Displaying the Banner Quite often, you can get really psyched, excited, and motivated to do something. Be it weight loss, spring cleaning, relationship over haul, or mastering a skill. The enthusiasm in you may have been birthed in a meeting, during a conversation with a friend, or even found in the pages of a book but you could tell when it had made its way into your heart and mind. It was accompanied by energy, resolve, focus, and desire. Within minutes you KNEW what you wanted and started brain storming how you would go about getting it. If it is weight loss you want, you pinpoint what needs to change concerning your food and activity. You set your sights on the end result and chart the best possible course to get there. All is well until you hit a point of distraction, discouragement, or delay. Stress, bumps in the road, unexpected or unplanned hurdles and raw emotions have a way of shifting your focus and changing your plans. You go from what you knew you wanted and were willing to work for, to what you want at the moment and how you will go about getting it. You trade the permanent for the temporary. Your future weight loss goal is set aside for the your present pleasure. That is when you decide to continue reaching for what you ultimately want or settle for what you want NOW! At this crossroads we must remember what it was you really wanted and strengthen your resolve to continue in THAT direction. If you want to park here, all you have to do is stop doing what you were doing in order to get to your goal. But if you want the prize, the future outcome, the goal, then you must review what you had previously set your heart on and continue doing the things you know you need to do to get there. Go back to the basics of what you learned and what you decided to start doing. Take it one step, one day at a time and go toward the goal. There is a verse in the Bible that is coming to my mind this morning. It is 2 Timothy 3:14, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of..” While the original context of this verse has to do with Biblical instruction and the application of those instructions, I am seeing the words as a banner of sorts to display on the roadside of my weight loss journey. The message will come down to four empowering words (if heeded) written in large, bold script. BUT YOU MUST CONTINUE!!!!! No matter the temptation that rears its ugly head or how strong the pull toward food or giving up may be these words will serve as guardrails and steering wheels to keep me on the right path. The food is calling my name. But you must continue. The pressure by others to stop is increasing. But you must continue. The resolve has faded. But you must continue. Come what may you must continue. The message of this devotional does not have to be limited to weight loss. I pray that no matter what your journey, what decision you made long ago, what resolve you had, that it would be re-ignited with a fresh passion to continue. Father, in every area of my life, help me to keep my eye on the goal and continue to take the steps that will lead me there. I Will Follow - Chris Tomlin youtube/watch?v=g02mOpdNDtY
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:39:14 +0000