Discussion Board

Galatians 2:20-21
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

I am on a pursuit to live a life surrendered completely to Christ. I am asking God to show me exactly what that looks like. I've been a Christian for many, many years; but the SELF in me is strong and wants to be in control, and I believe this is partly what has lead to years of struggle with my weight. I also believe God is delivering me from being a slave to food through the McDougall program, and I have had a lot of success over the last two years with this WOE (reversed diabetes, lost 100 pounds).

Despite that, however, I still feel like I struggle to live in a way that is completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit. So, I am praying and asking God to help me. I would love to engage with others who also desire to live this way. If anyone would like to share thoughts and insights about living a surrendered life, especially in this setting, as it relates to our eating, I would welcome the company.

Here are some thoughts I read today from a devotional by Kay Arthur called "LORD, I give You this Day."

When we start our days by giving each moment ahead into God’s keeping, we acknowledge our utter dependence on His amazing grace – and our utter inability to be righteous in our own strength.
It is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables us to keep God’s statues and ordinances. Thus Paul could write, “Walk by the Spriit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal 5:16). And it is the Spirit within that causes us to fear God, to have a reverential respect for Him. It is the Spirit who keeps us from turning away from God.
It is grace, grace, grace. God does it all. Ours is only to believe. Even the faith to believe is of grace. It is all of grace.
It is by grace we are saved. It is by grace that we know Him intimately. It is by grace that we live day by day. By grace we deal with the traumas of life. By grace we serve God. By grace we please God. By grace we deal with our sins when we do not walk by the Spirit but yield to the flesh.
By grace, and grace alone, we approach God and receive the things we need—whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. Through faith, we lay hold of the grace of God, believing and walking in obedience to Him, no matter what.
Lord, it is truly humbling to realize that I cannot live a life of faith on my own. And yet how freeing to know that, through Your grace, You offer everything I need!

Wow!

Dear Kristykay, thanks for sharing so much of yourself and the excellent devotional thoughts with us!

I am grateful for your victories in regard to your eating and health and I am grateful for your faith and your devotion to our Lord.

When I look at the history of eating and especially think about Dr. McDougall's experience in Hawaii, I see the SAD as not only unhealthy but I think of it as dishonoring our bodies, God's temples (1 Corinthians 6). This belief helps me to stay focused on eating for health...and to know that I am eating ultimately for Him.

I also think about Jesus fasting for 40 days and the fasts of the first century disciples. It seems to me that McDougalling is far less demanding than fasting. So the Bible challenges us to be strong in not letting food (or anything else) except the Spirit control us (Romans 8.12-14).

Grace is amazing! The realization that all of life is a gift--including our faith, repentance, obedience, endurance etc.--helps me to be thankful and, for me, gratitude is the key to joy. If we were not grateful, how could we have any joy in the Lord?

So, Kristykay, I will pray for you daily and I ask you to pray for me and for all others who want to join us--McDougallers who are struggling to be surrendered to God.

1 Corinthians 10.31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (NIV)

Pinkrose,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments! I appreciate your perspective all over these boards, and I am honored to pray for you. Thank you for praying for me.

I love your thoughts about gratitude. You are so right. We get to choose what we will focus on, and being grateful for all God has done for us is the key to joy. I was thinking, it's also a step toward surrender. Especially when faced with temptation...if I focus on what I "want" that I can't have, that will lead to me giving in to temptation. However, if I focus on all I can enjoy in freedom, I will be grateful for the bounty God has provided me, and not long for more of what will only lead to my destruction. Seeing God as my MORE...all I ever need...and having a heart of gratitude will keep me in the right frame of mind to make choices that will lead to true Life and Joy! And that is possible because of the Lord's exceeding grace to us!

Thanks for giving me so much to think about today. And thank you for joining me on this journey.

Thanks Kirstykay for your comments. I was thinking something very similar earlier this week. Can I join you and pinkrose in announcing my desire to live a submitted life?

I'm new to the McDougall way of eating - have lost 8 pounds so far and am enjoying it very much. I believe that it was the "all you can eat" that brought me here but now that I've been eating this way for a few weeks, I realize that I will still have to submit to God's genius design by eating ONLY within the bounds of hunger.

Thanks for being a Light here on these boards...believe me when I tell you that I can see your Light...rejoice!

mrspotatohead,
Welcome! Thank you for your comments! Yes, please join us. I hope many will and that we will all learn from eachother, and grow closer to God in the process!

I'm glad you're enjoying your new McDougall WOE, and that you've lost weight already! That's great! Yes, eating within the boundaries of hunger and fullness can be a challenge, but one that is so important to recognize. Sounds like you are doing great! I'm glad you're here.

Awesome new video from Big Daddy Weave: http://www.bigdaddyweave.com/videos/red ... d=39155797

Praise to our Great Redeemer who set us FREE! May we be FREE INDEED! Gotta love it!

Sweet video Kirstykay! Love it! Thanks so much for sharing - you've brightened my day!

BTW - Thanks for the warm welcome!

I am in a really good place right now; feeling determined and hopeful and bright. I feel like God is empowering me to carry out what I need to do to lay a hold of all He has for me to accomplish. I know this is from Him. I can’t do anything, except for the power of the Holy Spirit. I am happy to be led by the Spirit. It doesn’t feel hard now. Just surrender. Just allow God to guide me and give me the strength and provide the means to do it. It’s a lot harder to NOT do it. Temptation is just that…a tempting to live outside of what is really the EASIER way to live...tempting me to move toward the things that will kill, steal and destroy my joy, my hope and my freedom. When Cain was full in rebellion, God asked him a pointed question:
Genesis 4:6-7
New International Version (NIV)
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. ”

Given the choice, the choice to rebel will always lead to sorry and misery. The choice to obey will always lead to life and peace and happiness of heart. I have lived this experience with my eating. When I am in full rebellion, I am miserable. When I choose to eat in a way that honors my body, the Lord’s temple, I am at peace and happy and motivated to focus on more important things in life. The contrast seems so striking to me now, but in the midst of rebellion, it seems so foggy and difficult. That is because “sin is crouching at my door, wanting to have me…” God always enables us to rule over it…but we must choose to.

Thank you, Lord for the ability to choose life and peace, and for your mighty equipping to face temptations and trials of all kinds. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that so clearly guides, directs and empowers me to “do what is right.” Amen

Great thoughts, KK! Let us be thankful!

Someone has said we can (like Cain) choose to worship self or (like Abel) choose to worship God....

KK - I second pinkrose! may we all choose light rather than darkness, life rather than death!!!

Thanks KirstyK for your comments,I am struggling right now to get back on plan.Must not go Ables' way.I am honored to pray for you and Pinkrose,and all of the people struggling and on plan.RAS

RAS,
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. I will pray for you, for sure. We all struggle, but God is faithful! He is our strength and our shield in times of trouble! I hope you can receive the grace to stand under the temptations!

Wow! I hadn't realized it's been so long since I posted here. My kids are all home from school now, and my schedule doesn't leave me much time for posting. But, I saw this quote today and just had to post it here. I've really been thinking about what it would mean to apply it to my life every day.

"What would happen if we made eating a form of worship to God? Maybe for some that would be all that is needed to gain control over their diet. Instead of a compulsive flesh fest, God is invited; you slow down, eating with a heart full of thanks. When the heart is full, cravings have little power. "

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

This was my devotional today from "COME AWAY, MY BELOVED" by Frances J. Roberts:


I Corinthians 15:57
"Thanks be to God, who gives the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Oh my child, have I ever failed you? Have I ever turned My back on you, or forsaken you? Have I not been your refuge and your strong defense?

I have protected you and kept you in sickness and in health. Yes, I am with you to help you now. Fear not. My purposes will be fulfilled in spite of your weaknesses, if in your need you rely on my strength.

My will shall be done regardless of the flaws in your life, if you count on the power of My righteousness. I do not work only in cases where there are no obstacles; but I glory in overruling the prevailing circumstances, and I take pleasure in bringing victories in those places where no victory is anywhere in sight.

Count on My coming. Know that whenever faith brings Me on the scene, everything is changed. Darkness is turned to light. Grief is turned to joy. Sickness to health. Poverty to My sufficient supply. Doubt to faith. Anxiety to trust. No negative force can occupy the same place as MY Spirit. When My Spirit comes in, all these things must go. Yes, they SHALL go!

Ask for the victory. I will come and bring it. Don't look for the victory--look for ME, and you will see the victory that I will bring with Me. After I have come, you shall behold the miracles I will do.

I am very new here to McDougall and to a discussion board. I was just amazed to see that we read the same devotional by Kay Arthur, LORD, I give you this day. I have learned so much from reading it. The thing I really like the best about this time of year is to go out to the garden before lunch or supper and ask God what do you have for me today to eat. My garden is small but I feel so very close to God eating what He has provided for the day.
I do much better if I remember to focus on God instead of whatever is going on around me or with loved ones. My husband is ill because of what he insists on eating. I have had to turn him over to God because I have done all that I know to do to help him.
My struggle is with sugar. An older lady at church and I are going to pray for each other to not give in to sweets. I think I go for the sweets when I am stressed. Would appreciate any prayers.

Hi Veggie23!
Welcome to the boards. Thanks for introducing yourself. Yes, that is a wonderful devotional, isn't it? I like your practice of going into your garden each day and being close to God while asking Him what you should eat. What a beautiful picture.