As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.  Prov 23:7

Back in February, at the beginning of our church-sponsored “Enlighten” Nutrition Course, we were all asked to write out a private “prayer-request-letter” describing what we hoped to accomplish during our next several weeks.  This past Tuesday (May 20th), marked the final day of our classes.  In today’s message of hope, may we publish a part of that letter and share a testimony of some godly results.

First, let me paint a baseline picture of where we started.  At the time of our commencement class, I was overweight for me (@190 lbs), and had just returned from a cruise with my wife, Cynthia, where we both had made consistently poor food choices regarding healthy habits.

The private prayer/letter I wrote was to the Lord and to my wife, Cynthia.  Here is the heart of it:

Dear Lord & Cynthia,

At the end of this course, I’m hoping to weigh between 168-175 lbs, for my stomach to be reduced, and for my spring pants to fit more aptly.  I also intend to be more knowledgeable regarding such things as calorie amounts, reading labels, making healthier food choices, and to incorporate a new recipe or two.  I write this letter, in Jesus’ name. Amen   

As part of the review of a changed lifestyle, we are now eating such things as black beans, lentils, more raw foods, organic peanut butter, brown rice cakes and drinking almond milk and plenty of water.  We are exercising more faithfully and generally renewing our mind with good information and with God’s Word to understand how to make even better choices.

God has answered my prayer beyond what I initially requested and He has helped us in a tangible, measurable, and modeling manner.  We have actually experienced His hand through the journey of this church-sponsored “Enlighten” Nutrition Course.  Cynthia and I were both too heavy and into some poor nutritional and lifestyle habits—that’s a fact.  The wonderful truth is we didn’t have to stay that way. With God’s help, we are not defined by our past or confined by external factors.

What I celebrated most heartily at the conclusion of this course, is that my wife, who didn’t even take the class with me, has lost over 20 pounds too.  The splash affect of our new pattern of eating has benefitted her profoundly. My weight at this point is 169 pounds, my stomach is smaller, my clothes fit nicely, and there’s no doubt that together, we’re better in making wiser nutritional choices.

Family and friends, it’s a fact that we can stand on God’s promises, because they are true.  It’s also a fact that we must have faith that God is really who He says He is and He will reward those of us who diligently seek Him.  Let’s commit to our personal promises to God also, as we allow Him to nutrify us to become more fit for the Master’s use.

Heb 11:6; Rom 8:28, 12:1-2; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:13; 1 Thes 5:23; 1 Cor 6:19; Jer 29:11