Reshaping It All (12 page)

It's not something that happens overnight. Just like exercise, it can take several months of training for our muscles to build. Once I trained my body to yield to the Spirit, the fruit of self-discipline naturally became evident in my life. I was then able to incorporate wise eating habits, and because of self-discipline I've stuck with the plan. In many areas of my life, I've reached the place where self-discipline is a natural choice that doesn't feel like self-discipline at all.

If I'm out with a friend, I prefer to stop in at a café than opt for fast food. And if I'm at a café, I'll order something like a mixed green salad with grilled salmon (dressing is always on the side), and a glass of unsweetened iced tea. Self-discipline has carried me a long way since the "quarter pounder with cheese" days, and I'm still growing strong.

If you were near a movie theater in the mid-1980s, you probably watched the original
Karate Kid;
it's a classic. After the death of his father, Daniel (played by then heart-throb, Ralph Macchio) and his mother pack up and leave for California in search of a new beginning. Shortly after settling in, Daniel has a run-in with a local thug who brings him down with a few smooth karate moves. Ouch! It was painful to see little Ralph getting pummeled by a thug and his gang, but the harassment continues time and again until adorable handyman, Mr. Miyagi, appears and single-handedly takes down the gang. This is where the audience puts down their popcorn and whispers "Righteous" in true 1980s fashion.

Daniel eagerly becomes a student of Mr. Miyagi hoping to learn karate and kick some butt of his own. But if you remember anything about the movie, you'll probably remember that the training had little to do with karate at all. Daniel was assigned laborious chores like painting a fence, sanding a floor, and waxing one car after another after another. Aside from learning how to wash a car, disgruntled Daniel finally learned that serious training involved balance and that his training had as much to do with his spirit as it did his body.

It's never easy to accept the discipline part of any task we take on. Ask any kid who wants to help with dinner. Everyone wants to stir the soup, but nobody wants the nasty job of putting the food away or washing the dishes. Cooking a meal, joining a gym, starting a new diet, taking a class, teaching a class, starting a family, writing a book, getting a pet, and the list goes on. Most of the things we set out to do have a price—hard work. The cost of hard work is worth the final reward if we don't give up before seeing the end. Bringing our bodies into subjection with self-discipline is never fruitless activity; it only serves to enrich our lives further.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, put painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Heb. 12:11)

To get a biblical view of self-discipline, let's take a closer look at the self-disciplined side of the woman personified in Proverbs 31:

• Works with eager hands (v. 13)

• Brings food from afar (v. 14)

• Gets up while it's still dark (v. 15)

• Plants a vineyard (v. 16)

• Works vigorously (v. 17)

• Is clothed with strength and dignity (v. 25)

• Speaks with wisdom (v. 26)

• Doesn't sit idle (v. 27)

Do some of those characteristics speak to you? Have you refused to work out because it would mean getting up a little earlier? Do you grab something quick to eat because you don't want to take the time to get your food from afar? Do you waste too much idle time on the computer or television when you could be enriching your mind? Are you clothed with strength and dignity, or do you throw on a ball cap, slip on a ratty old T-shirt, and then head out of the door praying you won't be seen?

Self-disciplines when applied to our life not only bring self-respect; they also bring respect from others around us:

• Her husband has full confidence in her (v. 11).

• Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land (v. 23).

• Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (v. 28).

• Let her works bring her praises at the city gate (v. 31).

• Shoe shoppers randomly say she's an adorable mom. (I added this one!)

When self-discipline is called for, many of us step back immediately. Although we don't outright admit what we're thinking, what we'd like to say is, "Uh, no. I'm not going to sign on to anything that requires sacrifice on my part. I'd rather wait until an easier plan comes along." And so we wait for the next quick fix that promises weight loss at no cost—maybe it's an all-you-can-eat soup diet or licking the pounds away on an ice cream diet. We fail time and time again because a quick fix doesn't strengthen us for tomorrow; it satisfies and gratifies the body today.

Losing weight and staying in shape is simple. There isn't a rock that hasn't been turned, no magic pill that waits to be found. It's a battle that needs to be fought; the only question remains: "Are
you
willing to fight?" If you put it off for tomorrow, you're waiting too long. Self-discipline doesn't know when it's Monday; it calls us to step up today.

A life of sacrifice is an act of spiritual worship. I don't suppose the Proverbs 31 woman particularly liked getting up while it was still dark, lighting a fire while the others remained warm in their beds. And I don't think it will be easy for you in the beginning either. The first time you pass up a bag of chips, turn down some chocolate, or settle for water instead of a can of soda will be difficult, but I believe without any uncertainty that in time you will be happy with the changes you've made.

Worship speaks to my heart and moves me to obedience. It's amazing, to be able to worship God by giving up a part of myself. Being able to give up the hold I had on the world as an act of worship to God. It's not always easy, but it's how I serve as a living sacrifice—giving up my will for His.

All things die that we may have life, so that nearly every piece of food we put in our mouth is a sacrifice in some way or another. Beef, chicken, pork, fish, lettuce, carrots, and the list goes on—all living things that have died so that I might live. Nature itself typifies the death and resurrection of our Lord, bringing glory to God.

Dying to one's self is an act of worship. Each time our body yields to the spirit, we reflect the passion of Christ in our life—a passion that's worth fighting for.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:23–25)

The Pantry

CHOCKED-FULL OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Main Ingredient

We're talking about self-discipline. It moves us to challenge our bodies—reminds the body that it's not in control. When we challenge our bodies and win, we reap the benefits that come with self-discipline. Once we train our bodies to yield to the Spirit, the fruit of self-discipline will naturally be evident in our lives. We'll then be free to incorporate wise eating plans and to stick to those plans.

Self-discipline is an exercise that strengthens us over time when we continue to implement it. It puts our spirit in control of our flesh and keeps putting it there until the flesh learns to follow.

A Slice of Advice

Candace,

I think that you are in amazing shape, and although I thought you were a beautiful teenager, I think you're absolutely gorgeous now! Even your hair and your skin glow. Are you on any specific diet plan, and are there any foods that I should avoid if I want to lose weight and improve my glow?

—Bev

Dear Bev,

Rather than refraining from food, I have retrained my body to eat smaller portions. There aren't any foods that I see as taboo, but I do limit them far more than I used to. I look at it this way, "All food is permissible, but not all food is profitable."

However, when making healthy choices for yourself—especially if you're looking for that glow, limit foods cooked in butter. Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead. Cut back on fatty condiments like mayo and creamy dressings, and opt for nutrition-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain breads. Beware of pastas in rich sauce. I do enjoy them but only on occasion and in an appetizer portion. Watch your dairy, and switch from whole milk to skim. Eat red meats less often, but enjoy white meat and fish.

If you want your skin and hair to glow, drink water! I love water, and it's always my first and favorite choice.

Aside from diet, I'm very active, working out about five days a week. I jog, walk stairs, and can't live without Pilates!

I will also add that I believe the glow has a lot to do, if not all to do, with my faith.

I've been told by strangers, "There's something different about you. It's almost like you have a glow." I love the Lord with all of my heart, and I pray that it shows on my face.

I pray that with some good choices and a lot of self-discipline you'll find that glow too.

Thanks for your note, Bev.

—Candace

A Pinch of Practicality

Discipline comes in all shapes and sizes. In fact aside from the obvious with diet and health, we never know when a situation will call for self-discipline. It could be holding our temper in traffic or resisting a sample at the grocery store. But one thing we all have in common is a home, where we can start exercising self-discipline now.

Get into your closets, into your basement, and into your drawers—start cleaning them out. Get rid of things you don't need, even if you like them a bit. Let the new motto be, "If in doubt, throw it out." Get organized; get your house lean, and get your house clean.

Put your home on a diet and maintain the weight loss you attain. Because a home is a reflection of us, it's important that our surroundings reflect the same level of self-discipline we hope to achieve.

Here are a few ways to eliminate clutter:

• Go through your closets, and if you haven't worn an outfit in the past year, pack it away for the homeless.

• Rummage through your kids' toys, throw out the ones they don't use, and divide the remaining toys in half. Pack half away, and rotate them every couple of months.

• Go through your cupboards and discard any extra sets or odd pieces of dishes you don't normally use. After all, how many plastic bowls does one family need?

• Look around the room at your stuff. If it's not useful or pretty, get rid of it.

• Take a look in your linen closet. If your towels and sheets have multiplied over time, you can probably part with the old tattered ones.

• Look under the bathroom sink. What hair products, bubble baths, or scented soaps aren't you using? Give them away.

• Take a look at your cosmetics and discard extra lipsticks and eye shadows. If you aren't wearing them now, you probably won't.

• Thin out your garden. Give plants to your neighbors if they are growing too thick.

• Dare I suggest you part with some shoes? Come on . . . I know you can do it!

Living in a light environment gives us a sense of control and self-discipline that empowers us to start working inward.

Food for Thought

A recap of Scripture to meditate on:

• I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27 NASB)

• No discipline seems pleasant at the time, put painful. Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Heb. 12:11)

• Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:23–25)

The Candy Dish

Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind—you could call it character in action. —Vince Lombardi

From My Stove to Yours

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 pounds of fresh asparagus

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Wash the asparagus, and then cut off the tough ends. Peel if necessary. Place on a baking sheet. Coat the asparagus with olive oil, and then spread it out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Add salt and pepper. Roast until tender but crisp (about 25 minutes).

NINE

Don't Feed the Lions

In the wee hours of June 13, 1974, in Moscow, USSR, God was putting the final touches on his newest creation: a bundle of joy that would soon emerge on the ice as one of Russia's greatest hockey players and then the world's greatest husband. I couldn't begin to imagine my journey through life without the loving support of my husband Val.

Not only has he been the kind and supportive man I had hoped for; he's also a rock I can lean on when I need encouragement, a smile, or a shove out of bed for those early morning workouts we do. Whether we're off for a morning run on the beach or just kicking a ball with the kids, he coaches us on with games and challenges that work our bodies and minds while we're still having fun. One of our favorite workouts takes place at the beach. Val draws two lines in the sand about thirty feet apart, and while we're all feeling goofy with our hopping, squatting, and jumping, we're having a good time getting through an incredibly difficult workout.