Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Who Do You Trust?

God gave me a visual this morning.


Do you remember playing this trust game when you were younger? One person stands in front of another, both facing the same direction. The person in front spreads her arms and free-falls backward. The idea is to let the person standing in back catch her.



I didn’t like this game. I had to rely on someone else. If I didn’t trust the person behind me, I would take a step backward at the last moment to catch myself, assuming if I didn’t I’d end up on the floor. More than likely if my younger sister was the one catching me I gave her the evil eye before facing forward and starting my fall. She knew that meant, “If you don’t catch me, I’ll hurt you!” Knowing her, she caught me. She would have caught me with or without the threat. Sadly, I was too focused on my own fear to notice her trustworthy nature.

This morning as I prayed I saw a picture of myself, arms extended, legs straight, falling backward. I lingered in mid-air as if God was asking what I would do. Do you trust Me enough to fall into My arms or will you take a step back?

While this picture encompasses more than food issues, it certain applies here also.

When I take matters into my own hands, when I make choices without consulting the Almighty One, when I move forward without looking up, I put more trust in myself and my own thoughts or feelings than in God. I essentially say, “I know better than you do, Lord. My wisdom usurps Yours.” Ooooo, ouch!

If I take a step back before falling into His loving arms, I allow my fear to supersede my trust.

What do you fear?
• I won’t be able to eat my favorite foods again.
• I won’t be able to bear the pain necessary to change.
• I won’t lose weight even if I trust God.
• Whether it’s today or tomorrow or six months from now—I’ll eventually fail.
• God will require more than I can endure.

Take heart. God is for us. He coaxes and prods and cheers for us. He woos, loves, and gently guides. “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22) “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)

Let go of your fears and/or controlling nature. Join me as I visualize myself free-falling backward into God’s loving arms. Join me as I literally take a step of faith toward the One who is trustworthy.

Book Recommendation: Food Rules by Michael Pollan
In this quick-read eater’s manual, the author lists 64 short and easy-to-follow food rules. His practical tips range from purchasing smaller plates and bowls to eating well-grown food from healthy soil. Some may be new to you. But some may be familiar. He updated my mom’s saying, “Don’t eat while standing up,” to, “Do all your eating at a table.” My favorite: “Cook.”

Congratulations! Joyce Denen won Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. Joyce, please contact me with your snail mail address.

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7 comments:

Joyce Denen said...

Wow! Thanks Barb! What a blessing that is. I'm looking forward to reading Made To Crave myself and letting God teach me whatever it is He has for me in there....:)Yah!! (I'll send my address to you)

Andrea Stanley said...

Thanks for this post today Barb. I will be sharing it on my facebook page and I am going to look into the book recommendation.

Barb Winters said...

Joyce, I'm sure God will use the book to speak to you.

Andrea, thanks for sharing the post! I'm sure you will like the book if you end up reading it.

Sheryl NOble said...

i HAVE irritable bowel syndrome and i cant eat a lot of freshh food, love broccoli and cucubers but not lettuce it hurts! I am cooking carrots, and rice and eating more squash(ug). Fish is amain source of protein and baked potatoes!! anything else I can do?

Barb Winters said...

Sheryl- Wow! I applaud your effort to continue to eat healthy food even though it is difficult. Many would use it as an excuse to eat improperly because it is easier.

I am not a nutritionist, so I can't specifically say what you should or should not do for your specific ailment. But it sounds as if you are on the right track. Listen to your body's signals. If it hurts to eat something, then find a substitution. I recently quit eating as many green peppers and onions for the same reason you mentioned. I really hate passing on them as they contain great nutrients and antioxidants. But an upset system is not good either. ;-)

I would recommend doing as much research as possible on the internet. Also, a great book is "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." It is listed in the "My Picks" widget on the sidebar of this blog. Scroll through the books until you see it and click on it. That will take you to a description of the book. The book lists natural remedies for different ailments.

Melissa K Norris said...

I love this post! God has been teaching me to trust Him and to give Him the control. Apparently, I'm a bit of a control freak. :)
Great inspiration.

Barb Winters said...

Melissa, I resemble that remark! We can free-fall together.