Diet with the Bible 2-2: Eating Right is So Hard!

Eating can be a challenge when you're trying to lose weight. Unlike cigarettes and alcohol, those who are addicted to food can't just quit eating. But much like those and other addictions, with years of self-discipline and practice we can be the master of our food rather than the other way around.

This plan is supposed to be designed to fit your lifestyle, so as you set goals for yourself each week, feel free to change one or more of the Action Steps to something similar. Report to your group that you changed it, especially if you're wondering if it really measures up.

For instance, planning what I eat everyday even at the beginning of the day has always been difficult for me. My schedule changes at a moment's notice. So, instead of creating a menu that I would be sure to have to scrap, I created a list of things I can eat everyplace I go. I have several things at home that I can have as a snack or a meal. All the things in the same category have similar calories so I can substitute whenever I feel like it. Additionally, we eat out a lot, so I got online and got the calorie counts for all my favorite foods and picked one or two "meals" that I can eat at each place. So, even though I don't have a "menu" to follow, I do have a strategic eating plan that fits my lifestyle. I also made it something that I can live with for the rest of my life. That's one of the most important things for me.

I was on that up and down swing for a lot of years. When I peaked at my last high weight, I decided to quit dieting and start maintaining. I was tired of losing and then gaining it back plus 5 more. After being able to maintain my weight for the last 8 years, I began to feel good about what I was eating and felt confident. Then I found this method of losing weight that is helping me change my lifestyle. You can read more about that by clicking here. That's what I pray for you, not that you'll lose weight, but that you'll find something that works for you that will help you develop healthy habits that will help you stay fit for the rest of your life!

In the material for this part of the diet, SparkPeople uses the phrase "there's a difference between surviving and thriving." This is so true in Christianity too. Did you know the words mediocre and mediocrity do not appear in the Bible, yet forms of the word abundant are there over 65 times? There are many ways to live life abundantly. Learning to eat and live healthy is just the beginning. Let's look this week at how we can learn to live all aspects of our life more abundantly.

Read John 10:10

1. Who is the thief? What have you seen him "steal, kill or destroy" in your life?
2. Jesus said He came to bring life to "the full" or life abundant. Describe your idea of "abundant" or "full" life.
3. With your group brainstorm a list of things you might do to receive the full life Jesus came to bring.
   
   Read Romans 15:13
   
   
4. How does this verse describe abundant life? What does it say is the key to the abundance? Did your answer for Questions 2 or 3 include these ideas?
5. What do you find it easy to trust Jesus for? What's difficult?
6. Have you ever thought about what it might be like to "overflow with hope?"
7. How could trusting Jesus and having your life "overflow with hope" change your outlook from "surviving to thriving"

I have these studies all compiled into one book. I'm considering making it available as a download or as a printable book on Amazon.com. Would you be interested? Let me know below.

This is a 20 week course and everything is reproducible, so you wouldn't need student books. Just one book no matter what size your group. About 100 pages.

Read Joshua 24:14-24

1. This week you will continue to work toward making good choices as to what you put into your body. This is just one of the many choices you have to make every day of your life. What choice did Joshua put before the people of Israel?
2. What are some of the "gods of our forefather or gods of the Amorites" we serve in the 21st Century?
3. In what ways does your daily routine reflect your choice to "serve the Lord?"
4. Joshua challenged the people by telling them they were "not able to serve the Lord." Would this kind of challenge cause you to be more motivated to prove him wrong or discourage you?
5. If he issued this kind of challenge to you, how would you answer?
6. Imagine that Joshua is here right now. He is challenging you to "serve the Lord" with every aspect of your life: your daily routine, your eating, you physical fitness, etc. What will you tell him?
7. What one thing will you change in your daily routine this week to move closer to meeting Joshua's challenge?