Losing the Weight

In my dorm, each hall has a bulletin board that is decorated every few months by the RA. Walking to class today, I noticed the headline for the board.... "Get Skinny for Spring Break." I wasn't surprised to see a picture of Victoria Secret Model Alessandra Ambrosio and some ridiculously ripped male model as our 'motivation' for 'sexy bikini bodies.'
        
Seriously?

Something about that is not okay to me. And not just because I am not blessed with a 'sexy bikini body' (let's face it- even in shape, I'm built more like a linebacker than a prima ballerina). Nope- It is because I am a follower of Christ.
"Now Mayzie," you might say, "What's wrong and not Christian about wanting to be skinny? Can't I want to look good?"
My answer? Grab your Bible, and keep reading :)

See, God has recently convicted me about my eating habits. I have not taken care of my body over the past eighteen years, and I can see the effects of that. I am not in shape, my blood sugar average are too high, and I (until recently) paid no attention to what I ate. A few weeks ago, my mom told me about this book she had read called "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst (I reccommend it!). I started reading, and the Lord began to speak so much truth into my life regarding by health and body. Between His Word and Ms. TerKeurst, I have learned a lot about what it means to glorify God with all I do.

Truth 1: Your Body Is NOT Your Own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
When a friend lends you a shirt, or their computer, or anything that belings to them, don't you take better care of it than you do your own belongings? It is scriptural truth that these bodies we live in are God's alone. He did not pay for us with money- He paid a life so we could be temples for His Spirit. Since we don't beling to ourselves, shouldn't we honor the Owner of our bodies by treating them as such?

Truth 2: We are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14)
As stated before, I am not a small woman. When God made me, He made me to play football rather than be a flyer on a cheer squad (it's a joke-y'al laugh). I know I am not the only person- man or woman- that does not fit the societal norm of acceptable body shape. From the top of our curly hair to our toes that may look like worms, God thumbprinted each of us totally unique. Since He made us without a norm, why do we try to fit one (i.e. skinny, ripped, tan, tall), especially one unattainable for most people? I'm not saying God wants us to be overweight and unhealthy and say it's okay because we were created that way- I'm saying take care of the body you were given, no matter what shape you are.

Truth 3: Motivation is Everything (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Often, when I, and people in general, begin to diet, it is for one reason: to lose weight. To fit this idea of "skinny" or "sexy." To look good in that swimsuit. Sometimes it is to feel better. But how often is our decision to be healthy solely motivated by a desire to glorify our Father, Creator, and Owner? See, we often don't think God cares what we put in our bodies. But Biblically, we are told all our actions are to glorify Christ. ALL OF THEM.
Wait, that means eating, too?
Ummm, it says all.
So yes.
This was frustrating to me at first. I mean, I really, really, like food. Maybe even love it. Then I realized I couldn't properly serve God if each of my actions didn't magnify Him. Each. And. Every. One. Like my friend Kim Nicks once said to me, "You can't be a missionary if you're coughing up mucus every day." Our health is not about us.
It's not about how I look.
It's not about how I feel.
It's about how I am glorifying God.

So really, that's why I have a problem with skinny. I have a problem with diets. I have a problem with eating right and exercising for myself. I can't ever do it for myself.
And I shouldn't.
God gives us His Spirit so we can do all we do to glorify Him. Each action we take, each thing we eat, each day we do (or don't) exercise either makes Him greater or makes us greater.

I don't know about y'all, but since the Almighty Creator paid for me, I had better live like He's my Owner.

And eat like it, too.

Blessings,
Mayzie