​Those who are honest with themselves and others will admit that they are overweight and suffering from eating disorders for any number of reasons. Very often the primary reason for gluttonous behavior or otherwise failing to take care of your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit by eating and drinking for the glory of God occurs when people use unhealthy foods and beverages, or abstain from eating altogether, as a substitute for coping with the negative circumstances of their lives. For example, some people gain weight after a divorce in an effort to dull the pain they feel. Others eat and/or drink to endure the stress of their jobs. Likewise, some people use food to bury the pain of trauma they have experienced. In other cases, some completely abstain from eating and drinking altogether in order to regain a measure of control in their lives.
 
If any of those scenarios describe you, I encourage you to finally have the strength through Christ to confront the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental issues that drive your desire to eat. Recognize that you must do so in order to win the health and fitness war. You cannot succeed fighting the battle on multiple fronts. Right now, you are fighting your body's physical cravings and fleshly desires to return to the sins of gluttony and failing to eat for the glory of God in addition to the spiritual attacks from the enemy to lure you backwards into bondage.  Satan has no problem dragging out your emotional and mental baggage to cause you to stumble and revert to your old ways. Remove these weapons from his arsenal, and the warfare gets a bit easier.
 
Turn to the One True Living God, the Comforter, to be everything you tried to make food be in your life. He is the Great I AM who is actually able to be whatever you need Him to be! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2).     
 
If you are ready and willing to be honest with yourself about the root of your health and fitness issues, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

​Be honest with yourself.  Are you on the brink of falling off the proverbial wagon?  Is your mind stuck on apple pie a la mode like a CD on repeat? The desire is building and has been for days. You have been fighting the triggers hard, but you have almost convinced yourself that giving in to your cravings and going back to your harmful eating disorder is not such a bad idea. It is just this one time, then you will go back to your health and fitness plan and that will be the end of it.
 
What happened the last two, ten, or twenty-five times you let the sin of pride convince you to give in to your cravings or eating disorder? Did it all work out the way it was planned in your head? If not, then what really happened?  In the case of the glutton, for example, after the first bite, guilt sets in, followed by a sense of failure.  Again!  Then pride puts in overtime by logically concluding that you may as well get your other cravings out of the way, too, since you've blown your diet anyway.  Because you have a pattern of drowning your sorrows in a sea of unhealthy foods and beverages, you find yourself at a lunch buffet you haven't been to in days, weeks, or even months.  Those suffering from eating disorders enter a similar cycle when they give in to their triggers.
 
How many times must you wander in the same circle, covering the same ground, getting the same results?  Giving in to your cravings or triggers on ONE occasion CAN and WILL HURT YOU!  It hurt every time you did it in the past, and it's going to hurt you this time, too.  So don't do it!  Choose a different path this time!  Give your cravings and triggers to the Lord and submit to His Will to honor Him with your body by eating and drinking for His glory (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31). Then you'll find yourself walking out of the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders and discovering the path that leads to the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life!  I encourage you not to make a decision you will regret.      
 
Make this the time that you deny your sinful cravings and triggers to harm your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit by abusing food or starving yourself.  Instead, choose TODAY to obey God’s command to be holy even in regard to your health and fitness by learning to eat and drink for His glory! PURCHASE YOUR COPY of the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition TODAY Purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

We all know intellectually that diets high in calories, sugar, fat, salt, and cholesterol wreak havoc on the human body and result in an early death. Consequently, common sense says to avoid eating those things in order to live longer, healthier lives. So why is it that instead of getting healthier and living longer, this generation is not only getting fatter, but it is also setting a trend to become the first generation in a long time that has a shorter life expectancy than its predecessor?
 
Paul explains it best in Romans 7:15, "I don't really understand myself.  For I want to do what is right, but I do not do it.  Instead, I do what I hate" (NLT).  The things we hate usually equate to the sins in our lives. For instance, those with anger management problems often hate losing their tempers. Drug addicts come to hate the substance that gets them high. Even serial killers can leave behind evidence that they feel remorse but do not know how to stop.  It is the same with every sin, including the sins of gluttony, making an idol of your stomach, and otherwise failing to take care of your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit by eating and drinking for the glory of God. When you want to be free from the bondage of sin, you begin to hate the sin.
 
Unfortunately, you cannot set yourself free from wrongdoing no matter how much you might want to.  Jesus explained the predicament of Paul and all of mankind in these terms, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).  Your desire to be free is genuine. Your past efforts to lose weight and become free of your eating disorder should be applauded. However, there is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). You must repent in order to obtain and maintain health and fitness success because "whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 8:36).
 
If you realize that your flesh is weak and you want God to deliver you from your sinful and unhealthy eating habits, then repent and honor God with your body by learning to eat and drink for His glory!  Then purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

​Growth is a never-ending process. It does not end when we reach adulthood. If you do not grow up, you will at least continue to grow old. However, God's plan for us is that we grow not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually. We grow physically through natural birth from infancy to adulthood to old age, but the Bible is clear that we must be born again in order to attain true spiritual, emotional, and mental maturity.
 
In regard to mental growth, we are given the mind of Christ. Specifically, Philippians 2:5 states, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."  Moreover, 2 Timothy 1:7 goes on to say, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind."  Finally, 1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT further explains that, "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child, but when I grew up, I put away childish things."
 
Regarding emotional growth, the Bible clearly states that we are to be, "Steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing our labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).  Furthermore, the Book of Ephesians teaches that we are to, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).
 
In terms of spiritual growth, the Bible teaches that it is a process that begins in the natural and is ongoing until we become like Christ.  Specifically, 2 Corinthians 3:18 states that, "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).
 
This same process of growth applies to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and fitness journey.  Right now, you and the rest of the world see the overweight body you have grown into or the eating disorder that has matured into a habitual behavior over time, but God sees the transformed you that will emerge in the fullness of time from glory to glory. From His perspective, it is already done! It will become manifested to you and the world as you walk in obedience.  However, if you feel along the way that you are not perfect, that you are lacking, or that there is room for improvement, you are right. But be encouraged.  
 
First of all, we all feel that way. Mankind desires and strives for perfection because we were originally created as perfect beings. Although the perfection was lost due to our sin, the knowledge and subsequent desire to be perfect in every way remains within us. Consequently, we have a strong urge to reach for perfection in some manner, whether it is in regard to looks, relationships, professional vocation, longevity, or health and fitness.  Secondly, you want to be perfect because God is perfect. We often describe His perfection as holiness.  Contrary to popular opinion, desiring to be perfect is not sinful.  On the contrary, God repeatedly commands in His Word that we are to, “Be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:21; 20:7, 1 Peter 1:16).  Holiness is perfection.
 
In the Book of Leviticus, this commandment to be holy was given to the Israelites when God instructed them to abstain from eating unclean things as part of the way they worshipped and honored Him. Consequently, it should come as no surprise to you that you desire to attain godly, spiritual perfection in regard to your eating and drinking habits because God Himself placed the desire within you.  The question is, will you obey the command of the Lord and start living a holy life in regard to your health and fitness?      
 
If it is your desire to obey God’s command to be holy even in regard to your health and fitness, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

One of the worst deceptions of the enemy is the lie that people have time to get right with God before they die, so "live it up" in sin while you can.  I clearly recall that evil thought reverberating in my mind repeatedly as a child before being saved and for a time afterwards because I did not want to give up some of my favorite sins. But God is very honest with us about our chances of living to see another day. Proverbs 27:1 warns us not to "boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Likewise, the Bible declares that a man's days are few and full of trouble (Job 14:1). Consequently, the Bible cautions that man should learn to number his days in order to gain wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
 
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). Learning to number your days brings about the realization that God's Word is true! You will not be here long, and you do not know how much time you have. When you factor in your unhealthy eating habits, you also come to realize that your sin will result in even shorter days on the earth as death typically pays the wages of the sins of gluttony and failing to eat and drink for the glory of God, which results in eating disorders, sooner rather than later (Romans 6:23). This realization breeds a sense of urgency within you.
 
In other words, you come to understand that your choice not only to accept Christ as your Savior, but also to obey His commands, including the commands to honor God with your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and to eat and drink for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), are directly related to both your physical life in this world and your spiritual life in the next.  While tomorrow still is not promised, God does promise that those who set their love, meaning their devotion and worship, on Him will be delivered from trouble, set on high, receive answers to their prayers, be honored, and given long life (Psalm 91:14-16). Therefore, I warn you to consider your ways, including your unhealthy lifestyle, and learn to number your days.
 
If you realize that your sinful and unhealthy eating habits will shorten your days and you are ready to repent and honor God with your body by learning to eat and drink for His glory, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

Have you ever started a job and management threw you into the position headfirst with no training, no handbook, and no one to ask questions to because the one person who knew what they were doing quit without notice? I have, and those are the jobs I hated the most. Many people feel that life is like that. They wish they had an instruction manual instead of the school of hard knocks on-the-job training.
 
But God has given us an instruction manual for life. It is called the Bible. Failing to read it and to apply it to your life results in the same consequences people experience when they do not read the policy and procedure handbook at work.  For example, if you do not know the company's rules, you are more likely to accidentally break them. If you do not learn the company's procedure for obtaining medical leave, you could lose your job while you are home recovering from surgery. If you do not know what benefits you are entitled to, you will never know your true value as an employee.
 
The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). You can think of life as a place of employment. God is the Owner of the company, but there are a lot of demonic co-workers and supervisors on the job. Just as they cause heartache at work in the natural, the same is true in the spiritual realm. Instead of leading you to obey the Owner's rules and get the benefits of blessings on earth and eternal life in heaven, they encourage you to engage in behavior that jeopardizes your livelihood and leads to an early demise followed by eternal destruction in hell.
 
It is especially true in terms of the sin of gluttony because the path to death is clearly visible, but you are helpless to stop. I encourage you to read the manual and obey its instructions to eat and drink for the glory of God. Life can be a great place to work when you focus on who you are truly working for, obey His directives, and use the grievance policy to report all demonic activity interfering with your work. Then you will enjoy the benefits of a long, healthy life and an incomparable retirement plan.
 
If you need God’s on-the-job training for health and fitness, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent deceived Eve into disobeying God and eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve shared the forbidden fruit with her husband, Adam, who willingly and knowingly chose to disobey God's command. Nevertheless, when it was time to face the consequences, Adam placed all of the blame on Eve (Genesis 3).
 
As descendants of Adam and Eve, we invariably make the same mistakes they made. Sometimes the enemy deceives us into disobeying God, but usually we enter into sin fully aware of what we are doing. The result is the same now as it was then. Our eyes are opened to the deceptive lust of the flesh when it is too late to make a better decision. Instead of accepting responsibility and running to the throne of grace in repentance, we make excuses for our behavior and shift the blame to other people or things.
 
For example, the bag of marijuana was not yours. You were just riding in the car with known drug dealers who happened to get pulled over and arrested. Your mistress is pregnant because her birth control method failed. Never mind the fact that you committed adultery. You cheated on your diet because your husband brought donuts home or a friend took you out to lunch. Immature people do not take responsibility for anything, especially their own behavior.  The same is true for immature Christians, but God says it is time to grow up and weigh every decision against His Word. He will hold you accountable for every deed (Revelation 20:12-15).
 
If you truly want to become healthy and fit for life, you must accept the fact that others can and will continue to make unhealthy choices regarding food, that includes relatives living in your home with you. While you may not have control over their behavior, you are completely responsible for your own. As Adam was fully aware of his sin when he ate the forbidden fruit, you too, are guilty of willfully sinning against God every time you break your health and fitness plan now that you know He commands you in His Word to eat and drink for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) and honor Him with your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, by taking care of it (1 Corinthians 6:20).
 
If you are ready to stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for your health and fitness, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
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If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

When I was over 250 pounds, I used to look at those who were thin and healthy and wish I was, too. Looking at them was proof that it was possible, but the reflection in the mirror, the reality of how much weight I had to lose, and the fact that I did not want to stop eating and drinking unhealthy foods and beverages made losing weight seem like an unattainable pipe dream.
 
Since God has delivered me from the sin of gluttony, I have met others along the way who felt the way I used to, but they were looking at me. At 89 pounds lost, someone wished they could lose that much weight, and they would have been satisfied. At that point I was a size 14. At 99 pounds lost, I was told by overweight women that I did not need to lose any more weight, and they would be happy to be that size again. I wore a size 12.
 
It was the same as I slimmed down even more. At every level, I met someone who would have been more than happy to switch places with me, and I was not done yet. I am telling you this not to brag, but to encourage you. I know from your perspective losing 25 pounds is a good thing, but it is nothing compared to the 150 you still have left to lose. Change your perspective! Other people have to start from 500, and losing 25 pounds seems impossible to them. They would gladly take your place.
 
Focusing on how far you have left to travel in order to reach your health and fitness goals is one of the enemy's best weapons to get you to quit. God has brought you this far, He will not leave you in the middle of the journey. He will take you all the way to the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life, but you must take up your spiritual weapons and conquer the enemy inhabiting the land promised to you. The way to defeat him is to have a grateful heart for every inch removed from your waistline, every ounce lost, and every pound lighter you become. Every day that you resist the urge to give in to a trigger or otherwise stick to your plan to become free of the eating disorder plaguing your life is a victory over the enemy. Like the tenth leper in Luke 17:11-19, you should run back to Jesus and say, "Thank You! If I never lose another pound, I am grateful for what You have already done!" Have a praise party for every eating disorder milestone you reach! God is pleased when you have a heart which overflows with thanksgiving when He blesses you, and it makes Him want to shower down more blessings upon you. So praise Him now for such as it is and on credit for what is to come!
 
If you finally realize that your circumstances are not as bad as you think they are and you want to continue to learn to eat, drink, or exercise for the glory of God,  register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
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If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

When we face difficult circumstances, we often feel as though we are in it alone even when it is obvious that we are not. For example, if you are married, your spouse is as much affected by what takes place in your life as you are. If there is a layoff on your job, everyone who received a pink slip understands what you are going through. In America, over one third (1/3) of the population is overweight. That means they all are experiencing the same challenges as you are in terms of losing unwanted pounds and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Likewise, those struggling with eating disorders are also acutely aware of the pain and devastation the disorder causes in your life.
 
Nevertheless, the isolation, the loneliness, and the belief that no one understands your plight persists, especially when you eat healthier meals alone, exercise alone, and adopt a healthy lifestyle alone in a household full of people who have no interest in changing their unhealthy habits. Recognize that this is a trick of the enemy, an attack designed to make you quit! If you think about it, it is really not much different than the peer pressure you felt as a child to skip school, become sexually active, or use drugs because everyone else was doing it.
 
The Bible says, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11). The enemy's intent is the same today as it was during childhood. He wants you to feel left out, to think you are missing out on something, and to desire to be included. But remember what happened to the kids who skipped school? Many of them became high school dropouts who still struggle to make ends meet. Remember the girls who decided to satisfy their boyfriends' lust? Some of them became teenaged mothers and/or were infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Remember the friends who urged you to take a hit of weed? A few of them became drug addicts, drug dealers, and/or incarcerated prisoners.
 
Now fast forward to today, yesterday, last week, last month, or even last year.  How many people have died from heart attacks in your family? Which co-worker was paralyzed due to a stroke? What church member is on dialysis? Who among your friends was diagnosed with diabetes? You do not have to look back thirty (30) years to know what will happen if you give in to the pressure to quit. That scenario is playing out all around you every day.
 
Even if it is true that no human being on earth knows, cares, or understands what you are enduring on your health and fitness journey, Jesus does! Even if no one will travel the narrow road that leads to health and fitness with you, He will! He has promised that even if everyone else fails you and leaves you, He never will!  He will stay by your side, holding your right hand through it all, and when you have done all you can and you are unable to stand on your own, He will carry you out of the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders into the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life!
 
If you finally realize that you do not have to eat, drink, or exercise alone on your health and fitness journey, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
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If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

You should show your thanks to the Lord for another day on earth by honoring Him with your body and your spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). A great way to do this would be to drink plenty of water, have healthy meals throughout the day, go for a walk, ride your bike with your kids, or take a Zumba class.  However, if today is one of those days where the mere thought of dieting and exercising makes you feel tired, preparing your meals seems like a hated chore, you want to give in to your eating disorder triggers, and you cannot talk yourself into working out, remember that you have an unlimited supply of power in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
 
Encourage yourself to stay the course by verbally declaring to yourself and the enemy who is opposing you that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)!  Then, do it!  Get dressed, workout, eat your healthy breakfast, pack your healthy lunch, serve your family a healthy dinner, and keep your therapy appointment regarding the eating disorder.  Defeat the enemy again on this day!  Do not worry about tomorrow.  It is not promised, and today has enough evil to face and defeat in itself (Matthew 6:34).  Focus on the baby steps before you to get through each second, minute, and hour of today!  This day and each successive day's victories will increase your confidence and faith that through Christ you can do this because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)!
 
Remember, the race is not given to the swift nor the battle to the strong" (Ecclesiastes 9:11), "but he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). Every overweight person wants to permanently achieve and sustain weight loss success.  Everyone entangled with an eating disorder wants to be set free.  Unfortunately, we buy into the world's "microwave moment" standards and believe success should occur instantly.  However, the Lord does not measure success by how quickly you accomplish your personal goals.  On the contrary, Jesus said that whoever will be great in His kingdom must first and foremost become a servant (Matthew 20:26), and He exemplified how to do this as we carry out our kingdom building assignments.
 
Jesus' primary objective on earth was to be crucified on the Cross for mankind's sins, but on the way to the Cross, He taught, healed, fed, forgave, and resurrected many people.  In other words, the King of kings, Lord of lords, and Prince of Peace chose to serve mankind while simultaneously completing His spiritual objective.  On your health and fitness journey, it is easy to get tunnel vision as you focus on shedding pounds, losing inches, and adding definition to your physique.  But remember over 1/3 of Americans are obese, so chances are you know someone who needs to "come see a man" (John 4:29) who can free him or her from the sin of gluttony just as He's freed you.   Likewise, a high percentage of Americans also suffer from eating disorders and need to know that deliverance is not only possible, but it is readily available through Christ. 
 
"Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give to you.  In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6)!  Literally walk in the Master’s footsteps by following His example!  While you may not be healing the lame, you should encourage those who see your health and fitness success and want to obtain it to eat, drink, and exercise for the glory of God. Teach them what you have been taught.  Encourage them as you have been encouraged.  Continue to be the example they should follow. In truth, that is the whole point of your health and fitness success, to lift Jesus up before men so that they will be drawn to Him.
 
If you finally recognize that health and fitness was never meant to be a fleeting microwave moment of temporary success but a lifestyle of abundant living and overflowing blessings to those who see you succeed through Christ, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones!  The classes are free!  There are no registration fees or membership fees!  Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials.  Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST!  Space is limited.  Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!