Seeds of Spring: A Woman's 40-Day Journey: day 15

That's the name of the devotion I'm doing on my Bible app. You can also find it here.

Today, I am on day 15. Earlier today I went for a walk on the 3/4 mile path around the path behind my office building. I was feeling a little discouraged because last year I started running. I lost 10 lbs. and was up to running for 25 minutes straight (almost 2.5 miles). I never made it to running a 5k (3.1 miles). I had completed a Couch to 5K program on my iPod. Over the winter, I didn't keep up with the running, so I gained that 10 lbs. back.

It's been a real struggle getting back on track with walking/running. It didn't help that I started out today's walk a little too fast and so my legs started hurting sooner than would be expected.

I've started setting my alarm clock earlier, I just need to get up and do the work.

Back to today's devotion. The verse that hit me was 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The devotion continued as follows:

"We may not be in prison literally, but we are bondservents of Christ Jesus (Romans 6:15-23). As you go about your day today meditating on the scripture above, continue to keep your 'flesh' in chains and the Spirit free to do its will."

The verse in Romans reminded me of a book I read over five years ago, "Love to Eat, Hate to Eat." In the book, Elyse Fitzpatrick talks about how if my husband is eating something and I want/crave it, that's sin, it's coveting something he has that I don't have. 

Anyway, Romans 6:16, says "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" 

As I read this verse, it makes me think that if I give into my food cravings and not wanting to exercise, I am a slave to that. My weight loss efforts aren't just for me...they are for God because I am His temple. Jesus paid the price for me, so the least I can do is get up early and exercise. I don't want to be a slave to laziness or my food "desires". Maybe it's time to bring out the book and give it a read again.