Hi, Karyn.
I'm right there with you. Sometimes I think I've learned it, and then--pow!--I'm struck with human nature. It's annoying, isn't it. :)
Thanks for reading and replying. It blesses me. Have a good day.
Blessings,
Mary

Hi, Everyone.
I read a great quote yesterday, included in a friend's reply to a post:  "You ask Me to guide your way, but you don't want to move your feet." That really hit me. What about you? It goes well with today's devotion.
Please remember to pray for all those having or recovering from surgery. Also, there are many going through difficult situations right now. Let's lift each other up in prayer. I don't know how anyone goes through life without the Lord.

Life Plan Devotion #149 [Constancy]

Exodus 13:21-22 "By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people" (NIV).

     God's manifested presence to the children of Israel came in the form of "a pillar of cloud" by day and "a pillar of fire" by night. Try to picture that. I did. I "saw" everything from a tiny, fluffy cloud to a massive, thick cloud. I was leaning more toward the latter, especially since it had to have been large enough, as the pillar of fire by night, to adequately light the way for the vast number of Israelites, when they needed to travel at night. [Exodus 12:37 mentions 600,000 men. With women, children, and elderly men, the total could have been 2-3 million people.]
     In looking up the words "pillar" and "cloud" for these verses in Exodus chapter 13, I found that the Hebrew word for "pillar" means "a standing column," and the word for "cloud" means "a cloud (as covering the sky); the nimbus or thundercloud." What an awesome sight that must have been, day or night. It was huge!
     God's presence was constant, and constancy is still one of God's most beloved attributes. God's people, from the time of the wilderness wandering to this very day, tend to be a people who murmur, complain, and provoke God's longsuffering, yet He never leaves us. God is here, to lead and guide us, if we will only look to Him.

What this has to do with weight loss: God is constant in His offering to help, but are we constant in our accepting of that help. Think of your own weight-loss journey. If you have asked God to help you progress on your way, are you being constant/faithful in following His constant/faithful leading? He won't force you to, of course, but it is to your advantage to do so.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your unfailing, faithful constancy. I thank You for being willing to lead and guide me always, in every area of my life. I know that I must yield to Your leading, and that is my prayer for today. Father, I yield to You, in every way, in every area of my life. I know You will lead and guide me this day. May I follow, constantly. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, following constantly your constant Heavenly Father and Guide.

Blessings,
Mary

Thanks Mary!
  This reminded me of a little sign I saw in a Christian book store   "YOU ASK ME TO GUIDE YOUR WAY BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE YOUR FEET"
  This is so true not only with our Spiritual walk but that journey of getting healthy... we want the guidance but often dont want to put out the effort  ...or action that it takes to "get there"..

Hi, Everyone.
Thank you for praying for me yesterday. I woke up feeling much more rested. After everyone left for work and school, I had my quiet time and then went to the computer. I had today's devotion finished in about an hour and a half. I'm very thankful. Please pray for me daily, if you think of me. Pray for all those having surgery today or recovering from surgery. Pray for those who are within a few weeks of their scheduled surgery, as I know that can be a scary time.
As always, it blesses me to hear from you.

Life Plan Devotion #148 [Guidance]

Exodus 13:21-22 "By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people" (NIV).

     Moses, empowered and protected by God, has led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, out of bondage, and bound for the Promised Land...Canaan. Between Egypt and "the land flowing with milk and honey," a wilderness must be crossed.
     Picture with me an Israelite woman, perhaps from the tribe of Judah ("Judah" means "praise") rising early in the morning, lifting up the flap of the family tent, and walking out into the sunrise. She looks up at the sky, sees the standing-column pillar turn from fire to cloud, breathes a sigh of relief and whispers, "The LORD is still with us. Praise His Holy Name."
     Nothing is more important to God's children than knowing that He is with us, that He does not leave us in our wilderness journey from this earthly land of Egypt to our heavenly Canaan Land. While we do not see a tangible evidence of God's presence, as did the children of Israel, we have something better--His indwelling presence, and as we look to Him and follow Him, we experience His daily provision and guidance.
     As we begin a new mini-series on God's guidance, think about how He has guided you throughout your life, so far. Take a moment to thank Him for His leading.

What this has to do with weight loss: There are moments on our weight-loss journey when we just don't know which way to turn. Perhaps there's something that just doesn't feel quite right, but we're not sure what it is. Perhaps our exercise routine has lost its effectiveness, and we're not sure what to change. Perhaps we're at a weight-loss plateau, so we need to know how to jumpstart our body. We have Someone who will guide us, who will give us ideas to try or put someone in our path who will give us just the right information we need, at just the right moment. God cares about every part of your journey, even your weight-loss journey. Turn to Him for guidance. He is faithful.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, even though I cannot see You, as did the Israelites, when You went before them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, I am persuaded that You never leave me or forsake me. You have promised that in Your Word. I need Your guidance, Lord, because I recognize that on my own, I can falter and lose my way. Thank You for showing me the path I should take this day. My eyes are on You, and my ears are listening for Your Voice. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, walking in the guidance of your loving Heavenly Father.

Blessings,
Mary

Monica praising God for the wisdom that He inparted in your doctor. Praising God that you are 22 pounds down and praising God that you are His daughter and He is your healer. God will bless you through this that is His promise to all of His children. God Bless you


In Christ
Karyn