Chapter 12
I AM Losing Weight
Every January, I go on a new diet. Losing weight is always one of my New Year's resolutions. And I've tried lots of diets - the no fat diet, counting calories diet, no carbs diet, nothing-white diet, some years combined with over-the-counter diet aids. And this year, I'm on the "No Processed Foods" diet. This eating plan is based on the fact that if the liver is too busy getting rid of the sloughed-off toxins from processed food, it won’t have time to get rid of your fat.
Now, Paul addresses this issue of weight as well, but he was concerned about spiritual weight. Hebrews 12:1 says in part, "…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Sin is a weight that can hold us back. There are also other things in our lives that are hindrances that can keep us from running effectively the race God has for us. In your case, this hindrance may be your thoughts and feelings of anxiety. These thoughts didn't come with you at birth. They are processed thoughts and feelings.
I define "processed thoughts" as thoughts or feelings that have been born in response to people you've known and past life experiences. Such thoughts are not God's thoughts but thoughts clouded with a residue from your past, resulting in a nameless dread that something bad is surely going to happen.
Our goal with the “I am” statements is to throw out all these worried or anxious thoughts and replace them with thoughts of peace and confidence that the Lord has everything under control. This will take more effort and determination than my 45th+ attempt to lose weight. Every time I prepare a meal now, I consider whether I am using only one-ingredient items. Likewise, every time a thought pops into your mind, you must stop and determine if that is a positive thought or a negative thought that will weigh you down and hinder your walk.
It will take a lot of work at the beginning, but if you are consistent in evaluating your thought life - this mental check-up will eventually become second nature. Then, when asked you can say, “Yes, I am losing the weight of all those processed, negative thoughts and feelings, and it sure feels good.”
Continue to Chapter 12: Questions
