Lead Me Not Into Temptation...

So, I'm doing "The Biggest Loser" at church. I joined for a couple of reasons:

• I'd like to finally lose some weight, and I know that I will do better with a challenge, with competition, and with someone expecting me to weigh in every week.
• It sounded fun at the time.
• I could use the cash - though my actually acquiring it, isn't looking very promising at the moment (though we ARE early in the competition!)
• God has been directing me to look at my eating habits for a long time now. I wasn't getting there on my own.
  

The support of the group as been wonderful, but what I rely more on is the accountability. I know there are women that I can call or text or talk to, who won't think I'm absolutely OUT OF MY MIND if I say "Hey... I'm really craving!"

It happened Monday night. I was craving something sweet. My bathroom is still FILLED with Girl Scout Cookies of various varieties. But they were not my biggest concern. My concern was that I had to go to the grocery store before I went to my Bible study.

And then I had an idea. I texted one of the women that is doing both the competition and the study. I shared my situation and committed to her that I wouldn't "choose poorly" at the store. Knowing that she might ask me how the trip went when I arrived at church, was exactly what I needed. Support and accountability.

Again on Wednesday night. Same story. Couple the cravings with the fact that the scale has not budged one iota this past week and you add some frustration to the craving. Fortunately, I KNOW that this is a temporary (albeit recurring) phenomenon. I won't ALWAYS feel this way. But, in the moment, that doesn't always help...

It does help to be able to feel some of the results of my efforts, despite the objective data provided by my scale. Yet, there is a nagging "it won't matter if you have a cookie, ... the scale's not going to drop anyhow" The problem is that one is too many and a thousand are never enough. And I know that.

"Lead me not into temptation...." I say aloud, as I heat a cup of tea. "Deliver me from evil..." I cannot do this on my own. I have demonstrated that over and over again. "Turn to ME", He says... "Turn to ME...."

I know that is the only answer...

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
(and let me finish...)
For Thine is the power, and the glory, forever and ever...

and then, I stumbled upon another.... (Thank You, God...)

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12)