What comes to mind when you hear the word beautiful? I imagine a field of wild flowers, my girls running wide armed through them with carefree abandon. Beautiful. Do you believe you are beautiful? Or have you believed the lies the enemy whispers as you stand in the mirror. Fat. Ugly. Unlovable.
Our enemy loves to whisper lies. He even weaves bits of truth into the lies making them hard to refute.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
We are Fighting for Freedom in our Thoughts and Abundant Life!
So Far in this series we’ve seen why we should Fight and 3 Easy Ways to Fight.
Today we tackle a specific lie that lead to disaster in our lives: In our relationships, Marriage, Parenting and serving in the Kingdom of God.
Lie #1: I am Fat and Ugly
I was always the big, clumsy, nerdy girl – with glasses and hair that could never be styled – wearing uncoordinated tattered hand-me-downs. Can you relate?
Add to that my home was filled with dysfunction and the phrase ‘You are fat and no one will ever love you’ sounded more times than I can count.
I spent a lot of years learning how to forgive so much of that. Can I share my story of the Pathway to Forgiveness that Lead to Freedom with you?
When the lie come from someone you trust – they go deep.
A seed of that lie was planted and tended often in my life. The girls that guys went crazy for were thin and well dressed. Oh how I wished I could be them.
Every doctors visit ends with “You are Obese. Try this diet or that exercise plan”. They mean well, but the diets fail because I start with the wrong motivation.
The Lie affected my Marriage
My husband tells me I am beautiful but I don’t believe him. I turn away from his gaze and physical attention – hiding behind as much fabric as possible.
I overachieved to keep his love – believing I was unlovable -creating a co-dependent situation. Sooner or later he would leave I reasoned. Oh what a vicious cycle it was!
The lie affects my Parenting
I see my girls growing up beautiful – all the while wondering if they will be big like me.
- There is shame as they notice my size
- I feel guilty
- I am overly controlling of food
- trying to teach them to eat healthy so they don’t look like me one day
- They follow my example – not my advice.
The Lie affected how I served in the church
I seemed shy and reserved, but if only they knew. I felt uncomfortable, un-presentable, and unqualified to lead others.
Honestly, I was unaware of the ways this lie was dictating my life.
BUT GOD stepped in and changed the story! He was relentless. Every time someone invited me to read a book or join a Bible study it was about Replacing the Lies with God’s Truth!
No Joke, this is the one I am studying today! Love this little book! It is jam-packed with practical ways to Replace the lies!
Bit by bit God showed me how this lie is Completely opposite of what He says.
Fight the Lie: I am Fat and Ugly- with God’s Truth
God doesn’t call us ugly. In fact He is crazy about us loving us before we were even born (Romans 5:8). Sacrificing His only son to save us (knowing my love of Zebra Cakes would make me 100 lbs overweight)
- God looks at the inside. 1 Samuel 16:7
- God calls me Beautiful and so much more (Check Out over 50 verses about God’s Love here)!
- beloved – Deuteronomy 33:12
- chosen –Colossians 3:12-13
- pleasing – Psalm 149:4
- Daughter of the King (Romans 8:17)
When I believe I am ugly and God says I am beautiful
I Call God a liar
Who wants to step up and tell God he is lying? Maybe He is bias and just can’t see how my fat makes me ugly…
When did Weight begin deciding Beauty?
God is working to separate the idea of Weight and Beauty in my thoughts. I now see myself as beautiful. But I have also come to see that I have not taken care of my body and healthy.
In fact, I spent a lot of years emotionally overeating* – adding to the problem.
God says our Body is His temple and we must treat it as holy.
We know that excess fat hurts our body. Is it holy to hurt the Temple of God? Nope.
But how do I care for my body in a Holy way? Does that mean I have to be thin? No.
We have to take the emotional connection away from being Fat and start to think in terms of Health.
My goal can’t be to lose weight to be beautiful. My goal must be to live a healthy lifestyle that honors God with my body.
Enter Faithful Finish Lines
A Christian Weight Loss, Healthy Eating & Fitness program (Currently being redesigned. New link coming soon*)
I needed a new understanding of:
- Eating.
- Banishing gluttony
- Exercise.
- Finding something I love to do that is active
- Body Image.
- Seeing beauty from God’s perspective
- Healthy lifestyle choices
- Making godly choices every day to honor His Temple
Also, I had to start small because I am more than 100 lbs overweight.
All of that came in the form of an online course, community and health coach! Sara B from the Holy Mess worked hard to lose 100 lbs and has kept it off for more than 10 years. She is an inspiration to me in this journey. It is her passion to help women achieve the same healthy life style through Bible Study, Accountability and community.
Perspective shift: I am overweight and beautiful.
I am a beautiful woman, loved by God (and others) walking in confidence toward health so I can honor God with my body and life!
With that Changed perspective I can:
- Accept the love and friendship of others at face value.
- Confidently accept my Husbands praise.
- Be excited about being intimate with him.
- I can teach my children their beauty is not found in appearance but from within.
- We can begin making healthy lifestyle choices together that will change the next generation.
- And I can stand on the platform and lead without being ashamed of what I look like.
When we step into God’s truths- Fighting the lies- it changes everything!
Do you believe God that you are beautiful, chosen, accepted, forgiven, complete and sealed by Him?
Is there is a lie you are battling? Drop a comment below and I will dig into it with you 😉
in HIM,
Tiffany
The battle for us to overcome whatever lie it is that satan tries to get us to believe can be very difficult. That is why it is that much more important that we SOAK ourselves in the Word of God so that we know what the truth is!
Love that. We do have to Soak ourselves in the Word!
Tiffany, thank you for sharing your struggles and your journey. Even those of us who don’t regularly struggle with our weight, struggle with feeling acceptable and loved. These are definitely lies of the enemy and can be counteracted by the truth of God’s word. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the insights you have gained and the course of action you have taken to overcome the lies. Very encouraging! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
So glad it encouraged you Amy!
It’s so important to remember too that God looks at our heart while culture looks on the outside. These bodies are failing, but our heavenly bodies will be glorious.
We have to stop believing Satan’s lies!
that is it exactly!
Shame is such a life killer. I get so upset when I see women convinced they are unlovable because of a few pounds.
And I wish I could say it is just the culture… but if it were 200 years ago women might struggle for being too thin… crazy how the enemy works against us.
“When I believe I am ugly and God says I am beautiful
I call God a liar.” When I was a youth leader and teacher I used to say this often to my girls. Our appearance does not catch God by surprise. He could have designed us anyway he saw fit but he designed us in such a way that is pleasing to him.
I love that perspective Erin!
Powerful post. Thanks for your honesty!
So glad it blessed you!
Love this! I think almost all women struggle with body issues – especially after having kids! I weigh less than I did in my twenties before kids, and I am still so hard on myself. My body has grown and nurtured four healthy babies, I should be so proud of it! I love your perspective change. It’s very inspiring. Thank you for this!
LOL babies do a number to our body. And we should be proud. I love telling my girls what those silver lines mean on my belly! They mean God blessed me with them!!!!!!!
Our beauty shines out of our face, and it’s part of who we are, regardless of our size.
That is so true Susan!