even when you do not see. He gave the life of His Son to demonstrate His love. The time has come to believe."

The scripture prayer I chose from the chapter is this:
Lord God, help me to trust in Your unfailing love; cause my heart to rejoice in Your salvation. Help me to sing to You, Lord, for You have been good to me! (Psalm 13:5-6)

How fitting this chapter was since this weekend is Valentines weekend! This Saturday, bask in the glow of God's love. God loves you! God bless you this week!

Praying God's Word: Overcoming Deception

Doesn't it make sense that deception is the glue that holds all our sins together? Sometimes we knowingly sin, but we deceive our self by making excuses for our actions. Beth Moore lists some lies that we may tell ourselves when we are covering up a sin. A few of the ones that stuck out to me are: "I can't help the mess I am in. I am caught and there is nothing I can do about it." "This isn't doing me any harm. I can handle it." "Everyone thinks these thoughts most of the time. I'm only human."

Have you ever given an excuse for a behavior? I have. I can think of one right now. Is there something that you have ever kept secret? Is there something that you are ashamed of? Is there something that you have used deception to cover up? Is there something that you have distorted scripture to make okay?

"Father, this moment I am choosing the way of truth. I want to set my heart on Your laws. (Psalm 119:30) Help me choose the way of truth the rest of my days.

Have a blessed week!

Praying God's Word - Overcoming Pride

As I have mentioned before, I didn't buy this book because of the stumbling blocks issue, I bought it because it was about praying God's Word. This last chapter on overcoming pride was a heart pricker. I am actually going to quote a paragraph from the book.

"In some ways, Christians have to be more alert to pride than anyone. If we don't presently have an issue that is actively humbling us, we veer with disturbing velocity toward arrogance and self righteousness. We are wise to remember that Christ never resisted the repentant sinner. He resisted the religious proud and the Pharisaic. Remember, pride wears many masks. I once spoke on pride only to have someone to remark afterward that she had far too little self esteem to have pride. Pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem. Pride is the opposite of humility. We can have a serious pride problem that masquerades as low self-esteem. Pride is self-absorption whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. We are wise to be on the constant lookout for pride in our lives. I believe we can safely say that if we're not deliberately taking measures to combat pride, it's probably doing something to combat humility." - Beth Moore

That can be me at times.

Father, You have told me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than myself. ( Phil. 2:3) Right this moment I confess my selfish ambition and vain conceit to you. Forgive me for so often considering myself better than others. Help me to look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. Please help me have an attitude the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:4-5)

Have a blessed week!

Praying God's Word (Overcoming Unbelief)

For those of you who don't know, I am reading "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore. When she is talking about unbelief, it isn't necessarily not believing in God or that Jesus is the Son of God, but that sometimes our faith is small. She lists a bunch of example scripture prayers, but I am going to just focus on one.

Father, I desire to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)


Have a blessed week!

Praying God's Word and the New Year!

I was able to share my testimony on Saturday with the women at church. Maybe I will post it someday, but it was all handwritten because our computer wasn't up and and running until the weekend. Who knows when or if I will type it up. I did share how much reading through the Bible last year changed my life and that I would be reading a new book at the start of this year called, "Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore. I didn't realize that part of the title said "Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds" I was just interested in the idea of praying scripture. That being said, I think that this book will give me a lot to think about. I hope that if you read this book as well, that you will share with me what you are reading and discovering as you pray with scripture.

I have already read the introduction and chapter 1, "Overcoming Idolatry." In the introduction, Beth discusses how in Ephesians 6:10-18, where Paul is talking about the armor of God, the only weapon described is the Word of God. I love what it says in Hebrews 4:12 about the word of God, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Scripture is God's word. Then Beth goes on to say that Ephesians 6:18 says to, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions..." Thus she links the Word of God and praying.

I don't want praying scripture to have the illusion that it is more spiritual or give it a feeling like it is a magical spell. Just because you recite scripture doesn't mean it will happen, but I want to do this in order to make praying more reverent and more creative. I think that you will see what I mean as I continue through the book.

I am not for sure how to do each chapter, but for the moment I am going to pick one of the sample prayers listed in the book for that chapter that means the most to me.

"My Lord, where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10)

God bless you this week!