Week 44, Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:39 (NIV, 1984)

I have been so busy today. My husband installed a new dishwasher and I was the pleasant, perky, handy-helper and cheerleader. Now in a perfect world the old one appliance comes out and the beautiful, updated, new one slides right in, right? Nope!

10 a.m. - Wade pulled out the old dishwasher and found the first surprise; the dishwasher was hard wired and the connection had been taped with electrical tape. NOT SAFE! So he had to make a trip to the home improvement store for a female electrical socket. That way the installation would go smoothly when the new dishwasher was delivered at 12:30 pm.  




11:30 a.m.- Wade successfully rewired and installed the new outlet and then we waited four hours before the dishwasher was finally delivered. Apparently the professionals had some issues with installations too. 


3:45 p.m. - The new dishwasher was in the kitchen and Wade and I quickly unpacked and unwrapped the beautiful new pristine stainless steel dishwasher. Wade efficiently and professionally hooked up all the plumbing lines and electrical. We slid it back into the cabinet...What?! It didn't fit! Noooooo!

The so called "same size as the old one" was in fact NOT THE SAME SIZE. The new dishwasher was two inches deeper and irritatingly bumped against the old plumbing lines at the back of the wall. The new dishwasher stuck out two inches out from under the cabinet! This is not supposed to be this way! UGH!

4:30 p.m. - Wade sighed and pulled the dishwasher back out, disconnected all the hoses and electrical, figured out that he had to reroute the plumbing. He cut out the old plumbing.


5:00 p.m.- Wade and I made another trip to the home improvement store for new plumbing. We returned with all the necessary supplies, and again Wade professionally and efficiently installed the new plumbing under the sink, reconnected all the hoses and electrical. We said a little prayer and slowly pushed the dishwasher into the cabinet. It fit! Praise God! IT was now 6:30 p.m.


A supposedly simple installation of the entire dishwasher took 8.5 hours!
Please tell me; Is any home improvement really simple and easy? I haven't ever had it happen to me! 

So, all of this to say...I'm too tired to post a cheerful uplifting diet blog. I copied and pasted one below. Even though it isn't about dieting, it can be.Let me just say that you shouldn't no matter what you are striving to do, don't give up. Keep going! If you are struggling with your diet, don't let the devil cheat you out of a healthier lifestyle.You can do it!


Now...the encouragement for today.

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It's Not Supposed to be This Way

Renee Swope

"I can't do this."
"Things will never change."
"My life isn't going to get better."
"I'll never have the confidence I need."

Those are some depressing thoughts, aren't they? But oh how quickly they slip into our minds and convince our hearts that they are true.
There have been times when I felt almost paralyzed by thoughts like these that were laced with uncertainty.
Times when I let self-doubt convince me that feelings of inadequacy and discouragement were normal.
Times when I've shrunk back from changes and challenges, as well as opportunities and open doors.
Other times I've pulled back in my relationships - with family and friends, and even God. Shrinking back into a place of unbelief ... settling for less than God's best.
All because I was tired of muddling through apprehension and indecision.
Are there days when doubt convinces you that feeling inadequate and discouraged is normal? Or that having confident assurance isn't possible for someone like you?
I think we sometimes forget we have an enemy who uses self-doubt against us - who shouts from the sidelines:

"It's too hard."
"You might as well quit."
"Go ahead and give up."
"You don't have what it takes."

It's time for us to take a stand and stop listening to these lies. God wants us to know and believe that with Christ all things are possible - even a confident heart.

Otherwise doubt, and the enemy, will win every time and our hearts will be eroded by attitudes and emotions of defeat.

But it's not supposed to be this way.

All throughout scripture, God tells us things can change; life can be better. He declares with confidence: "See, I am doing a new thing!" "I am working all things together for good for those who love me and are called according to my purpose." "All things are possible to [her] who believes." (Isa. 43:19; Rom. 8:28; Mark 9:23)

So how do we stop listening to our doubts and start living in the power of God's promises?
By choosing to believe God's truths more than our feelings and fears. By moving beyond believing in God to really believing God as we rely on the power of His Words and live like they are true - no matter what our feelings tell us.
It is a moment-by-moment, day-by-day, doubt-by-doubt decision where we process our thoughts and emotions with God, positioning our hearts and minds to let His perspective redefine ours with each uncertainty we face.

Some days I do better than others, and you will too. But I have found that it's possible to have lasting Christ-confidence by choosing to remember to believe.
Let's choose to remember today, and every day, the words of Hebrews 10:39, that we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed - but of those who believe and are saved!

Lord, give me a confident heart in Christ. I want You to lead me beyond believing in You to truly believing You. Help me rely on the power of Your promises and live like they are true. When self-doubt tells me I can't overcome my insecurities, I will believe Your promise that all things are possible to whoever believes. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Today's devotion is based on truths Renee also shares in her powerful book: A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises.

Are you ready to live in the power of God's promises? To take hold of the security of His love? Join Renee's online study of her best-selling book, A Confident Heart, beginning April 23rd. Here's what others are saying about her study:

Through this online study of A Confident Heart I have learned to seek and find the strength God desires me to have. I can also be confident that when I do fall short God still loves me anyway. What a blessing and a gift! ~ Cindy

This book and online study has made such a difference in my life. I now see myself as God sees me, and that gives me confidence to be more of the person He has always desired me to be. I am beautiful in His eyes, and now believe He is really the one who matters! ~Sherri

Click here for more details about Renee's online study or sign up here today!