If anyone would have told me that I, as old as I am, would start a bold lifestyle change, I would say they were nuts … or worse. It goes to say you’re never too old to start listening to what doctors, experts, and your own body have been telling you (me) for a long time — that I must be insane to keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
This week I began a journey toward healthy eating and a more active lifestyle. The program I joined is an education class that will last six months. I start with small baby steps and build from there. I have a history of diabetes in my family, seeing my mother lose her eyesight, and my uncle losing a foot. I know what diabetes can do to your body. Now I’m finally paying attention. This is a big deal for me … before I always wanted a quick fix.
I’m sharing this with you to be accountable and, ultimately, encourage you with whatever success I achieve. I have every intention to make a lot of improvements, perhaps not all at once, but each tiny step at a time. This endeavor is helping me in my spiritual life, too.
You know there are similarities between a baby learning to walk in this big old world and us taking baby steps of faith with God. Both involve trust. The desire to move closer to something we want must become stronger than our fear of letting go (i.e., me and my love of food).
Scripture says: “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them. For the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) When it comes to Godly matters, we are just like a baby. We want to hold on because we are afraid to let go, too content to stand hanging on while watching others get what we wish we could enjoy. Living a life as a growing Christian requires us to take that tiny first step of trust in whatever area God has asked us to trust him with. Then he will ask us to trust him with our next step and the next.
My steps in my new journey may be small at first but that’s okay. I just need to remember that He is right there with me to steady my steps. I choose to make progress and not wait on perfection, which never comes. As God puts it: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com. Visit her at the Second Mile blog at https://debbyefurd.com.
Tagged: courage, fear and worry, scripture, trusting God
