Hello and Welcome!
It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, A New Self Discipline Journey to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
This week we are going to focus each day on our physical health and more specifically food. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER of Thankfulness for Food
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Father,
Praise You for the nourishment the You provide. Thank You for meeting our physical needs of hunger and thirst. Forgive us for taking that simple joy for granted, and bless this food to fuel our bodies forward into Your will for our lives. We pray that we will be energized and be able to work for the glory of Your Kingdom.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Blessing Over Food | Just Disciple
AFFIRMATIONS for Taking Pleasure in Food
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
- I will not feel guilty about eating for comfort. It’s part of a normal eating pattern.
- I can have a healthy relationship with food and emotions.
- I will pause and check in with myself when reaching for food, allowing me to reflect and make a mindful choice about what my body needs.
- I prioritize nourishment over restriction.
SCRIPTURES For Taking PLeasure in Food
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
- Ecclesiastes 2:24, “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
- Genesis 1:29, “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.””
- Matthew 15:10-12, “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.””
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: take pleasure in what you eat, but be mindful of how much you eat.
We are quickly approaching the holiday season. A season filled with candy, sweets, pies, roasted turkeys, potatoes, and lots and lots of other carb heavy…I mean tasty foods.
And usually people lose all sense of self-control during this season. This is one of the main reasons we have those silly “new year resolutions” that exactly 0% of everyone who has made them ever seem to actually keep.
I know we’ve spent the last few days talking about the importance of not giving into our food temptations and finding a diet that works for us. But I want to make this abundantly clear, it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy your food, and even enjoy the food of the season. And yes….there’s a but…BUT, just be mindful of how much you are eating these things. In other words, enjoy it, but set yourself some boundaries so you don’t allow yourself to go too far.
But you know what? If you go too far don’t get down on yourself and starve yourself for the next week to make up for your misstep. Appreciate the fact that you feasted maybe a little too much and start back where you left off and make a gentle correction.
So go…eat, drink, and be merry…and be mindful!
Quote of the Day
Today’s quote comes from clinical psychologist Susan Albers who said:
Mindful eating is about awareness. When you eat mindfully, you slow down, pay attention to the food you’re eating, and savor every bite.
Susan Albers
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