Becoming the Woman God wants, day 22

Week Four
Strengthening Your Body

Walk to Boost Energy

She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
Proverbs 31:16-17

1 Corinthians 9

      ²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
   ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
   ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
   ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Walking everyday will help us fight disease and cut our risk of type 2 diabetes in half.  It is a great time for prayer and meditation. 

Affirmation:  I walk because I'm in strict training

Becoming the Woman God Wants, day 19

Plan Ahead for Healthier Eating

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14-15

Deuteronomy 30

      ¹⁹I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
   ²⁰That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

In this chapter it talks about how bad fast food has become for families.  We are in such a hurry we do not even think about what we are eating.  We need to put our crock pots to good use and plan ahead. 

Affirmation:  I plan ahead for healthier eating.

Becoming the Woman God Wants, day 18

Eat Reasonable Portions

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14-15

Proverbs 4

     ²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
   ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
   ²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

God left his word to help us in all areas of our life.  If we study the word we will find this to be true.  In Proverbs it talks about portions.  Most of us suffer from portion distortion.  Gluttony shows that we are more interested in our flesh than we are in the spirit.  We all want to age as well as we can, controlling our portions will help in this area.  Overeating is one of the worst things we can do to our bodies.  In this chapter it tells us to never clean our plate.  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matt 6:25).  We need to exercise wisdom when choosing our meal and portions.  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalms 103:5).

Affirmation:  I eat reasonable portions.

Becoming the Woman God wants, day 17

Limit Your Sugar Intake

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14-15

Proverbs 23

   ¹When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
   ²And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
   ³Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

(When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies, 
for that food is deceptive.)

I know we all know that gluttony is a sin, but I don't thing we really think about it.  Gluttony is defined as the act or practice of eating to excess.  I have been guilty of eating without thinking.  We need to take care of our bodies, since they are the temple of God.  Most overweight parents usually have overweight children.  I want my habits to be something I can be proud of.  Sugar breaks down our immune system.  He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls (Proverbs 25:28).  A man who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken down.  If we don't exercise self control, our bodies are broken down where cold, flu, diabetes, and hypoglycemia come in.  In this chapter is says we have three enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil.  We have to use self-control on every area, or we are open to destruction.

Affirmation:  I limit my sugar intake, lest I become like a city whose walls are broken down. 

Becoming the Woman God wants, day 16

Resolve to Control Your Eating Habits

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14-15

Daniel 1

     ¹¹Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
   ¹²Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
   ¹³Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
   ¹⁴So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
   ¹⁵And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

I know that it is hard to control our eating habits, I know this from personal experience.  I want chocolate all the time and eat on the run, two of the worst things for you.  I want to change this!  It is said that you are what you eat.  Our children will also be the same way.

Affirmation:  I resolve to exercise control over my eating habits.

Becoming the Woman God wants, day 15

Week Three
Healthy Eating

Purge Your Pantry of Harm

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14-15

Proverbs 31

      ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
   ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

I know right now many people are on a healthy eating kick.  One way I can care for my family is by cooking good things.  Healthy eating can help every part of us.  I want it to be said of me, that I cared for my family in this way.  In this chapter, it asks for us to purge our pantry of things that we have no intention of using, and things that have ingredients we can't even say.  We need to get back to the basics of good wholesome food.

Affirmation:  I bring my family food, not harm!

Becoming the Woman God wants, day 12

Be Diligent

She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
Proverbs 31: 12-13

Proverbs 6

      ⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
   ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
   ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
   ⁹How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
   ¹⁰Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
   ¹¹So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

I don't want to show laziness.  I want God to fill me with wisdom.  I know some mornings it is so hard to get up.  If I get the rest I need during the night, I should wake rested and start my day early.  I want to accomplish things and not leave evertything undone when I leave in the morning.  I want to value the time I am giving and put it to good use. 

Affirmation: I am diligent like the ant.  I considerits ways and grow wisdom.