One of my goals for training for the Halfathon has been to make it easier on my joints by shedding some LBS. How many of us know that is not easy some times!? Over the last year God has been training in me a greater measure of the fruit of the spirit called Self-Control.

“The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, and Self- Control against such things there is no law.”

 -Galatians 5:22-23

The starting place for overcoming any obstacle in your life is always spiritual! The truth is that many years of a wrong understanding of who we are, or just plain laziness is the usual culprit for most of the bad habits we have and want to change about ourselves. Overcoming the spiritual issues at the root of our bad habits will give us the ability to change our lives for the long hall… if we neglect the root issue we will modify our behaviors usually only for a short time.

Prayer is invaluable! Stop right now and ask God to help you identify the root issues underneath the habits that produce bad results in your life. He knows everything about you (even what you don’t know) and he loves you anyway! 

Grasping your need of God is the first key to get through the times in your life when you feel like you are doing all you know to do and nothing is changing. I liken this to an experience I had over the last two weeks trying to shed my lbs for the Halfathon. 

The first 5 lbs came off in a week, then for the last three weeks of portion control, consistent exercise, and maintaining a good attitude there were NO results! NONE! Being a former collage athlete I understand that there is a weight plateau. You tend to see drastic results in the beginning, then those fast changing results taper off and “plateau” for an extended period of time. 

If you are like me at all this is the time where you just want to quit because you do not see any reward for you hard work and self-control! I am happy to say that through prayer and the encouragement of my Godly friends I have shed another 5 lbs! 

My encouragement to you this morning is to STICK WITH IT! Persevere through the difficult times, and Pray over your mind and heart. Discouragement is a SPIRITUAL attack that can be overcome by praying to Jesus and listening for his kind words of love and approval over your heart. 

May Love of Christ Jesus uplift your spirit today that you will walk in the Fruit of a Righteous life :)