Life Plan Devotion #121 [Just do it]

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (NKJV).

We have looked at two of the three "my part" clauses in this promise of success. Today, let's look at the third clause of Joshua 1:8, "that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it."
The Hebrew word for "observe" for Joshua 1:8c is shâmar (shaw-mar’), which means "guard, protect, attend to: be circumspect, take heed, keep, mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, watch."
It is not enough to read God's Word. Without illumination of the Holy Spirit, without being circumspect ("heedful of circumstances or consequences," Webster's), the reader may as well be reading the newspaper or a novel, for all the good it will do him/her.
The following is a list of how some versions state our Joshua 1:8c clause:
--"...so that you may be careful to do everything written in it" (TNIV).
--"...take heed to do according to all that is written therein" (Darby).
--"...Make sure you do everything that is written in it" (NIRV).
--"...observe and do according to all that is written in it" (Amplified).
--"...obey it completely" (CEV).
--"...obey everything that is written there" (NCV).
--"...making sure you practice everything written in it" (Message).
God's Word is our instruction book, and it is essential that we know it and mediate on it. There is a third key aspect, and that is that we must do what the Word tells us to do. In John 14:15, Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (NKJV). He also said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching" (John 14:23, NIV).
I remember seeing a church marquee that said something like, "If you're a child of the king, there ought to be a family resemblance." How true! I fear we have many who think they are Christians, may have grown up in the church, may attend church, may even have signed a card or repeated a prayer, but are not truly born again.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, KJV), but each of us must take a good long look at our own life, at what we see, say, and do. In First John 2:3, we are told, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands" (NIV).
God's Word is meant to transform us, to help us "look" more like our Father and King. In James 1:22-25, we are admonished to "be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)" (Amplified).
Reading, meditating on, heeding and obeying God's Word is not legalism; it is liberty. It's the "my part" of the promises found in Joshua 1:8 and James 1:25 (among many other promises).

What this has to do with weight loss: As you allow God's Word to transform you on the inside, your "outside" will reflect that, as well. See what God's Word has to say about your weight-loss journey, and then just do it. The end result will be amazing.

Confession:
I read, meditate on, heed, and obey God's Word, so I can claim God's promises.

Life Plan Devotion #19 [Need a makeover?]

Did you ever watch "Extreme Makeover"? No, I'm not talking about Ty Pennington and the Home Makeover Team, although it's a good show, too. I'm referring to the show which chose several less-than-beautiful women willing to hand over their body to a panel of experts in plastic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, diet and exercise, hair care, clothing, and makeup. There was a token psychologist, but it wasn't clear how involved the women were in personal counseling, which might explain the true shock on their face at their first "reveal."
What truly important thing about yourself would you like to change, that you would need God's help to accomplish? Perhaps additional questions to ask yourself would be, "How does God want to transform me? What change in my life would please Him?" Maybe you cannot move forward in your life mission, without this change. Whether you need courage to see a counselor, confidence to ask a friend for prayer, the self discipline to live a downsized life or stop abusing your finances, the determination to walk away from an unhealthy relationship, the submission to the nudge to quit rehearsing your past hurts so you can move forward into the present and the future, or the motivation to mind your own business, God can help you do what you cannot seem to do for yourself. Partner with Him, and the "caterpillar" in your life will become a "butterfly."

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will" (NIV).

What this has to do with weight loss: Every person on the weight-loss surgery journey wants to end up a svelte/handsome woman/man. What we soon realize is that our surgeon operated on our stomach, not our mind. There is emotional surgery that must be performed, if we are to be successful long term. As daunting a task as that may seem, it's helpful and comforting to know that the One who created us is ready, willing, and able to transform us. Allow Him to renew your mind and heart, and you will see the changes, inside and out.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, help me not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. When that happens, I'll be able to test and approve Your good, pleasing, and perfect will for my life. I don't want to live anymore in denial about what needs to change in me. I don't want to avoid doing the "hard thing" in that area of my life. I desire to be transformed, but it scares me. Today, I pray for the courage and strength to change the things that, with Your help, I can change, those truly important things that will please You and that will help me accomplish the life mission You have for me. I ask You to do the transformational work in me. Give me the courage, strength, and power to drop my resistance and quit making excuses. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen."

Go forth today, in the anticipatory joy of godly transformation.