I found myself humming Bette Midler’s version of “Wind Beneath My Wings” when I saw the title of today’s lesson. It’s really funny the things your mind goes to with certain phrases and such. Sometimes I think, “wow, I really need to be more careful what I put into my mind.” And other times I’m pleasantly surprised by what pops up.

Day Thirteen

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ~ Exodus 19:4 (NIV)

Yes, again with the eagles, but I really don’t mind. It gives me another opportunity to say, “I am an eagle, not a chicken.” We continue today talking about who we are in Christ. I really think I need this drilled into my head, especially when it comes to the food/body image thing. I want my “futile striving” to cease. I am definitely the type of person who falls for the “performance trap”.

Your identity is found not in your performance, but only in Him. ~ Thin Within (p. 131)

I do want His grace to “infuse every aspect” of my life. (p. 131). Of course, I will not be perfect. I remember reading about Paul’s battles with the flesh years ago, and rather than it being an encouragement that God can still use me when I fail, I felt even worse. I felt like, “well, if Paul can’t even overcome his weaknesses, what hope do I have!” I missed the entire part about how Paul relied on God’s grace as the overcoming power… not in the sense that he never messed up, but in the redemption that God’s mercies are new every morning… that we have HOPE in Christ.

The take away should be that even when we fail, we can run to the loving arms of Jesus.

I do not understand what I do. for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ~ Romans 7:15 (NIV)

Of course, Paul goes on to thank God for grace and that he’s no longer under the law. We will be tempted to break our boundaries… to go against what God has called us to… and if we act on it, we will do what we hate even though we don’t want to. I need to keep in mind that there is always a way out. I don’t have to continue in old behaviors.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bean. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

I must surrender to the Spirit of God and follow the way He’s provided. Still, I will mess up sometimes…

No matter how often you find yourself on your face before Him, He will always, always, always offer His hand, lift you up, embrace you, brush away your tears, cleanse you and give you a clean robe of righteousness. ~ Thin Within (p. 135)

Take Action

In this section we are asked to observe a naturally thin person. Now, we’re not talking about someone who “stays thin” through conscious effort. This is someone who naturally eats when they are hungry and stops when they are full. There are some people in my life like this, and I’ve met some over the years past. I always thought they had something “special” which allowed them to not really “think” about food. Turns out, I have it too, I’ve just ignored that part of me and opted to go the way of the world. I want to return to that natural eater. I want to benefit from God’s design. I want to live like an eagle… not a chicken.

Observations and Corrections

T=”Table”

I did not eat in front of the television today. Let me repeat that. I did not eat in front of the television today… yes, that’s what I said, no sofa eating. Lunch was rather full of distractions (and I’m not awesome at checking in with lots of distractions just yet), but with the Lord’s help, I was able to reign things back in.

Does this mean I’ll never eat on the sofa again, um, I doubt it. It just means that today there was victory in that area. I am not going to set a rule that I can never sofa/tv eat, because the husband and I like to do “dinner and a movie” for our at home date nights. However, as a general practice, I don’t want tv eating to be the “norm” for me any longer.

Was it easy to resist the temptation… um no, but with God all things are possible.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; i lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. ~ Hosea 11:4 (NIV)