Life Plan Devotion #10 [Self-sabotage]

Webster's defines "sabotage" as "any undermining of a cause, plan, or effort." In "self-sabotage," the saboteur is one's self, whether done consciously or subconsciously. It's a fight against success, for success means no more excuses for not showing up, not engaging in LIFE. For the believer, self-sabotage guarantees that no one will expect you to finish God's plan for your life. If there are no expectations, there will be no chance for failure.
Which one(s) of the following methods of self-sabotage do you identify with?

Self-sabotage--> Cause Effect/Result

• Don't exercise--> Health issues
• Addicted to carbs--> Tired and irritable
• Rash and impulsive--> Poor, irreversible decisions
• Compare self to others--> Feel inadequate
• Aim for perfection--> Leads to failure
• Temper rages--> Guilt and shame
• Harbor sense of entitlement--> Filled with pride
• Stay up too late--> Act like a grouch the next day
• Overeat at meals--> Depressed about weight gain

Now that you've identified the devious method(s) you tend to use, to sabotage your chance at success, what is the answer? No matter what the issue/problem/challenge, the answer is always Jesus. If you desire for there to be less of you (in whatever way), then there must be more of Jesus. Stop trying to be "right," for you can either be right or be healed.

Lamentations 3:40 [NIV] "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD."

What this has to do with weight loss: Instead of realizing that despite our best intentions to change, despite our resolve to lose weight, we end up doing the thing we say we want to avoid--overeat, and being discouraged or depressed about it, let's focus on what we are actually doing and the result. Figure out why you are sabotaging your chance at weight-loss success, and take it to the Lord, for He is the only one who can help you find true, lasting success, even in the area of weight loss.

Prayer for Today: "Heavenly Father, help me to examine my ways today and test them. I return to You, Lord, and I ask for your protection, that I will not try to derail myself from accomplishing my best for You. I ask You, specifically, Father, to keep me from my most ingenious, devious method of self-sabotage, which is __________. Give me the wisdom to stop it, I pray. In the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Go forth today, and allow success to show up in your life.

Life Plan Devotion #4 [Consequences]

Everyone makes mistakes, dumb moves, mess ups. Most consider the resulting consequence the hardest part, but I have come to know that the consequence is the best part. It is the consequence that gives one the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson--the first time, hopefully.
What consequences have you experienced: debt, bitterness, guilt, shame, regret, missed opportunities, need for forgiveness, loss of joy, need for repentance, need to pay retribution, having to face delays (in whatever form)? Whatever your consequence, once you've been there, done that, you never want to go back.
When you choose to live outside God's truth, you will experience painful consequences. These consequences are as natural as burning your finger when you touch a hot stove. They are not punishments sent from a vindictive God. For every cause there is an effect. It's the same in the spiritual world as in the natural world. The purpose of the effect is to drive one back to the cause, where there is a valuable lesson to be learned and personal/spiritual growth to be had.

Isaiah 59:2 [NIV]
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God..."

Joel 2:25 [NLT]
"The LORD says, 'I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts...'"

What this has to do with weight loss: It is a very painful moment, when one realizes that one's choices in the area of eating and lack of tending to one's body have culminated in excess weight, weakness, and, often, sickness and/or disease. To do anything other than care for one's body, our gift from God, is sin. Because it is sin, we are assured that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9, KJV). After that, with God's help, we begin anew, doing all we can to live an abundant life, in the healthy body God created for us, knowing that God will do His part--doing for/in us that which we cannot do for ourselves.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I do not want my iniquities to separate me from You, so I want to tell You how sorry I am for my sins. Please forgive me today, and shower me with unmerited grace. Thank You that You, as my good and loving Father, discipline me, as would any good and loving parent. Help me to grow, more than I could ever imagine, through consequences that are allowed by You. Only You offer freedom, healing, hope, and a secure future--before, during, and after the necessary consequences. For those consequences that I have faced that were not caused by sin in my life, thank You for seeing me through. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, and learn from every consequence.