#faithful #welldone by: Deborah Ard
We all have our own difficulties and battles along our journey. One of my continual struggles is with sustaining a healthy lifestyle with my eating and exercising and ultimately my weight. In late July of 2017 something seemed to click and God lit a fire under me. I began the process of making changes over time that helped me. I gradually changed my eating habits and I began to walk for exercise. Over the course of a year I became much healthier. However, over the course of this last school year, I have slowly lost sight of that healthy lifestyle. I am an emotional eater so during a particularly stressful time, I threw caution to the wind and ate any and all things I wanted.

Meanwhile since April I have been battling with an issue with my foot and therefore have not been able to walk for exercise. Needless to say, all the weight I had lost has gradually crept back. I am disappointed in myself and sad that this has happened. However through this process I have learned some lessons that perhaps can give insight in your battle or that you can adjust to your situation.
1) Healthy is not a number on a scale. Healthy is the way I feel.
2) I am successful when I make small changes over time and name the specific goal for each week. Some of the weekly changes/goals I have had include drinking a specific amount of water each day, eating 3 vegetables a day, walking/exercising 5 times a week, etc.
3) Plan, plan, plan. I am most successful when I plan our menu for the week and then use the weekend to get organized for the week ahead.
4) Accountability is key! There are several ways I used accountability to help me. First of all I used an app to log the food I ate. I made the log accessible by my friends on the app so they could also see what I was eating. I also had a dear friend who was my accountability partner. We made it a priority to “walk and talk” together. Accountability made all the difference in my success.
5) Failure is good data! Although I have failed I can look at what I did wrong to improve and become successful again.
I share all this to say, my success in this struggle is dependent on being faithful. I must be faithful to the process, faithful to the planning, and faithful to the accountability. So it is with any battle or struggle in our life. Faithfulness is trusting God to reveal the steps and depending on Him for strength in the struggle. Faithfulness is putting one foot in front of the other. Faithfulness is having an attitude of “stick-to it-ness” even when the going gets tough. As Uncle Archie used to say, being faithful requires “patience and perseverance.” James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Trying to be healthy is only one of my struggles and it may be something you do not battle. However, we all have that “thing.” What is yours? Take a moment to read about Paul’s “thorn” in his side in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Whatever your “thing”, allow it to be a way to grow in being faithful. Learn and grow through the process. Matthew 25:23 reveals our goal:
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
I long to hear the words WELL DONE from my Master don’t you? Battle relentlessly! Run with patience and perseverance! Be faithful my friend.

#worshipwithus     Well Done by The Afters