TerKeurst - Made to crave devotional: 60 days to craving God, not food

The Son is the radiance of Gods glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
(HEBREWS 1:3)

Thought for the Day: Unsettle me in the best kind of way. For when I allow your touch to reach the deepest parts of me dark and dingy and hidden away too longsuddenly, a fresh wind of life twists and twirls and dances through my soul.

The year I finally got my eating issues under control, I started with a very simple New Years prayer. I didnt write a long list of resolutions as I had in previous years. After all, my list from one year to the next could have simply been a photocopy from the year before. It was the same stuff, year after year. I started out with great gusto to eat less, move more, make this a healthy lifestyle, and live in victory. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

But each year around January 7, Id get invited to a party where treats were plentiful and motivation scarce. My stomach would soon be overstuffed and my resolve worn quite thin. Year after year.

But this year I just couldnt bring myself to write the list again. So, I prayed this simple prayer: Unsettle me.

These are the words I wrote in my journal

Unsettle me. These are the two words rattling about in my brain today. I almost wish it were a more glamorous prayer. Surely more eloquent words could be found for what Im feeling led to pursue during this New Year. But these are the words, this is the prayer for my 2009.

The funny thing is, Ive spent my whole existence trying to find a place to settle down, people to settle down with, and a spirit about me worthy of all this settled down-ness. All of this is good. A contented heart, thankful for its blessings, is a good way to settle.

But there are areas of my life that have also settled that mock my desires to be a godly womancompromises, if you will. Attitudes that Ive wrapped in the lie, Well, thats just how I am. And if thats all the bad thats in me, Im doing pretty good.

I dare you, dear soul of mine, to notice the stark evidence of a spirit that is tainted and a heart that must be placed under the microscope of Gods Word. Yes, indeed, unsettle me, Lord.

Unearth that remnant of justification.

Shake loose that pull toward compromise.

Reveal that broken shard of secrecy.

Expose that tendency to give up.

Unsettle me in the best kind of way. For when I allow Your touch to reach the deepest parts of me dark and dingy and hidden away too longsuddenly, a fresh wind of life twists and twirls and dances through my soul.

I can delight in hope that this is my year to change.

I can discover reasons to appreciate my body and find softer ways for my thoughts to land.

I can recognize the beauty of discipline and crave the intimacy with God it unleashes.

I can rest assured though the journey will be hard, I will be held.

Goodbye to my remnants, my justification, shards, and tendencies. This is not who I amnor who I was created to be.

Goodbye to shallow efforts, self-focus, and suspicious fears that Ill never find victory in this area of my life. I am an unsettled woman who no longer wishes to take part in distractions or destructions.

Welcome deeper love for God and the realization I am made for more than this constant battle. Welcome my unsettled heart.

Are you ready to be unsettled in a good way?

Maybe you are at the beginning of your journey and feel intimidated by the long road ahead. Or, maybe you are on the other end of the spectrum and need ongoing encouragement to stay healthy. Whether youre in those places or somewhere in the middle, will you make a renewed commitment now? Will you ask God to unsettle you in the midst of where you are? And then dare to keep turning these pages and holding tight to Gods transforming truth.

Dear Lord, make me a courageous woman who isnt afraid to pray this prayer over and over in the days ahead. In Jesus name. Amen.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(ISAIAH 41:10)

Thought for the Day: I wept as I realized this would be one of the most significant spiritual journeys of my life. A spiritual journey that would yield great physical benefits.

I recently received an email from a woman who wrote, Lysa, one of my greatest fears in reading Made to Crave is not just letting myself down, but even worse, letting God down.

I understand how she feels. When youve tried and failed as many times as I have, you start to feel gun-shy about trying again. Id lose the weight, feel great for a couple of months, deceive myself into thinking I could return to old habits, and all the weight would creep back on. Id failed at finding lasting victory with every other attempt, even with programs I thought were the sure thing. So, why would this one be any different?