I Corinthians 6:12

So here's the thing.........The single most difficult stronghold that I have allowed to remain in my life is my fixation with weight. I’ve been married nearly 39 years and have allowed my weight to fluctuate nearly 75 pounds over that time. I talk about it all the time; when I’m with other women, discussion inevitably turns to weight and the newest diet. Well, I’ll be 59 years old in a few months and I want to be done with the bondage to weight. I don’t really want to be a size eight again, I want to be strong and healthy! I want live out the remainder of my years with food as my sustenance, not my enemy! I recently received the following e-mail from my daughter-in-law, Jenny, who is one of the joys of my life. I want to share it with you. I have removed some of the personal references, but I believe the rest applies to many of us.

To Robin, from Jenny, 6/17/2009 “I think food may be one of the hardest areas in everyday life to submit ourselves to God. Food is something that we must have everyday; that we can't live without - unlike smoking, alcohol, or pornography. I think many times we write it off because it's not "that bad", but food is an addiction; in many ways can become a god that we serve. We allow it bring us comfort or sometimes punishment, we judge ourselves on how well we do with it, we can't stop once we start having it, we overindulge, under indulge in it, we crave it even when we don't really need it. Because food directly affects our physical image, we find that our minds are constantly centered on it. And on top of that, unfortunately our society revolves around food. The more the better, and the worse it is for you the better we think it tastes. Gatherings, meetings, and parties all revolve around food!! I'm not saying that food is bad, and actually, I'm a fan of enjoying a feast. But there is a big difference between feasting and gluttony. I'm not saying that's what I think you do, but I think it's important to step back, truly recognize all the areas in life that as a society we allow food to serve a purpose other than what God intended it for. Foods, tastes, family meal times are all wonderful gifts from God. We need to honor Him as we enjoy and celebrate these gifts.

I believe that your battle will truly benefit the Body of Christ as a whole. Your story & perseverance will reveal God's goodness & desires to others who struggle with the exact same thing. I believe that you are not only fighting yourself, but that you are fighting something that is generational. When I get older, I want my life to be consumed with so many other glorious things & not be wasting those last years on dieting.

I am here to help however, you need. Not so you can lose weight (although it's a great benefit), but so that you can live as more than a conqueror. That you can go through your day & know that you have submitted to God & served him wholly in every aspect of your life. That you have honored, as best as you can, this earthly body that He has given you. That you can look in the mirror & love the person that God sees there, and see the amazing beauty that God sees when He looks at you - both internally & outwardly. That you will feel confident in the compliments Mike gives you & understand why he finds you so incredibly attractive. And not in some weird prideful way, but in an understanding of being a living, breathing, temple of the holy, amazing, and unblemished God.

Zechariah 7:5-6 "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?" Food has been a selfish god throughout history. God did not despise either the fasting or the feasting, but he wanted both to be to His glory and not our own. I will continue to ask you how it is going. I am praying victory for you!! I am confident God will reveal many new, formerly hidden, things to you as you run this race.”

…..end of Jenny’s e-mail

Zechariah 7:4-6
(NIV) Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? [6] And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?
(The Message) God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: "When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people.

Do it all for Jesus! Jesus, test my motives, only let me act, eat, drink for you!

Blessings, Robin