To weigh or not to weigh? I am not sure how an inanimate, metal object can provoke the depth of emotions or rob years from the abundant life God promises. Have you ever had a day when stepping on the scale dictated your mood? You aren’t alone!

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the scale. After losing 80 pounds over 20 years ago, it became the gadget that healthily kept me on the straight and narrow. However, I’ve been on the other side, too, when I obsessively stared at the number. The number bullied me. Instead of a tool to measure my body mass, it became an altar.

When the scale steals my focus, it becomes an altar of misplaced worship and sacrifice. When the scale becomes an altar, I bow down and esteem self — sacrificing time and priorities.  I make an idol of self when I give my body first priority (obsession) or last priority (neglect). I John 5:21 says, “Little children, keep yourself from idols.” This is an endearing, gentle command because idol worship hurts us and prevents us from fully loving God.

Several years ago, in obedience to the Lord, I offered up my scale, Fitbit, measuring tape, and food tracker. Instead of trusting devices, I learned to let the Holy Spirit guide me. I found the secret of rest and slowness. I let go of striving. Revelation Wellness rallies us to get free, stay free, and set free. I went through Instructor Training with that burning on my heart.

In freedom and obedience after a couple measureless years, I stepped back ON the scale. My heart sank as I saw the number staring back at me from the scale. It is a number I saw 4 months pregnant, not as a whole and free Revelation Wellness fitness instructor. I am free and, boy, did I throw a fit when the scale didn’t reflect what I thought it should be. I crawled right back into bed and pulled the darkness over my head. Overwhelmed with despair, I asked, “How can I be doing everything right and yet the number be so wrong?”

A few old lies immediately crushed me. “You’ll have to cancel your classes. You’ll be judged for looking as big as you do.”  And another lie bombarded like a rapid fire bullet, “You better work your backside off and skip breakfast.” About the same time, my husband  asked if he could pray for me. As he concluded, he encouraged me to PRAISE. Inside, I sarcastically argued that praising wasn’t going to make my jeans fit.

Praise is a prescription, not a food plan or workout. Psalm 34:3 says, “Magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His name together.” Magnify means to make an object look bigger. I had a choice — magnify self or magnify the Lord.  Magnifying the Lord, making Him big, puts perspective on those puny lies from the devil. Eyes on Him. Worship OFF my body. Worship ON Him.

In a Revelation Wellness Leadership Training called, Launch, I learned about Japanese pottery called “Kintsukuroi” which means “golden repair.” Broken pottery is fixed with gold. This concept takes my breath away. My struggle with the scale and my weight is not even about the scale or  my weight. It’s about the beautiful, golden grout of the Lord reinforcing those places where the enemy loves to attack me. He knows where addiction and bondage USED to be. The liar knows where I’ve been attacked and broken. It’s a last-ditch effort to get me to shut up, quit moving, and render myself broken.

I am not an orphan that says, “Look at me!” I am not envious saying, “Look at her. Why can’t I have her body?” I am a daughter of the Most High that says, “I LOOK TO YOU GOD. I trust You.”  A few pounds can NOT stop me! The truth is I am healthy and fit enough for His purpose. I am a reinforced golden girl.

So, how can you  live at peace with the scale?

1.Ask the Lord if using a scale at all is a good idea. If the answer is no, be obedient. If the answer is yes, let the scale be a tool that measures body mass. Let it catapult you to examine your heart. Are you obsessing over or neglecting your body? It’s a heart issue, not a food/weight/exercise issue.

2. If the scale has become an altar of self-worship, confess and repent.

3. Magnify the Lord! Make Him bigger.

4. Let Him be your greatest reward — He is so much better than a number on a scale.

Corey Voss sings a line in “Praise Your Name” that says, “…all lesser things that demand my attention, you have to bow.”  This is how I live at peace with the scale.

In the comments below, share your journey with the scale? Are you at peace with the scale, or has it become an idol? If it has become an idol, repent and rejoice! The Lord forgives, redeems, and renews! 

Nicole Orr lives in Holland, Michigan, with her husband Andrew and 3 sons.  She teaches Revelation Wellness classes in the community and local women’s shelter.  Nicole’s passion is teaching teens identity in Christ through classes and summer camps. eck her out on Facebook at Revelation Wellness Whole and Free.

Thank you for reading the Revelation Wellness Blog! Have you heard about our 21-day Sugar Fast? If you know you don’t need another passing diet trend, but you long for freedom in your body, this 21-day Sugar Fast is for you! Learn more on our website!

Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!

JEREMIAH’S AMRAP – “DIVINE ASSIGNMENT”

AMRAP stands for “as many rounds as possible”. Given a set amount of time, you will perform “as many rounds as possible” of a given set of exercises. Brave yourself to push to your physical limit. No pride-filled spirits, please! You aren’t strong enough for this workout, but He is! (ALL LEVELS) (JOSHUA 1:9; HAND WEIGHTS, KETTLEBELL, MED BALL)