Thankful In All Circumstances

Thursday, November 8, 2021 Thankful…in All Circumstances Mindy Artze

"Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you." 1 Corinthians 6:19

2021 has been an incredible year of freedom for me! This year, I didn't choose a word of the year to begin the year. I think I was lost in a 2020 fog. I did a study with some friends about becoming an emotionally healthy woman. I saw that I had some things I needed to work out, and a friend shared her counselor's number with me. So, I started talking to her bi-weekly and started to become free. I listened to some podcasts and got motivated to actually try to lose some weight. (This is truly the most frustrating thing... too many ups and downs in my past.)

When I started seeing progress in my counseling sessions, I decided to read Breaking Free From Body Shame, by Jess Connolly. I realized that my body that carries me around every day is good. I stopped looking at myself in the mirror and hating what I saw to an extent. But through the reading, I realized that God gave me this body and I should take care of it. For the first time, I was going to try to lose weight for the right reason. It's not about me looking better, rather it's so that I can be healthy and feel better. I was no longer going to beat myself up for the years that I have let myself go.I was just going to appreciate that this body gave me a son, worships Jesus, sings loudly and lets me have fun! This BODY IS GOOD! (I have this phrase on my full length mirror in my bathroom too)

When I changed my outlook, the weight came off. I am down 33 lbs. I have probably another 33+ to go, but I don't have a goal weight. I just want to feel good and I want to be healthy. That's it! For me and for Him. He gets all of the glory in this life, and I am so happy to give him the glory for my health. I want Him to know how much I appreciate Him.

This year I am thankful for freedom. I needed freedom from a lot that I probably won't share here, but also freedom from feeling gross about myself. Freedom from looking in the mirror and being disgusted. God made this body. It's not gross. He loves me no matter what my weight and today, after some counseling, a book and a few podcasts and support from friends and family, I love my body, however it looks!

Father, God, You have given us all good bodies. Whether we are overweight, disabled, or we look like Barbie, we know that you love us and look at us with pride, like a father who loves his daughter so much. We know that you don't want us to walk around in bondage, Lord. I pray that you will break those chains for my sisters, whatever bondage is holding them back. Prison doors open and chains be gone! You want us to live fully and in freedom. Lord, I ask you to speak into any sister who is suffering in silence because of shame. Jesus, take that shame away right now. Remind every sister reading this today that You love her and You are so proud of who she is! I thank you Lord, for taking away the shame of my past, for connecting me with my counselor who has really opened my eyes and heart and made me love myself. Lord, in this world, sometimes the idea of seeking professional help can make us feel weak. I pray that any sister who needs help, will see the value of professional counseling. I pray for each lady today, may she love her body, how she looks and break free from any bondage. We love you. In Jesus's precious name, Amen.