Celebrate

Psalm 126:2 “We are filled with laughter and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’” NLT

A woman from my neighborhood was trying to lose weight too. We’d initially talked over our goals with one another, and she’d decided that she too would set short-term attainable goals. But she decided that at every 10 pound weight loss, she would celebrate with an all-out cheat day. Whatever she wanted, donuts, french fries, or ice cream..it was her’s. She reasoned that she wouldn’t have a weekly cheat meal, but after a ten pound weight loss, she deserved it, right? 

After her first ten pound weight loss, she held her much-anticipated cheat day. She had planned for two weeks what she would eat, and she enjoyed every bite. Unfortunately, the next day when she stepped back on the scale, she had gained three pounds. Although, she quickly lost those three pounds, it took longer to lose the next 20 pounds. She decided that to celebrate this victory, she would simply have 1 cheat meal. She enjoyed this meal too. But unfortunately, the next day when she stepped on the scale, she had gained weight again. After her third 10 pound weight loss, she decided that she’d choose a healthier way to celebrate. 

When the Lord rescued Israel from exile and brought them back home, they celebrated! It closely mirrored the rescue of God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. The radical change that had taken place for them turned them from crying and weeping to rejoicing and laughter. There was certainly reason to celebrate! The Lord had done great things for them, and they couldn’t help but express their joy. The Psalmist goes onto record their prayer that God would restore their fortunes as they “plant in tears” but will harvest “with shouts of joy.” 

As we think of our spiritual lives, there will be times of weeping as it seems as though we are in exile. Troubles come, storms rage, and it seems as though God is absent. It is in those times though that we press in closer to God, crying out in faith that He is there, even when it doesn’t seem so. In time, the storms will clear, the sun will come out, and we will rejoice that He has brought a season of harvest.

It’s hard too when we transform our physical lives. Changes in any way are a hard adjustment, but physical ones may seen unnatural and awkward. We too may “plant in tears,” but we have the hope that we will harvest “with shouts of joy.” Celebrations are tricky. It’s true that in biblical times, celebrations often included feasts, but they also included other forms of merriment. Dancing, singing, and fellowship were all common in praising God for the blessings they enjoyed.

When we reach weight loss goals, we should celebrate, but there are healthy ways to do it! And we must remember who gave us the strength to achieve our goal! We must praise and thank Him first of all, for leading and guiding us every step of the way. Secondly, we must be reminded that a transformed life doesn’t celebrate a change by resorting to old ways.  An alcoholic certainly wouldn’t celebrate sobriety by having a drink to celebrate. What makes perfect sense in our old way of living suddenly seems odd when we are transformed.

Think of ways you can celebrate the victories God has given you. For me, I celebrated weight loss goals by rewarding myself by buying a new outfit or going on a weekend biking trip with my family. In whatever way you give praise and thanks to God, make sure it includes healthy shouts of joy!

Encouragement for Today

Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to cry and a time to laugh, A time to grieve and a time to dance.” NLT

Ideas for Healthy Celebrations

-New Outfit

-New Hairdo

-Physically Active Outing like skating, biking, bowling, golfing, swimming

-New Fitbit or other Digital Heart Rate Monitor

-New Piece of Fitness Equipment

-Sign up for that fitness class you’ve been wanting to try

-Enjoy a expensive dinner but choose healthy grilled or baked exotic fish on which you normally wouldn’t splurge.

-Massage

-Manicure or Pedicure