Physically Overweight and Spiritually Underweight. Book Review of "Embraced" By Lysa Terkeurst
In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals chase physical appearance and health, often sidelining their spiritual wellbeing. As Christians, we must recognize how our physical health connects with our spiritual journey with God. The phrase “physically overweight and spiritually underweight” might spark varied thoughts, but it ultimately prompts us to reflect on our personal fitness goals—not just for our bodies, but for our souls.
In a distraction-filled culture, we frequently miss what is truly important. Ironically, while chasing physical fitness, we can easily forget about God. My mother suggested a devotional book that I have been reading each morning before work. Up to now, there have been two days that resonated with my personal challenges: losing weight and achieving spiritual growth. This devotional journey is called "Embraced" by Lysa TerKeurst. This post will explore what I have learned from the book over the past two days.
Day One: Physically Overweight & Spiritually Underweight (in the book Pg 110)
Every day, the book begins with a verse. This days verse was John 4:34, "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work". I often ponder how this verse will be integrated into the devotional. Lysa mentions that at most women's events, there tends to be a sermon about the "woman at the well". She notes that she has heard this story so many times that it often goes in one ear and out the other. However, the sermon she attended was different. She further explains that when food was mentioned, she felt more engaged with the sermon. But why? Well, get ready for some spoilers!
The conversation with the woman at the well was likely the longest Jesus had with a woman. During this dialogue, Jesus brings up the topic of food. Indeed, the Savior of the world highlighted his humanity by discussing food! Lysa further explains that in this discussion, Jesus illustrates how our bodies require two different kinds of nourishment.
That truly captured my attention when I read it the other day. I understand that our bodies require proper nourishment to stay healthy. Yet, I often overlook the need for other forms of nourishment. Referring again to John 4:34, she elaborates further in John 4:35, "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." I never fully grasped this until I read this devotional. Lysa makes a significant point, stating "It relates directly to the core issue of spiritual malnutrition. It's about trying to use food to fill not only the physical void of our stomachs but also the spiritual void of our souls." Wow! That is hard to accept when I reflect on it. There have been times in my life when I used food to "fill" both my physical and spiritual emptiness. What I truly appreciated about this devotional were the key reminders she highlighted.
"Food can fill our stomachs, but not our souls.
Possessions can fill out houses, but never our hearts.
Children can fill our days, but never our identities".
Our souls find true satisfaction only when we are nourished by Jesus' "soul food," follow Him, and share His message with others. As Lysa points out, freeing ourselves from whatever preoccupies our minds more than Jesus enables us to pursue our calling with greater confidence and clarity. Reflecting on my efforts to lose weight while seeking spiritual growth helps me understand this better. I focus on my protein intake, exercise, and drink plenty of water. However, when I consider my spiritual life, I attend church and try to read my devotional when possible, but is that enough, or can I do more?
Day Two: Undivided Heart (in the book Pg 113)
In this devotional, Lysa shares her fitness journey. She mentions that for a while, she disliked working out because it made her hot, sticky, and left her legs aching, which was very discouraging. However, upon reflecting, she realized her weight wasn't a spiritual or worldly issue but rather a matter of self-control. I can relate to this in my own physical journey. She continues by saying that one morning, she decided to get out of bed and go for a run. She confessed that she hated it and it nearly brought her to tears. Honestly, I felt the same way when I started and still do today. But after that run, she describes the sense of accomplishment she felt. Since then, she has continued her morning workouts, jogging from one mailbox to the next, noticing small signs of progress along the way.
Lysa mentions that before each run, she would pray to God for the strength to persevere. I often find myself doing the same before heading to work or starting a workout. However, when Lysa recounts a specific day, it prompted me to reflect on my own physical and spiritual growth. On that day, while running, God instructed Lysa to "run until she couldn't take another step, relying not on her strength, but on His. Whenever you feel like stopping, pray—and don't stop until I tell you to." Honestly, if I were in her position, I'd be doubting myself and my faith. She shares that prior to this day, she would typically run about 3 miles, but upon reaching that distance, she felt compelled to continue. So she did. With each step, she prayed and leaned on God for strength, but in an entirely new way. Here, she reminds the reader of the verse from the beginning of the devotional, Psalm 73:26: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." She explains that the more she focused on God, the less she thought about wanting to stop running.
In her book, Lysa shares how she finally understood the necessity of relying on God's faith to persevere. I often wondered how I could be a woman of faith without living a life that truly depended on it. Lysa mentioned that on that particular day, she stopped running after completing 8.6 miles, which was more than twice her usual distance! It was her next statement that helped me grasp what living by faith should entail. She emphasized that it was HER legs moving, HER energy expended, and HER effort that carried her from 1 mile to 3 miles, and ultimately to 8.6 miles. Yet, it was GOD's strength that replaced her excuses at every step. She realized that God's power was overcoming her complete weakness, breaking through the "I can't" barrier. After her run, she turned to Psalm 86 in her Bible, in honor of her 8.6-mile achievement. Reading this as a morning devotional felt perfectly appropriate. Psalm 86:11-12 states, "Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart. I will glorify your name forever."
An "Undivided Heart". Lysa explains that her entire journey in overcoming cravings revolved around this concept. With our bodies, we have the choice to either be faithful and honor God, or to be loyal to our cravings, desires, and the numerous excuses that prevent us from exercising.
My Final Thoughts Overall
I strive for spiritual nourishment, and realizing that I need God throughout the entire day, not just in the morning, was a valuable reminder. It's important for me to maintain the same level of devotion to God in my spiritual journey as I do in my fitness journey, and to depend on His strength rather than my own. I truly appreciate this devotional and am very thankful that my mom suggested this book to me. For more information about the book, "Embraced" or the author herself go to https://lysaterkeurst.com/.
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