Laura's Story

Grace and Strength has been such a blessing to me and has helped me gain a whole new self-confidence! I had been needing to lose weight for some time, but recent health concerns really pushed me to the point that I had to make a decision and a commitment to be healthy not only for myself, but for my children and grandchildren. I so wanted to spend quality time with these precious babies, any I knew changes had to be made. In searching through my options, I ran across Grace and Strength, and after talking with the staff, I truly felt this program was where I needed to be. I am so thankful that I made that choice. After all, the choices I had made to this point were not good ones, and this needed to change.

My first lesson ... I am loved by God, and I am worthy in his eyes!! God loves each of us so much that he sent his son who died on the cross to forgive all of our sins. We no longer have to carry this burden ourselves. The price has already been paid. While I knew this as fact, I had not really accepted all of the free gifts that had already been given. This journey has taught me so many valuable lessons, it is hard to narrow down everything that I have learned, but for me, this journey was really a matter of the heart. What was I putting first in my life, and what was behind the choices that I was making?

I learned it is OK to spend time on myself. I had always spent time with the Lord, but this time was more about praying for the hearts and health of others rather than myself. I learned that I needed to be quiet and listen and really evaluate the choices I was making, and why I was making those choices. Honoring God in each and every choice meant that I had to walk with Him continuously throughout each day, and not just leave Him at the door when I left the room or the house, but to take him with me through each step during the day. Really paying attention to my choices and filtering those choices through His Word was an eye-opening experience to learn how disobedient I had (unintentionally) become.

The "Idols of the Heart" series really spoke to me, as I had never really thought about the different things in my life that I was using as idols ... to include food. I had always thought of idols as statues or figures that were used to worship someone other than God. I had never thought about an idol being "any" replacement for God in my life. Whoa! Was I really replacing God with all these things?

Stubborn? Oh, yes, I am stubborn, and did not give up control easily. In fact, this is a daily struggle for me. And, this made for some tough weeks and hard lessons. What made me think I can do things better than God I have no idea. After these battles with myself and fighting temptations constantly, I was left just wanting peace. I knew the only way to achieve this peace was to walk with Him daily.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." Colossians 3:15.

It was this same stubbornness and trying to control everything that had led to many aspects of my life being out of control. I knew I had to relinquish this control and give everything to Him.

God is good, and He extends grace to all of us, and aren't we glad that he does? I can hear my coach saying, "Don't waste the grace that has been extended!" While I may "fall off the horse", I have learned to get back up quickly, get back on track, and lean into Him, so that the peace that I long for can finally come.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," Philippians 4:7.

May each of you experience this peace, just as I have, and may this be an everlasting peace that goes to the core of your being!

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* Individual results may vary.