When You Cry Out

When You Cry Out, "Lord Help Me!"

 "In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me."
Psalm 120:1
The year is 2005.  It is late summer.  I am a wife, mother of two small children ages three and one, and nearly 50 pounds overweight.  Disgusted, tired and depressed after another day filled with diapers and toys all over the house I did what I always did; eat.   The anxiety about my weight gaining power over my life.  I didn't like to take the kids to the park, go to the mall, or even play groups.  My weight was just too much of an embarrassment.  But the children needed me to be active.  

They needed M.O.P.s (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) and I needed it too.  I soon became "tired of being sick and tired" and on a whim found myself at a Weight Watchers meeting, on November 30th of that same year. Declaring for the 150th times to lose the weight once.  
I WAS ON A MISSION
  But just days into the program, my determination and will power began to wain.  
Fearing failure and facing my husband who didn't seem to understand the concept of someone else weighing me in every week and paying for it (when he would be more than happy to do it for free), began to cause even more anxiety.  
I was at a crossroads and not sure what to do about it.  

So, I did the only thing I could do in the moment; I dropped to the floor and lay flat out in complete submission and cried out:

"Lord, help me.  I cannot do this alone.  I know I will fail if I try.  I need to get this weight off.  For myself, for my husband, for my children!  Please, if You help me, I promise, You will get all of the glory, all of the honor and all of the praise!"

It has been nearly 15 years and 50 pounds since I prayed that prayer and I can honestly say it changed my life.  
I realized in that moment, that God wanted to be an active part of every aspect of my life (including weight loss.)

The Bible says that we are to "Pray with out ceasing."  
It makes no mention of what to pray for (or what not to pray for.)  
God was so merciful to my plea to help me lose the weight and I will never forget His powerful displays of love and grace through it all.  
I know in my heart I lost the weight because of Him, and mission for the rest of my life, following up my promise to glorify and give Him praise is to "equip" others on this same journey.

Let's Pray.
Dear God,
"Lord help me!"  I've often said it.  But this time I mean it.  I cannot do this alone.  How many times I have tried and failed.  What is it that makes me think You do not want to be a part of this journey?  God, I long to make You the center of my journey, and I too will testify about Your amazing power in my weight loss.  Help me today.  Lead me down the path of success, and give me the ability to lose this weight once and for all.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen

E4M DAILY STRATEGY
When You cry out, "Lord Help Me!"
List four areas, you are desperate for God to move in regarding your weight loss journey.  They can be things like; snacking for no reason, eating late at night, portion control, friends sabotaging me, sabotaging myself, etc.
1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

Now, commit to crying out to Him SPECIFICALLY about each of the above this week, and watch as the Bible says, "He will answer your prayers!"