Weight Loss, God's Way by Healthy by DesignSample

WHAT’S YOUR GOAL?

Scripture Reflection

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”  (Proverbs 21:5 NIV)

Failing to plan, is planning to fail. ~ Benjamin Franklin

So you’re ready to start your weight loss journey. Congratulations! Before you can start, do you know what you want? Do you know how long it will take you to reach your goal? Your goal will begin to come to fruition only when you are clear on what you want. Writing down your goal sends out a clear message to yourself and the world about who you are and what you are capable of completing.

As you write down your goals, you will begin to align your will with your heavenly Father’s. To become crystal clear on your goals, they must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-constrained (S.M.A.R.T.).

It’s highly likely that you’ve set goals many times before and have had limited levels of success. So why will it be different this time? Read the story of Nehemiah and apply his success principles to your weight loss.

We learn in the book of Nehemiah that he had an ‘impossible’ goal. Yet through constant prayer combined with preparation and planning, he was able to make the impossible possible. Our response needs to be as Nehemiah’s was when we are confronted with an overwhelming goal.

Before attempting to do anything, Nehemiah "mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven" (Neh. 1:4b). In fact, we read that he prayed spontaneously at least eight times. He had a clear and specific goal with clear timelines.

Today’s Health Challenge

Record exactly what you want. How much weight do you want/need to lose? Write it out in as much detail as you can.

Today’s Confession

Thank You for giving me the wisdom to set realistic goals that glorify You. I submit my goals and plans to You and trust You to show me the way to bring my goals into alignment with Your will and purpose for my life. I declare that my goals will come to fruition. I am successful and victorious in the name of Jesus.

This devotional is adapted from Cathy Morenzie's book 'Healthy by Design: Weight Loss, God's Way'