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Through "Live Well!," Darlene Schacht reveals to women how the spirit influences our soul, and how our souls greatly influence the choices we make for our bodies and lifestyle. By feeding and nurturing our spirit and soul, we free our bodies from the captivity of sin, bringing glory to God and peace to our lives. "Live Wel!l" offers freedom by empowering women with one easy solution: In order to successfully make change and to recapture that which God intended for us, we need to tune into a new channel—and to begin to channel His strength.
Darlene's articles have been published through papers in Winnipeg—The Lance, The Herald, The Metro, and The Times and self published in her own book The Mom Complex. Darlene has also been published in “Emphasis on Moms” magazine as well as online at "Christian Worldview Network." Her writing will also appear in Thomas Nelson’s upcoming anthology, Grace Givers. Her writing talent and design skill, combined with determination has placed Darlene at the hub of this rapidly growing online ministry, as founder and editor of CWO. Christian Women Online has brought about a new wave in the ability to reach out to people both to share faith and to minister to them.In addition to writing "Live Well!," Darlene can be found at CWO's team blog, 'The Internet Cafe,' or at her website, DarleneSchacht.com __________________________ Note: To fully understand the concept of "Live Well!," we encourage you to start with Darlene's article "The Triunity of a Woman: Spirit, Body and Soul." Secondly, we advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. __________________________ __________________________________________ Lose Weight in 2008!
Why three? Well first of all, the Bible tells us that a chord of three is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12), so that’s one reason, but perhaps more importantly I draw this conclusion from a letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians 13:1, he wrote, “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (NIV). This matter of two or three witnesses is echoed throughout the Bible, both in Deuteronomy and again in Matthew. Jesus also illustrates the power of unity by saying, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:19 & 20, NIV. Matthew chapter four tells us that after Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, He was tempted of the devil. What harm could it have caused if He had yielded to temptation and eaten one slice of bread? He may have asked Himself the same question when He was tempted to do so, but in wisdom, He chose not to sin. Instead He rebuked the temptation, saying, “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4, NIV. His ability to press on proved that He rested on the strength of God, and on Him alone. Through the temptations that Jesus faced, He understands the struggles that you face as well--struggles with addiction, struggles with food... He understands your desire to be released from this stronghold, and like Him, you can be. His mercy and grace are there to add strength to our weakness. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15&16 David also understood the power that fellowship with God holds when he prayed, “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." - Psalm 5:1-3, NIV. By their examples we see men, who while tested, remained focused—waiting and expecting God to move in their lives. Are you living your life with eyes open, focused on the goal set before you? Or are you mindlessly moving along without thought? Keeping our lives in communion with God is the best way to stay focused, and to live out a purposed life. It keeps us not only accountable to ourselves, but also accountable to God. Through prayer and meditation we tend to do a little soul searching, while we provide an invitation for God to do the same. Listening to and following the Spirit allows us to discover and deal with negative behavior. Keeping a journal is another way in which to discover bad habits and behaviors that may otherwise go unnoticed. In fact it's been proven that monitored behavior equals improved behavior--even if we're monitoring ourselves. We may not be so eager to grab a second handful of chips if we know that it won't be going unnoticed this time, right ladies? In fact we just might be inclined to drop that handful to half since we're marking it down. There is also a third way to keep ourselves accountable, which is highly important. That is the accountability of a good partner. Proverbs 27:17, tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (NIV) Stop for a moment to consider some of the people that you’ve been close to over the years—the good and the bad. Now close your eyes and think of one thing that you picked up from each of them. Let your mind go back to that time, and find at least one thing that has stuck with you till now. Perhaps they had a way of bringing out your feminine side, perhaps they led you to Homeschooling your kids, maybe it was a deeper walk of faith, maybe it was a love for shopping, or maybe it was sending you here. Whatever it is, people have a way of rubbing off on us whether we realize it or not. It’s unfortunate when a child returns home from school clucking like a chicken for two weeks because one kid convinced him that he is one, but on the other hand, it’s a blessing when he later takes his Bible to school because another child spurred him on. It’s hardly different for us. We’re still little kids inside, picking up this habit and that one, from the world around us. Because of this exchange of habits, it’s important for us to seek out the “iron” in our lives--those who sharpen our senses and spur us on to do good. Where do they come from? When you start living the way that you purpose to live, they have a way of finding you. It’s often been found that, “like minds attract.” You can also take the initiative to seek them out at places like the gym, a weight loss group, online, or at church. Just keep a prayerful watch, and see who God sends your way. But while you do, a word of caution—the wrong mentor can attribute to your failure, as easily as the right one can to your success. In fact it’s been said that it’s far easier to be lowered into a pit than to be pulled out from one. How do we know a good accountability partner when we meet one? They should make us think twice about the decisions we make, by either their example, or their words. A good mentor will both challenge and encourage us through the journey. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV When you do find a partner, remember that with every relationship you’re getting something from, you’re also giving something back. That responsibility makes me wonder what I’ve planted in the past, in hopes that I've been a good influence on my friends. Hebrews 10:24, reminds us, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”(NIV) Again, it’s not mindless activity; we should consider ways to encourage one another and to spur them on too. This year, I encourage you to be accountable in three ways:
Till next month, ladies—be accountable, and Live Well! ©2008, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. ______________________________ Read Darlene Schacht's Monthly Column: __________________________________________ Touch not; Taste not; Handle not
Take two different children, with two different mothers, and stand them side-by-side in a china shop. One may be able to stand still without a problem for 5 minutes or more, while the other may need restraints before 30 seconds are up. Both have been given the same rules—"stand still and don’t touch." One has been trained to yield to the voice of reason. He understands the consequences of his actions and is led by conviction. If I do A—B will happen—and I don’t like B. The other does as he pleases, because either he isn’t trained to consider the result of his actions, or he isn’t convinced that B is such a bad thing. Unfortunately, many adults, like untrained children, still behave this way as they are led by their whim. A man sitting face to face with a doctor who tells him, “change your diet or you won’t see retirement,” is suddenly able to make life changes he never could before. What if the same man was told that if he doesn’t change his eating habits, he might gain 30 pounds? Do you think the result would be worth the change? Perhaps, but in most cases it’s not, as society is aware of this very thing, but chooses to ignore it. Conviction is the key to sticking to the plan, and without it, the plan usually has a way of falling apart. A couple of months ago, I picked my father up from the clinic where he had just undergone an eye operation. I met him by the nurse’s desk, then ushered him out to the car. After telling me about the nurses he met and all of the jokes that he told, he mentioned something that really stuck with me. He said that he had to close his eyes for ten minutes. It sounded easy enough to do, but apparently it wasn’t. Dad said that the fact that he couldn’t open his eyes was the very thing that made him want to open his eyes so badly. Of course he didn’t, since the nurse warned that the freezing wouldn’t be affective if he did. But what if he had nothing to lose? What if I asked you to close your eyes for the next ten minutes, regardless of what happens? The phone might ring, someone might come to the door, or you may get nervous about the noises around you. Try it—see if you last ten minutes. Most won't. This is the same affect that diets have on us. The moment we say, “Do not eat” we want nothing more than to eat all we can. I laughed with a friend one day, who wrote something like this: I started a diet today, and this is what I ate: 1 slice of whole-wheat toast with a half a banana for breakfast You get the point? Somewhere around dinner time, she fell apart. The more rules we impose on ourselves, the more we desperately want to break free of them. The moment we leave the door open to human error, we jump at the chance for freedom, and another iced cream sandwich or two. The way to break free from this pattern of eating is to couple the rules of the diet with conviction. We need to train our souls to listen and yield to the voice of wisdom. My all time favorite Bible verse for dieting is 1 Corinthians 6:12: “Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.” I don’t usually use the Message translation when quoting, but I loved the way it spelled out the point, “I’d be a slave to my whims.” For me all food is permissible, I consider the variety of wonderful food we have as a gift from our Lord, but with that said, I also believe that glorifying it to be something more than it is, is not profitable to my hips or my spirit. Like a child in a china shop, my heart needs to be to be trained to listen to the voice of wisdom when it says “You’ve had enough;” to understand the depth of the consequences, and to know that doing what I want on a whim is not an option. There’s nothing wrong with rules, in fact many rules are there to save our life, but telling someone to live according to them, and giving her a reason to live that way, are two entirely different things. One is preaching, the other is teaching. I’m not referring to the rules “Touch not; taste not; handle not;” of Colossians 2:21, which are based on commandments and doctrines of men. I’m talking about boundaries that keep us in good conscience with God as we yield to wisdom. “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16. It’s the yielding to understanding and wisdom that protects us from following the lust of the flesh. Believing that the consequence is not an option is the mindset that keeps us on the right track. So how do we accomplish this? It’s a three-step program that I’ve mentioned before, and I’ll probably mention several times more—listen…gain wisdom…guide. Disciplining our bodies, like disciplining our children, is about teaching one to live in accordance with boundaries. Look up discipline in the dictionary, and you’ll see several different ways of saying, “learning to stick to the rules.” Dictionary.com defines it this way: “Training to act in accordance with rules.” In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul writes, “But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” NAS That’s quite a contrast to those Paul mentioned earlier who are a slave to their “whim.” Discipline is key. Consider your lifestyle and ask yourself these questions:
If you have set guidelines for health and lifestyle, at some point you will feel the sting of your choice. Discipline isn’t fun, in fact Hebrews 12:11 tells us that it’s grievous, but it also promises that you will enjoy the peace it brings to your life—later on. Are you willing to wait, or will you bail the first chance that you get? Let’s look deeper at the word “discipline” What is a disciple? It’s one who is a learner, a follower, a student; such as the Disciples of Christ. So in our case if our bodies are disciples, then what or who is the teacher? The answer is the Spirit, which we have received in Christ. Remember Romans chapter 7? If you haven’t read it in a while, try getting into it today. As one who struggles with a lust for overindulging, I can relate to Paul when in verse 18 he writes, “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Does that sound familiar, ladies? Whether we struggle with addiction to porn, alcoholism, smoking, or overeating, most of us will agree that the will to quit is there, but we don’t have the gumption to grab hold of, and stick to the plan, or to put it bluntly--to refrain from our sin. The reason that our bodies are so naughty at times is because of the carnal nature we’re born with. The heart, which consists of our lust and desires, is deceitful above all things, and it leads our body into all kinds of trouble--if we let it. How often has the desire of your heart whispered a lie in your ear? Just one peek won’t hurt. Just one drink won’t affect you. Buy one last pack of smokes--you deserve it. Just one more night of overeating, and you’ll be back on track tomorrow... This carnal mind is not subject to the law of God; it lives to please the flesh and the flesh alone. Paul says, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24 & 25 Paul shows us the difference there, and the choice we have to make. Are you choosing to serve God by walking according to the Spirit, or are you choosing to follow your heart? This month, set aside some quiet time to write a letter to yourself. Let God in on this too. It may take one letter—it may take a few. Prayerfully consider the changes that you’d like to see in your life, and the reason you’d like to see change. This letter is for your eyes only, so feel free to hide it or tear it up later. The important exercise here is that you decide what is good and why it’s important to you, before you continue this journey. I’ve met countless women who have stepped into a diet for the sole purpose of “getting healthy.” However, when they discover that the needle on the scale isn’t willing to budge, they quickly step back. If we desire to lose weight, we need to be honest with ourselves, and to realize that a desire to look good isn’t an unhealthy thought. It’s normal and one that God understands. Remember that He is the one who painted the butterflies, dotted the ladybugs and put lights in the back of little night flies. He’s the author of perfection and beauty, and He’s perfecting you too. Whatever it is that you desire to change, consider it well, and realize your need. Enjoy a little soul searching, ladies; till next month, Live Well! ©2007, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. ______________________________ Read Darlene Schacht's Monthly Column: __________________________________________ Single-Minded
Perhaps you’re a size 16, and you’ve longed to be a few sizes smaller. You might even feel that being a little smaller would give you more energy, add to your health, and give your figure a more feminine appeal to both you and your spouse. On the other hand you may ask yourself, is it really God’s will—or is it my own? Does God care if I lose weight? Let me first say this, God loves you, sister—just the way you are, and there isn’t a single number on a scale that could change that. But let me also say that God designed the female body in a beautiful form—curvaceous, soft, and feminine. He understands the desire that we have for beauty; after all He created all things beautiful. He's given us the opportunity to improve our quality of life, but ultimately, you will have to make that choice. In making that choice, consider your lifestyle to determine whether it is led by the spirit or by the lust of the flesh. Is it God’s desire that we care for our bodies? Since it is the temple of the Holy Ghost, I’d have to say, yes. Many health concerns are out of our hands, but in most cases, a healthy body reflects an inner life that is balanced, and one that has exercised self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that self-control is a fruit of the spirit, “But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” So what exactly is it? Dictionary.com describes self-control this way (noun):
Without self-control our spirit, body and souls become slaves to the flesh—doing that which feels good, rather than that which we know to be good. It’s for this very reason that many marriages break up, as men and women follow the lust of their heart. In fact you've probably heard the familiar saying, "My head says one thing, but my heart says another." It is our job as stewards of this human vessel to guide the heart and the flesh according to wisdom—according to truth. Jeremiah 17:9 warns us, saying, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The daily renewing of our minds by the Spirit of truth is key to gaining this wisdom. It’s the very thing that lays out our inner road map directing the paths by which we should go. Couple that with self-control that brings our body into subjection, and we’re on the right path. “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.” Proverbs 23:19 Listen. Gain wisdom. Guide. The way that we guide is by training our body and soul to yield to a spirit-focused mind, a mind that is daily renewed through scripture, meditation and prayer with our Lord. Lead your body to spiritual food, and let the desires of the world fade away. “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” ~ Psalm 119:103-105 The Bible also warns us against the sin of gluttony, but for many of us we aren’t sure where pleasure ends and gluttony begins. So, lets take a closer look at that here. In several places, Proverbs speaks against a gluttonous lifestyle saying, “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” Proverbs 23:21 “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Proverbs 28:7 In the english language our word for “gluttony” is derived from the latin word gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow. The old testament often uses the Hebrew word, saba’ which when used in the negative sense is defined as: to have in excess. We find the masculine form of the word (sibah’) in Ezekial 16:49: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness (sibah’) of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” The modern definition of the word gluttony is to habitually eat to excess. So what should we do about it? Proverbs 25:16 sums it up well by saying, “Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee.” I say, “Found an awesome cheesecake? One little piece will do you, girl!” Has it been too hard in the past to stop at one piece, to resist the temptations that plague your life, to live a life that you know to be good? Give it to God this time, sister. Let Him lighten the load and carry you through. “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 When you reach for food, ask yourself who's talking; Is it your heart or is it your head? If it is your heart alone, then pray that God will still this stirring of your heart, and leave that burden at His feet. The temptation to follow your heart will get easier day by day, as James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Enjoy the Lord and with single-minded moderation, all the goodness He holds for us. Until next month, ladies--Live Well! ©2007, Darlene Schacht Related resources: *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. ______________________________ Read Darlene Schacht's Monthly Column: Run to Win!
Now that we’re running this race together, let’s pick up the pace just a bit, ladies, and remember--we’re running to win! As with any race, the preparation involves self-discipline on the runner’s part if he hopes to come in first, or in the case of long distance—if she hopes to finish the race at all. Self-discipline is an exercise that reminds our body that the Spirit is the one who’s charge. We as believers follow the Spirit of truth, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” ~ Romans 12:1. But those who don’t follow the Spirit of truth, follow the flesh. “they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Philippians 3:18b & 19 Just like any exercise, we are strengthened by the continuing practice of it. And when we cease to exercise we become lethargic. So why don’t we practice self-discipline? The reason is because we’re conditioned to take the easy way out. When we condition our bodies to tend to difficult tasks, we grow into disciplined human beings. Take for example a child whose mother ensures his room be kept spotless his entire life by teaching him good habits. Chances are, that as the child grows, these habits will branch out further than just his bedroom. My point here is that if we become disciplined in the small things of life, we will also learn to discipline ourselves further. Ever notice that the first three days of any change program are difficult? The reason is that we are flexing a muscle that’s been at rest for too long. As we begin to move that muscle on a daily basis, we strengthen it to the point where it becomes painless activity. Dictionary.com describes discipline this way: “To bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.” The keyword here is obedience. It’s important that our bodies are obedient to the Spirit. When God speaks, we move—without hesitation. Excessive weight gain, yielding to addictions, and sloppy Bible reading habits are often signs that we lead undisciplined lives. Controlled eating, fasting, exercising, addiction control programs, and strong devotional habits are all signs that the body is under subjection. Paul says, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” Practicing self-denial is one way to add strength to self-discipline. Try to incorporate little reminders every once in a while, so your body remembers that it’s not in control. If a pool is too cold, jump in. If French fries look delicious, choose salad. And if a must-see TV show is on in five minutes, retreat to a corner with a good book in hand—perhaps that’s a good time to read the temptations of Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11) In preparation for ministry, Jesus fasted 40 days. Moses and Elijah are also recorded as fasting for forty days in preparation for the work that God set before them. Denying a hunger within us increases a hunger for spiritual food. However, it’s important that when we do fast that we aren’t doing it for the purpose of losing weight, but rather that we’re doing it for the purpose of gaining Spiritual strength and communion with God. Once we do train our bodies to yield to the Spirit, the fruit of self-discipline will naturally be evident in our lives. We’ll then be able to incorporate wise eating plans and because of self-discipline, we’ll stick with the plan. I remember standing in the kitchen a few years back. It was shortly after I had started to bring my body into subjection by practicing denial and good eating habits. There was a bag of chips sitting on the counter with a slogan that caught my eye: “Betcha can’t have just one!” Picking up the bag, I noticed that the smell was every bit as tempting as the slogan. This carb lover was all too familiar with the scent of salt and vinegar, and the way that it tantalizes the tongue. So what did I do? I remember smirking, and with a reply of my own, I said, “Betcha I can!” Sure that chip was good—but the discipline gained was far better! You want to challenge my body? I say, “Bring it on!” Because I know that when we challenge our bodies and win, we reap the benefits that come with self-discipline. This month I’d like to challenge your body! Make choices throughout the month that are good for you despite how they feel. Keep a running list of these disciplines to look back on. They don’t have to be many, but keep adding to the list as you go along. Looking back on the list will serve as a measure of progress to further motivate you. Choices should include disciplines that benefit our spirit, body and soul. They may be small disciplines like hopping in a pool with your kids, jumping on the bike for a spin, fasting through one meal, or eating your brussel sprouts (yuck), but they are seeds of disciplines nevertheless! Keep planting those seeds, and soon you’ll discover a rich harvest of peace in your life. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” ~ Hebrews 12:11 Have fun running the race, ladies, and till next month, Live Well!©2007, Darlene Schacht Related resources: *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. ______________________________ Read Darlene Schacht's Monthly Column: __________________________________________ Live Well!
When we set out to make change, the common problem we face is self-doubt. The “Why would it possibly work this time,” track that plays over and over in our brains until we finally decide to mute the volume and get back on track. In order to successfully make change and to recapture that which God intended for us, we need to tune into a new channel—and to begin to channel His strength. Galatians 3:3 is key: "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (NIV) With that philosophy in mind, I’ve been able to accomplish goals in my own life as well as ministering that concept to other women, who have used that same focus to find faith, lose weight, reshape their attitude, and put God first in their family and home. Through Christian Women Online magazine, I’m in contact with women daily who are seeking something more—women who find themselves lost and sometimes trapped looking for the woman that they know God designed them to be. Sometimes that woman is hard to find, but she’s in there, and together we’ll find her. There are many books on the market that will help you successfully lose weight, in fact there are several healthy eating plans that will take off your weight if you stick to them. Is one plan better than the other? That depends on who you’re asking, and which plan is best suited to your lifestyle and health. I’ll leave that choice to you and your doctor. Finding the right diet is rarely the problem, because it all boils down to the same thing—calories in vs. calories out. If we eat less and move more we will shed the pounds. We all seem to know that, but what we don’t know is why some women are motivated to “just do it” and some of us “just don’t.” I remember sitting on the sofa with my oldest son one evening, and since he’s wise beyond his years, I thought I’d ask the burning question, “How can I be motivated to lose weight?” “You just do it,” he said. And yes, I’ve heard that answer more times then I’d like to count; so that’s not the answer I’ll be giving you in this column. Relieved? Me too. I want to tell you about Christine. She was over weight for most of her life, and she was on a path that was leading her deeper into the weight gaining cycle. In fact by 20 years old she was already tipping the scales at 265 pounds. “I know why I’m overweight,” she told me, “I eat too much.” Christine knew what the problem was, and how to solve it, but taking the step in the right direction was her biggest problem. In fact she was telling me this over a plate heaved with Chinese food at the time. She had tried the cabbage soup diet, diet pills, apple diet, water pills…you name it, but she still struggled with weight. This same woman only two years later weighs 90 pounds less and is making better choices with every bite she takes. What made the difference? Motivation. It’s said that knowledge is power, but Christine is proof that knowledge without action is useless. If we know that we need to change, what is stopping us? I remember having a certain discussion a few times with different women. It’s the one discussion that always gets under my skin, and the one that I always nip in the bud. It’s on the topic of sin. “We all sin,” a woman will say, while I nod. “Some people kill, some lie, others are drunkards, and I am a glutton.” That is where I stop nodding and simply say, “Then stop.” If you know that your behavior is having a negative impact on your health or on your spiritual walk, then, sister it’s time that you got down on your knees repented of your sin, and started living God’s way. I’m not saying that eating two brownies after dinner is sin—don’t get me wrong. I’m simply stating that if we know we have a problem, rather than gloss over it we should begin to take steps to reconcile our body with our spirit and soul. Rather than focusing on diets in particular, this column will steer you in a slightly different direction in order to gain focus on your entire being—spirit, body, and soul. If the body is the envelope of the spirit and soul, doesn’t it only make sense to work from the inside out? If you’re at the point in your life where your body, your home, your family, or your spiritual life is slipping out of control, it’s time to get behind the wheel of the car and start gaining control. Or as singing sensation, Carrie Underwood, would say, “Jesus Take the Wheel.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 reads, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” All things. Just as a car won’t win a race if the gas tank is empty, a spark plug is dirty, or if a tire is flat, so we as women won’t be all that we can be if we’ve run out of steam, lost that spark of faith we once had, or let our spare tires go flat. When all of these things are tuned up on a regular basis, we can run the race—and run to win. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Reaching our ideal weight is not something that most of us will accomplish overnight or even in a month, but as I began to practice those things I discovered in the blueprint of womanhood over ten years ago, I began to see immediate change in my life and I’m confident that you will in yours. This month, begin by creating a list anywhere from 5 – 10 items long, listing changes or habits that you would like to make in your life everyday. These changes should be ones that you feel would be a benefit to your spirit, body and soul. Habits may include tasks such as:
Post this list in a place where you’ll see it often, such as above your kitchen sink or on the fridge. This list will be your constant reminder to stay on the right track. Let’s get started there girls! We’ll succeed and we’ll fail with each task we set out to change—at least I usually do—but the important thing is that when we do fail we get right back up on our feet and start again. I’ll have more thoughts on this subject next month, and more motivation to keep us running the race. Till next month, sister, live well! ©2007, Darlene Schacht ______________________________ Read Darlene Schacht's Monthly Column:
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Bonnie 
"Live Well!" inspires women to reshape their body and life, by moving faith to the forefront, making healthier lifestyle choices, and finding our worth in the eyes of our Father.
About Darlene
Have you resolved to lose weight this year, but find yourself skeptical, since every past attempt has only ended in failure? This year, instead of relying on your strength alone, I encourage you to get connected and draw strength in three ways. 
It is commonly said that diets don’t work. On their own, I’d have to agree, but when coupled with conviction, I tend to believe that we’d find a serious bend in that rule. Conviction is the very thing that fuels your plan of action, and makes it a lifestyle change.
