Week 1 - "Basic Training"

Psalm 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

1.Stop!
~Stressing about your weight (1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.)
~Worrying about your dieting (1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.)
~Obsessing about your failing (Phillippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)

Not only are you sinning in stressing, worrying & obsessing (Psalm 37 speaks of not fretting, resting on the Lord & waiting on Him.), but you are also wasting time & energy. Stressing doesn’t change anything; you don’t even burn enough calories to count. Turn that wasted energy into something that will actually bring you a profit.

2.Start!
~Understanding:
-- That your weight wasn’t gained in a day, so it won’t be lost in a day.
-- That dieting isn’t the answer; it’s just a temporary band-aid.
-- Failing isn’t in falling down, but staying down.

~Changing:
-- The way you see yourself. You were fearfully & wonderfully made in the likeness of God Almighty, and you are a temple of the Holy Ghost. Due to our sin nature, the temple may need a little renovating. It’s no reason to tear the temple down.
-- The way you see your eating habits. God did mean for us to enjoy food. He just didn’t mean for food to control us. Do you let food control you? Do you have to finish every single bite & lick the plate clean? Do you eat to live, or live to eat? It’s ok if you answer yes, because now you see how you eat. Just don’t stop there, start changing these habits.
-- The way you see failure. You are not perfect; no one is. It’s just a plain, old, ugly fact. Now that you know that, move on. At some point, in just about everything you do, you will mess up. But that is not failure. Failure is:

“To decline; to decay; to sink; to become weaker;”
When you make a mistake, don’t get back up & beat yourself up for it, that is failure. When you pick yourself up & learn from your mistake & move on, that is success.

~Acting:
-- Only weigh yourself once a week; no more, no less. Remember that it is only a number, one that can, & will be changed. It is not who you are. You are a child of the King & precious in His sight.
-- Enjoy what you eat, just learn that less is more. “Diet food” doesn’t always mean that it is better for you. Enjoy the food that God has provided for you with thanksgiving & moderation.
-- When you do make a mistake, pick yourself up & learn from that mistake so you know what not to do next time. It took Thomas Edison 10,000 tries to invent the light bulb. When asked about his failures, he said,

“If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

Week 1 Mission:
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to leave at least ONE bite on your plate at EVERY meal. Remember, you control the food; the food doesn’t control you.

Continuing Mission:
You will keep in contact with your fellow agents to ensure they stay on track. If you feel a moment of weakness yourself, call on a fellow agent for encouragement. Remember, you are never alone in this. Through your circle of friends, & the power of God, you can do all things.

Proverbs 3:5-8 ; Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Hebrews 3:13; But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.