Close Calls Averted by Prayer

This past week we had heavy snowfall in Northern Utah. The morning after the storm, I went to my gym, Four Pillar Fitness. Neither the entryway nor parking lot had been plowed. I attempted to enter the parking lot without much success. My wheels were spinning and I seemed stuck. I didn’t want to be stuck so I said a prayer of power and revved the car again. This time I was set free and made it into the parking lot.

Once in my gym, my personal trainer John told me he saw it all and laughed the whole way. He gave me the tip to not rev my engine going out. When I left the gym, I easily exited the parking lot and I didn’t rev the engine. Technically, I shouldn’t have gotten into the entryway with my techniques. But add prayer to the mix and anything’s possible.

Fast forward to another day this week. I dropped off my husband at his work so I could have a car while our van was being fixed. On the way home, I took the I-215 beltway. It was littered with accidents from black ice. On one section, I noticed the cars in front of me slowing down quickly. At that rate of speed, I knew that I would crash into the car in front of me. I didn’t know what to do as I saw the approaching danger. Then all of a sudden, the car in front of me slid on black ice and slid over to an adjoining lane. So, I didn’t run into a car. The car behind me barely missed hitting me. I attribute this to my morning prayers.

Later that morning, I left home to walk down the stairs to my garage to go on some errands. Only it’s not that easy. I have both arms full of stuff to return as I walk blindly toward the wooden stairs. Unknown to me, my right boot steps into the loops of a heavy garbage bag which is then pulled behind me. This throws me completely off center and I am propelled forward. My arms are still full of packages and a large garbage bag is stuck to my foot as I go down each step.

I am sure I would faceplant on my cement floor at the base of the stairs. I couldn’t control myself as I plunked down, down on each stair. I wondered what my fate would be when I crashed. Then it happened. I landed. I surveyed the damage. I was standing upright with packages still in my arms and a heavy garbage bag attached to my foot. I wasn’t hurt in the slightest. My reaction was to laugh and laugh and laugh. God took care of me. I didn’t need to worry at all.

Sometimes things don’t go right, even when we pray. But I am a firm believer in prayer. I have seen it in action. I have seen it protect me and my family in remarkable ways. If you’re not praying now, will you give God a chance to work miracles in your lives?

Sugar Cookies vs. Me

Last Thursday, I had a meeting with my nutrition coach at Max Muscle in Bountiful. I had good news. In two weeks time, I lost 5 pounds, lost 1” from my stomach and lost 2% body fat. I was feeling pretty psyched. Then came temptation. Duh Duh Duh.

My kids had been bugging me for a long time to go to Orange Leaf in Bountiful, a frozen yogurt store where you pile on the toppings and pay by the ounce. On Saturday, I decided to take them there. But I knew I had to be prepared or I might succumb.

I had just taken a class earlier that day from the Green Smoothie Girl so I decided to make a green smoothie and take it with me to the frozen yogurt store. When I got to the store, I noticed they had a sugar free chocolate frozen yogurt flavor. I tried a small taste of it and it tasted so sugary. I passed the frozen yogurt test.

Now on to the toppings. Everything looked so good, especially the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. But with green smoothie in hand, I walked past them and paid for my children’s creations and bought nothing for myself. Victory! But the war isn’t over.

Sunday came. I had long promised to do sugar cookies with my kids over the holidays. Not a good idea. Normally, I’m not into sugar cookies. But it’s been over 1 ½ months since I’ve had sugar and almost anything seems tempting. 

Sugar cookies involve the senses, in the patting, the rolling, the cutting, the decorating, sugar cookie dough all over my hands. I felt like I was surrounded by sugar cookies. I felt weak and had a small piece of dough. Then I wanted more but I forced myself to stop. But I felt weakened the rest of the night. How could I go on in my diet?

Later that night, I read in a local wellness magazine about a professional weight loss coach named Tamara Watt and her personal transformation. It was very inspiring. I went to her website and saw this quote: “The pain of staying the same became greater than the pain of change, so I changed!” It stopped me in my sugar cookie tracks. I don’t want to remain the same. I want to change, to become my personal best.

I began looking for motivational quotes that might help me get back on track. In all, I realized I need to recognize my limits and avoid temptation. I found a very applicable quote from Claudia Gray, Evernight: “Self-knowledge is better than self-control any day," Raquel said firmly. "And I know myself well enough to know how I act around cookies.” Amen, sister!

Do what you need to do to stay motivated. It may be hard now but you’ll thank yourself later. Albert Einstein said that insanity is “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” How bad do you want it? Are you willing to change in order to get what you want? I hope I can triumph and win the skirmishes and the war over myself. That’s the biggest victory of all.