Does the devil get the best of you because you're body isn't in the best of shape? Your biggest problem isn't your weight, but where you place your worth.

Did you know according to a Purdue University study that religious people are more likely to be overweight than the non-religious?

Blame it on that Sunday Potluck, but firm believers tend to have-not-so-firm bodies. And those ten or so extra pounds can be hard on our self-esteem as those wooden pews are on our bottoms. We let the devil have a field day with our self-image, basing our worth on the condition of our thighs, not our hearts.

So what do we do? As Christians, we should take care of our bodies and overall health, treating our bodies as temples, not garbage disposals. I Corinthians 6:19 reminds us, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?" . Also remember that our bodies are a place of worship, not objects to be worshipped. You won't lose points with God , if you miss "step class".

But if you find that you have a problem with your physical self-image (because of a few extra pounds, excessive exercise), realize that you're not the only one. Replace that fashion magazine with something more inspirational and take these few pointers:

Get rid of your scale. Lots of times, those numbers determine how we feel about ourselves. Best thing to do is throw it away. Let your doctor weigh you, while you concentrate on body tone.

Walk the Walk. Walking is not only good exercise; it is a great way to have quiet time with God. Enjoy a twenty-minute walk to be alone with the Lord. Pray that you can see the abundance of wonderful qualities God gave you, instead of just an "abundant waistline".

Have bigger goals than thinner thighs. If dropping fifteen pounds is your biggest goal and you spend your day counting calories, food will be in the front of your mind. Instead, fill your life with activities that you love more than Haagan Daz. For instance, start a new hobby, refinish an old desk, take a bubble bath, or devour a good book. In other words, make sure you have more to look forward to when you're alone than raiding the fridge.

Abstain from dieting, not chocolate cake. Eating a bite of chocolate cake won't hurt your diet; it's when you devour the whole cake that will put you in the trouble zone. Instead, eat what you want, just not all that you want.

Start a church health group. Replace that potato salad potluck with veggies and low cal dip. Or, replace the potluck all together with a physical activity. Fellowship Hall can be great for a weekly exercise group, which is a great outreach activity for any church.

Rely on God for your esteem, not the dressing room mirror. Remember, it's what's inside that counts, and that's the love of Christ. So when you get that a glimpse of the rear view in the dressing room mirror and your smile starts drooping more than other body parts, take a look at yourself the way God does: "For God sees not as man sees, for man looks a the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" Samuel 16:7. You will find that you can have greater self esteem focusing on what's inside you, than you can ever have from just having a "perfect body".

If your health is in jeopardy because of your weight, talk to a doctor. If you have to go on a calorie-reduced diet because of excess weight, do so under a doctor's care. Or if you suspect yourself or having an eating disorder or are obsessive about exercising, get professional help. You owe it to yourself, and to God!

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