Does this sound familiar?  Lord, I want to lose weight, I want to be healthier, Lord I'm tired of this pain, if you could help me get this blood pressure down…Lord I want… 
We want the Lord to perform miracles and one morning, "Whoosh" we are able to wear that favorite suit or dress again.  We want God to perform a miraculous healing and take away all the pain and the pounds.  We want the Blessing!  At the same time we want to continue in the same routine eating everything we want, see or even think about without considering the consequences.  I'm reminded of a quote from Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, "You can't stay where you are and go with God."  So what are you going to do?

In our spiritual lives we see a need for spiritual preparation.  In order for us to be more like Christ we must abstain from wickedness.  We must flee from youthful lust, immorality, sensuality, strife, jealousy, impurity, drunkenness, and idolatry.  We must bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We see examples throughout scripture that testify to the fact that preparation precedes blessings.  In 2 Kings 5:10 there was no healing until the leper had dipped himself seven times.  "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you and you shall be clean."  In 2 Kings 4:3 there was no oil until the vessels were gathered.  "He said, 'go borrow at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few'".  In John 11:39 there was no resurrection until the stone was removed.  "Jesus said, remove the stone."  Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him "Lord by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days."

Just as there is a need for spiritual preparation to be a vessel of honor, sanctified useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. There is a need for physical preparation. Remove the stone.

You must prepare?  If you want to lose weight, be healed from physical ailments or discomfort, do those things that are necessary to reach that goal.  You cannot continue doing what you're doing and expect different results.  You must supply God's temple with the proper foods that are going to provide nutrients to the body.  Raw fruits, vegetables, fresh juices, distilled water, exercise, sunlight and rest are essential to reach ultimate health.  So the next time you say I can't eat…. Or I wont stop eating…. Or I just don't feel like exercising...

Remember Preparation Precedes the Blessing!!