The increase of fear is not a coincidence.

Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold because wickedness would abound in the last days (Matthew 24:12). The bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

You see evidence of lawlessness, offense, and instability all around you. And when you focus on that, you naturally become more fearful.

Then your mind starts to focus on “What if…”

• “What if I lose my job?”
• “What if we lose our house?”
• “What if I never get married?”
• “What if my husband leaves me?”
• “What if this is cancer?”

But Jesus never told us to focus on “What ifs.” Instead, he told us to focus on “Let not”:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27.

If you are born again, then Jesus has given you the gift of peace. Your job is to guard your heart so that it is not troubled and afraid. I have to remind myself of that often!

The real question is, “Even if your worst fear came true, do you believe that you could handle it with Jesus’ help?”

Meditating on Jesus’ perfect love for you casts out fear. It gives you confidence and strength to face life’s challenges. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

The apostle Paul advises in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.”

So when you feel fearful, pay attention to your thoughts. What are you dwelling on? I recently learned that the Hebrew word for “dwell” means “to sit down”. Dwell also means to “live in”.

There is a difference between having fearful, anxious thoughts enter your mind for a moment (you can’t help that) versus choosing to “sit down” or “live” in them!

Here is a great free bible study I recently completed called “The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart”. I think it will help you ensure your heart is right and see how important it is to guard it:

The Heart of the Matter Free Bible Study

May this study bless you and help you to keep your heart untroubled and unafraid!

Be blessed in health, healing and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S. If you need audio inspiration to release fear and anxiety, then I strongly recommend that you own Rhonda Jones’ Christian Meditation audio series.

On the page below, she has a free audio sample you can listen to. Just scroll down and you’ll see the sample.

Christian Meditation audio sample

Anyway, yesterday morning he gave me a great message. I wasn’t sure when I was going to post it, but a dear lady named Keila from Brazil emailed me last night. In it, she mentioned a challenge she is going through and wrote these words:

“Jesus will hold my hand each second!”

That was confirmation to post this message now because the scripture God gave me to meditate on early yesterday morning was this:

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

When I wrote my free “I Want to Know Who God Is” ebook, I discovered the two words used to describe God most in the bible are ‘strength’ and ‘righteous’.

Who sits at God’s right hand? Jesus! That Isaiah scripture is one of my favorites but I never made the Jesus connection before now.  Jesus is the right hand that God sent to uphold us – he strengthens us, helps us, and leads us into righteousness – right standing with God and guidance on the right way to live.

I was compelled to read Romans next – I started out reading a few scriptures but ended up reading the whole book. Jesus was sent to help us who are weak and unrighteous – slaves to sin while we live in this body.

Jesus came to whoop sin’s behind (that image makes me smile) – triumphing over it each and every time while he lived in flesh just like ours, being tempted in every way we are tempted. And when the devil tried to kill him – fighting him even to the grave – Jesus defeated sin and death in the grave, emerging triumphant in his glorified body. He left sin and death behind in his dead earthly body!

That is what you have to look forward to as well – no more having to fight against sin in this “body of death” as Paul calls it. You will be truly free. But until that time, Jesus sent you the Holy Spirit so that you too can gain the victory over your flesh, just as Jesus did when he lived in his earthly body.

To gain the victory, we must commit to the following:

• Being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:15-18)
• Abiding in God’s word so that we know truth (John 8:31-32)
• Set our minds on things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6)

As we do these things, the bible promises we will reign in life.

What a friend and brother, Savior, we have in Jesus! And if you don’t know him personally yet and want to know how you can welcome (or re-welcome) him into your life, here is how you can.

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S. One of the most important things you’ll need to do to overcome eating issues is to renew your mind. That’s why one of the bonuses in the Take Back Your Temple eBook is “Prayers and Promises to Take Back Your temple”.

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

In this special bonus, you get over a dozen scriptures and prayers specifically related to God’s promises for health and strength so you can gain physical, emotional, and spiritual victory every day. Check it out!

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Let me explain.

A couple of years ago, a coaching client told me about “Secrets to Always Answered Prayer” by Kathy Logan. Sister Kathy was an annointed teacher and writer who also conducted free weekly prayer classes online.

I purchased her ebook and listened to her prayer classes. They strengthened my prayer life greatly. Soon after, Kathy went home to be with the Lord. She was only in her early 40s, but she influenced so many with her loving teaching.

After her decease, her website was taken offline. However just a few weeks ago, I discovered a website that archives Internet content – and I found Kathy’s website there.

Most of the links on the site are broken now, but amazingly her audio still works via the embedded gray audio play buttons. In all, there are nearly 40 prayer class audios. Here are some of the topics:

• Money and Prayer
• God Keeps His Word
• The Number One Reason People Don’t Pray
• The 10 Minute Prayer
• Prayer Blockers and Prayer Enhancers

NOTE: To listen to the audio, you must click the gray audio player buttons on her page.  The links on her page are broken and no longer work.

I know if you take Kathy’s bible-based teaching to heart you will get more of your prayers answered and build a stronger relationship with God.

What an awesome privilege to have free access to the Creator of the universe through prayer because of your faith in Jesus Christ!

Remember the words of Deuteronomy 4:7:

For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?

I love the phrase ‘for whatever reason’ in that scripture! Matthew 19:26 assures us that with God all things are possible. The enemy might try to tell you that your situation is hopeless and you’ll always be trapped, but that is a lie. Get into God’s word and memorize his promises. He wants you to live an abundant life, so begin to anchor yourself in Him through prayer. Ask for help and wisdom to handle the issues you face everyday and he will provide it.

I posted the access link to the classes on my ‘Stop Drop and Pray’ website:

http://www.stopdroppray.com/free-prayer-class/

I hope these are a blessing to you! I am not sure how long they will be available so take advantage of them while you can.

Be blessed in health and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Note: Below is my original review of Women Food and God. Since then, I have since taken a closer look at the book and recorded a video with my additional thoughts. You can listen to it at the end of this post.

_____________

You may have heard of a new book called “Women Food and God” by Geneen Roth about compulsive overeating. I heard it was featured on Oprah, but I discovered it by accident while browsing popular books on Amazon. The title intrigued me, so I bought it.

But I stopped reading on page 16. More about that later, but first I want to share a conversation I read on an earlier page. The author has a retreat for women who compulsively overeat and this is what one attendee told her over dinner. It is startling:

______________________

Laurie, a thirty-five year old CEO of a Boston mortgage company, raises her hand. “I am not hungry, but I want to be. I want to eat anyway.”

“Why is that?” I ask.

“Because it looks good and it’s here, right now. It’s the best comfort in town. What’s wrong with wanting comfort from food?”

“Not a thing,” I say. “Food is good and comfort is good. Except that when you are not hungry and you want comfort, food is only a temporary pallative; why not address the discomfort directly?”

“It’s too hard to address things directly, too painful, and there isn’t any end to it. And if it’s going to be endlessly painful, then at least I have food,” she answers.

“So you figure that the best you can get out of life is cold vegetable soup?”

When she talks again, her voice is quivering. “It’s the only true comfort I have and I am not going to deprive myself of it.”

______________________

That hurt my heart because I was once in the same place as Laurie. Even though I was “saved,” I did not trust God for comfort. At that time, I didn’t view him as one who loved me and could heal my pain. Instead, I viewed him as ready to judge and condemn me.

Reading that conversation alone was worth the cost of Women Food and God for me, but I stopped reading on page 16 because of this author statement: “It doesn’t matter whether we believe in one God, many gods, or no god.”

Oh, but it does matter! I believe there is no such thing as a weight management issue; it is all ultimately a life management issue.

Your belief about God determines how you view life, approach it, and what you expect from it. If you believe there is no god, then all you have is yourself as the compass to discern what is good and right. And we know all know how self-deceptive humans can be.

If you believe in many gods, then how do you know which to follow in a given situation? God is not the author of confusion.

I believe in the God who says in Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me  there is no God.”

It makes a big difference when you view yourself as a daughter (or son) of the King.

I believe in the God who heals as said in Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”

And I believe in the God who comforts, protects, and leads me in the right way as said in Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

I have a personal relationship with the one true God, which I obtained through the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6): Jesus.

So I say to Laurie and to anyone else suffering from compulsive eating: “God is the true source of comfort and he wants you to expect more from life than cold vegetable soup! He wants you to experience eternal life, which is that you may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent.”

Open up your heart and let God comfort you. Trust him and you will be healed.

_____________________

Video Follow-up Review: Author’s Views on God

Did you find this information on overcoming compulsive eating useful? You can learn a lot more about starting the healing process through achieving a closer relationship with God and how to achieve healthy weight loss. Check out my Take Back Your Temple eBook and the 8 bonuses that come with it.

Click here to learn more.

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Perhaps the reason is that your prayers lack power. But the good news is that you can turn the power on at any time. The secret is to follow a little known key that Jesus taught.

In Mark 10:15, he says: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

What does it mean to be like a little child?

Little children need to be led. They need the parent’s loving instruction to tell them what to do, how to act, and where to go. The parent must lead them for their own good.

Little children who do not receive this training end up insecure,  undisciplined, anxious, and angry.

In your prayer life, do you spend all of your time asking God for what you need? Or do you take some of that time to listen, expecting to receive instructions from him like a little child?

You see, the power of prayer is in following the instruction that God gives you.  If you are not seeing change, it is because you did not.

And nothing will change in your life until you do!

Prayer that releases power brings the kingdom of God into your life. Expect three benefits according to Romans 14:17: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Acting in righteousness means you are empowered to do what God thinks is right. And peace and joy will follow!

To remind you of this principle, my fiancé’ Mike and I updated our unique “Stop, Drop, and Pray” magnet. We want this magnet to be on the refrigerator of every person in the world who follows Christ because we know that prayer releases power!

Eva of Robstown, Texas agrees. She ordered 15 magnets for her couples group at church because she wanted them as a reminder to “inspire each other to seek the Lord through prayer for guidance in our marriages and to help us and others live lasting, fulfilling and loving relationships.”

Isn’t that wonderful? Can you imagine how the world would change if every person did the same?

If you agree, click here to learn about the magnets and how you can get a discount.

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S. At our website, www.stopdroppray.com, you can also see the story about how Mike and I came up with the magnet idea. It was truly amazing!

And immediately, He answered me, “I know what you feel like. What does your faith like?”

The question startled me but I answered back, “My faith like is that I know all things work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. I know that I love God and I am the called according to his purpose. Therefore, all things are working together for my good, including this situation.” (Romans 8:28)

Then I also remembered that the word says that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Nowhere does it say the just shall live by feelings! All believers have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, therefore we live by faith.

The “feel like” versus “faith like” issue comes up a lot this time of year, especially when people make New Years Resolutions. They start out well, but sooner or later they quit because “I just don’t feel like doing this today.” And today stretches into tomorrow, next week, and soon the year is gone and they are no closer to becoming the person they want to be than before. In fact, they are further away because they’ve practiced the old habits for another year, which makes them more entrenched and harder to break.

It might surprise you to know that I don’t always feel like taking care of myself. I don’t always feel like exercising. I don’t always feel like eating healthy. But my faith likes both of those things because in order to maximum my ministry to others, it helps to be physically energetic, healthy and vibrant! So faith controls my actions.

So my question to you is this…are you making health decisions based on “feel like” or “faith like”? If by “feel like” what will be the consequences if you continue to live this way? Write the consequences down in as much detail as you can. Make it vivid and real so that you can really see yourself living with them. Not fun, huh?

Everyday, I see or read about people who are destroying their bodies, health, and lives because they are living by feelings and not by faith. It is sad because they are choosing to live less than God’s best for them.

Today, resolve to learn what God’s word says about health and make this year one in which you act to take care of yourself, not according to feel like, but according to faith like! You will receive wisdom and strength to do this by God’s spirit. All it takes is a big decision and a little faith!

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S. One of the free bonuses in the Take Back Your Temple eBook is ‘Prayers and Promises for Taking Back Your Temple’. It is critical that you know what God’s promises are concerning health and his promises for helping you overcome any weaknessess you have in this area. Based on God’s word, the ebook contains prayers of encouragement in overcoming temptations, emotional eating, developing self-displine, for patience, for courage, and more. I urge you to take advantage of this free bonus and 7 others bonuses to help your reach your weight loss and health goals in 2010.

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Remember, you can try it for 30 days and if you don’t find the materials helpful, return it to me for a refund, but keep the bonuses as my thanks to you for trying the system.

Learn more here:

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

I found this system because I was looking for a plan to read the bible through twice a year. I’ve done ‘bible-in-a-year’ plans before but after I finished one last year, I was hungry for more.

However when I first read about the Horner system,  I doubted that I could do it. He divides the bible books into 10 lists and the goal is to read one chapter from each list daily. That’s 10 chapters a day! With my previous plan, I was reading 3-4 chapters a day, so this is quite a stretch for me.

And yet…I felt led to do it. I know how much bible reading has changed me for the better. I’m still a work in progress and know that the more I allow God’s word to work in my life, the more fruit I will bear for others to taste and see that the Lord is good!

True, it will take more time out of my day. And while I can’t get more time (we all get 24 hours), I do choose how to spend it. I will take time from unproductive daily activities and spend it on this one – which will impact my life and others for a lifetime. An excellent trade!

To make the system practical for my life though, I am modifying a couple of things:

• Rather than reading all 10 chapters at once, I am reading 5 chapters in the morning and 5 chapters in the evening daily. If I have to attend an evening event, then I will read those 5 chapters at lunch.

• Professor Horner provides 10 bookmarks you can print to keep track of your locations in the bible, but I’m using a checklist instead.

With my bible-in-a-year plan, I was accustomed to using a checklist  and it was really helpful. Plus, I felt a sense of accomplishment when I checked off chapters I read. You can download a copy of my checklist to use if you like (it is Adobe PDF form).

It is designed to print double-sided, so you can fold it as a booklet and stick it in your bible:

Download checklist for Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System

I wrote about my goal on this blog to keep myself accountable for following through. It really does help you to stay on track when you know other people are watching.

I decided to call my personal challenge Operation Gateway Bible just to remind me of the reasons why I am doing this.  I hope that you decide to make this year one of increased bible study too, either the Horner system or another one. And I know that the benefits you gain will be worth for more than the investment you put into it.

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Like everyone, I have periods of insecurity. I wonder if I can accomplish the things that God has called me to do. During those times, I will tell the Father, “Well, you know I’m not this” or “You know I’m not that.”

But a startling thought occurred to me lying in bed: “It does not matter what I’m not. What matters is that You ARE!”

Right then, I got happy. I heard – “I AM” and then I saw myself in the Spirit saying joyfully to God, “Yes, You ARE!” That is the whole essence of the faith walk. You simply agree, “Yes, you are!” to the great “I AM”.

God says: “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1)” and you say, “Yes, you ARE!”

The Father says, “I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 9:24)” and you say, “Yes, you ARE!”

God says, “…for I am the Lord, who heals you (Exodus 15:26)” and you say, “Yes, you ARE!”

Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6)” and you say, “Yes, you ARE!”

I read a booklet recently that goes right along with this. The author stated that in order to have faith, you must first receive a word from the Lord.

When you get that word, agree with that word, speak that word, and act on that word, it must prosper because God already told you that it would. God cannot lie.

God doesn’t expect your faith to be based on thin air. He speaks to you through his word. So make it your goal to saturate your mind with scripture.

This is especially important if you find yourself meditating on what you are not. What you don’t have. What you’ve lost. What you lack. Take the spotlight off yourself and put it on the great “I AM”.

Find out what God says about himself. Find out what God says about you. Find out what God says about what you can have.

When you receive the word, agree with the word, speak the word, and act on the word, then you will be able to answer “Yes, you ARE!” to God and he will show you that He is all that He says he is – and then some!

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.

P.S. Are you afraid to try again to reach a healthy size because you fear failure? It’s a common mistake that keeps you trapped.  God’s strength is available to you. He promises never to leave you nor forsake you, so you can be confident that he will be right there with you,
strengthening you and preparing you for victory!

In the Take Back Your Temple ebook, I explain the very first step to keeping weight off is to anchor yourself in God. You need that source of strength to keep you steady during challenging times. I provide specific, practical ways to do that and to renew your mind to support your goals.

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

I once heard a pastor define faith as “knowing God”. And to know God is to first know that he loves you. God IS love.

I believe that you cannot fully love others or be motivated to take care of yourself unless you are convinced of God’s love for you. You also cannot do the good works to which he calls you because they require the power of faith working through love within you.

So to encourage you in faith and love today, please watch this video that a reader named Rachelle emailed to me that illustrates God’s love for you. It has English subtitles, but love is a universal language and it will minister to you. It brought me to tears:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFQC1vX6pU

In addition, here are some scriptures that detail God’s love for you. Consider them as God’s love letter to you and note how we start out as downtrodden, but end up victorious!

Please pass this message on to everyone you know so they too can become rooted and grounded in God’s love.

Ezekiel 16:8
“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD.

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

John 16:27
for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

Romans 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:37-39
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Ephesians 2:4
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2 Thessalonians 2:16
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

2 Thessalonians 3:5
Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:8
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:9
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

--
Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple eBook’
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book