It's Time to Change the Tape

It’s Time to Change the Tape

 ^“ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past
and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race
and receive the heavenly prize
for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
-Philippians 3:13-14

Recently Phil and I were invited to the home of our mentors, who also happen to be close friends.  These two are the kind of people I want to be like when I grow up, and I am thankful for their wisdom and example.

As we ate, the topic of cycling came up.  Our hosts, who are in their fifties, are cyclists and regularly compete in triathlons.  I admire the sport, but I have never seen myself as a cyclist.  When I was eight years old, I literally ran over my sister with a bicycle and broke her leg.  That memory popped up during the dinner conversation, and I realized I had always believed that if I got on a bike, I was going to hurt someone or myself.  That memory became a replaying tape in my head.  It was time to change that old tape that told me I couldn’t be successful at biking and put in a new tape that told me I could.

Sometimes the tapes we play in our subconscious mind become the reality in our lives.  If we believe we can never see ourselves as an athlete, then we will never be one.  If we believe we can never get healthy, then we will never be healthy.  If we believe we can’t lose weight, we won’t.  If we believe we can’t be successful, we won’t.

Think about your own life.  Take some time in prayer and let God show you some areas where you have allowed old tapes to dictate how you see yourself.  It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since the tape’s been rolling.  It is never to do great things, especially concerning your health.  But remember what you gotta do first, change that tape!

By Amy Parham

Mini-Challenge of the Day

Think back to an instance in your life where someone you may have trusted or admired said something about you that hurt.  Maybe you had a father who always called you “good for nothing.”  Maybe someone at work said you would always be fat.  Whatever it is, write that statement down and below it, write down five positive statements about yourself (e.g., I am worth my health, I am beautiful, I am created in God’s image and He doesn’t make mistakes).  Every time you are tempted to replay that negative statement, play these words of affirmation instead.

Tip of the Day

Don’t eat too much red meat.  Wherever you are, whether at home or at a restaurant, always choose the leanest meat possible.  Limit it to one or two servings a week.

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

Remember to DREAM!

This was taken from “The 90-Day Fitness Challenge” by Phil and Amy Parham, former contestants on television’s “The Biggest Loser.”