- The Grace and Strength Lifestyle
- Success Stories
Maryellen's Story
Have you ever felt like you were trapped in your own skin? I have spent the last four years feeling like this; feeling as if things could never change. I tried to convince myself that living a "little overweight" was my new normal. I would stand in front of a mirror and press repeat on however many body positive phrases I could think of, trying to make everything ok. "Just get through one more day" I thought. I struggled to break free of emotional eating and negative views I carried toward exercise. I would pray and battle with the Lord trying to understand how I lost focus. I didn't always battle with my weight. So facing this monster of selfishness and apathy head on terrified me. Then one day God met me in a place I least expected, a movie theater.
I went to see the new DC comics film Wonder Woman with my husband. From the beginning to the very end of the movie the Holy Spirit poured out His love and His plan for my freedom from this shell I was trapped in. Even though everyone else in the theater was there to see a movie, God had set this time aside to meet with me. As the movie played, the Holy Spirit began to pour the following truths out to me scene by scene:
- You are the daughter of the most High God.
- You were born for a purpose.
- Trust your trainer (Holy Spirit).
- You must train in order to set foot on the battlefield.
- You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers, at your disposal, than you know.
- Love is why you train and Love is the weapon you use to defeat your enemy.
The Holy Spirit allowed all of these truths to deeply pierce my heart. It caused me to take action. So the next day I contacted the office at Grace and Strength. I committed to the accelerated program. I had read many amazing success stories of women who completed Grace and Strength. I knew this was the right program and the right time. God was going to see me through this. I chose the accelerated program so I could complete everything while my husband was deployed. I am so thankful for the weekly group devotionals to keep me focused on why I was losing the weight. I am so thankful for my amazing coach who gave me the encouragement and accountability I so desperately needed.
Before Grace and strength I couldn't decide if losing weight and creating a healthy lifestyle was worth the fight and training it would take to win the war on my flesh. I couldn't see the real me hiding behind the weight. I realized, I didn't lose my peace and joy overnight. It took four years to lose myself. I convinced myself it would take at least that long, if not longer, to rebuild the confidence and joy I once had. But, after completing the Grace and Strength program I realized it was not about the battle at all. It wasn't just about creating good habits, nor was it just about a daily workout routine, it was about loving myself,trusting Jesus, and stepping onto the battlefield. I don't go to the gym now for a good looking body, I go because I love my Jesus, my husband, and my family. I don't eat natural, healthy food God provided, because I want to prove something to others, I do it because I love my Jesus, my husband, and my family.
I want to be able to run with my kids in the future. I want to take them on adventures, and live my life in total submission to my Heavenly Father God. In the movie theater that day the Holy Spirit spoke to me. In that moment I was given the courage I needed to step into the life He has always planned for me. It all comes down to love folks. It really comes back to a verse a lot of people hear and just pass on by, John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." I lost 45 lbs of chains called selfishness and apathy because of love, and because of love I will live a healthy and full life for the rest of my days.
* Individual results may vary.
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