The Lord God Made Me

My thoughts from Beth Moore's event in Las Vegas in 2003: The Lord God Made Woman.

Early in her lecture, Beth references I Thessalonians 5:23.  Wanting to know the context in which the verse was set, I began reading my way back through the chapter.  I love how God's Word is new and fresh even after reading the same passage for many years!  Here's the breakdown of the first portion of I Thessalonians 5 along with my thoughts in italics.  Understand that Paul was writing to the church in the city of Thessalonica regarding how they are to live in light of the times and Jesus' coming (the day being unknown).  He is not speaking about body image or weight issues, but it surely parallels so much of this struggle.  This struggle with my flesh IS a spiritual issue for me, so it makes sense that God uses these verses to teach me more about Himself and how I can bring my flesh under the authority of His Spirit.

 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

Okay, wake up and get out there to get exercise.  Don't stay up 'til all hours and don't sleep in, being lazy.  Self-control.  Same regarding food.  Don't mindlessly eat.  Stick to a plan.  Eat with a purpose.  Be alert.

8...let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 

There's that self-control again! 

14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle...

Scripture makes it clear that idleness is not okay. This is just one of quite a few examples.

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Be joyful. Don't complain about being tired or too busy to get out for a run.  If I need encouragement, pray, seek God's word. For inspiration, watch something like this or this as a reminder to be joyful in everything.

19Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;  

The Holy Spirit is stirring this desire in me for a reason.  I can't brush it under the rug and pass it off as just a pipe-dream or unimportant to God. What if we had ignored the Spirit's stirring in us to work on our marriage or get out of debt or to adopt?

20do not treat prophecies with contempt.

When I think of prophecies related to this topic, I think of one of my husband's favorite sayings: "If it's predictable, it's preventable."  If I continue on the path of weight-gain, I will end up fat, unhealthy and miserable.  It's a foreseeable problem that is not to be scoffed at. 

21Test everything. Hold on to the good.

No fad diets or get-skinny-quick gimmicks. 

NOW for the main portion, what I'd call the "meat" that Beth refers to through the rest of her lecture.  This passage is the whole reason I read back through the first portion of chapter 5:

23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Through and through.  Through and through.  Spirit.  Soul.  Body.  All to be kept blameless.  Not only my spirit and soul, but my body.  He commands it.  He calls me to it.  And He is faithful and will do it!