In the 20 years after high school, I gained 100 pounds.  To deal with that, I went on and off of quick weight loss diets. It was a depressing cycle - lose weight, gain back even more.

But one day, I'd had enough. It took chest pain to get my attention. I realized that, because my health issue wasn't a temporary problem, a temporary solution would not work.

My body had given me valuable information; it was saying to me that my current habits had given me this result. If I wanted to be in better shape, then I needed to practice better habits.

What is required to make a permanent change? I believe the key is a defining moment.

A defining moment is a wake-up call that leads you to make a permanent decision. You decide that the pain of staying the same is greater than the perceived pain of changing. So you draw a line separating your past from your future, knowing that your past does not have to equal your future!

Then you step over that line and start walking into new territory. The idea of going back to where you were is no longer acceptable. 

Keep this in mind: An intolerable situation will exist in your life as long as you are willing to tolerate it.

Many people are unhappy with their weight. But they haven't had their defining moment yet. Instead of making a change, they accept their unhappiness. They buy larger clothes, avoid looking at themselves from the neck down, and ignore that insistent voice that tells them that there is more to life than this.

I have been there. But in a few days, I'll be celebrating my 10-year anniversary of writing on the back of my doctor's appointment card: "Today is the day I turn my life around." I lost the excess weight and, with the Lord's help, I will never go back to where I was in 2003.

If God should grant you 10 more years, where will your current health habits take you by 2023?

In Haggai 1, verses 5 and 7, the prophet tells the people twice: "Consider your ways!" In that instance, he was exhorting the people to rebuild the temple. Up until that point, the people were focused on their own comfort and the world's goods while the Lord's house remained in ruins.

Consider your ways. Are your current eating habits building your health so that you will have the physical strength and endurance to fulfill your God-given purpose? Or are your current habits leading your health to ruin?

It's time to adopt a long-range view. Ask yourself:

• What blessings am I missing out on by continuing these habits?
• Who else will suffer if I don't adopt habits that will improve my health?
• You've reached the end of your life and are now reviewing it. Are you happy with the way your life has turned out? Do you feel as if you've reached your full potential?

 

Today, draw a line in the sand. Say, "Today is the day I turn my life around."  A good place to start is to write down all the habits you already know about that will lead you to better health.

 

That's knowledge. Now, let's transform knowledge into wisdom. The only way that happens is when your knowledge is put to good use!

 

Looking at the list, what is the easiest thing you can start doing? If the easiest thing still seems to be too hard, then chop it down to your size!

 

I'll write more about that next time, but for now think about your defining moment. If you've already had one and are working on changing, then good for you! I'd love to hear about your defining moment and why you are committed to the process of improving your health - no going back.

Be blessed in Health, Healing, and Wholeness,

 

Kimberly Taylor
Take Back Your Temple
www.takebackyourtemple.com

 

P.S. One of the most important things you'll need to do to reach your best weight is to renew your mind. That's why one of the eight bonuses in the Take Back Your Temple eBook Bundle is "Prayers and Promises to Take Back Your Temple". 

Click below to learn more: http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book