Prayer & Fasting

The Rev. Charlie Shedd dropped to his knees during a morning meditation in Oklahoma and prayed: "Dear God, I've tried for 15 years to whip this problem of obesity . . . I've been on banana diets and eaten red meat. I've taken pills and bought reducing belts. I've read books and attended lectures, joined clubs and enrolled in courses. But I'm still fat ... I need help."

He got it. Charlie Shedd, now pastor of the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church of Houston, lost 100 Ibs. (from around 300 to 195) over a three-year period of prayer and medically supervised fasting, which he describes in a new book, Pray Your Weight Away (Lippincott; $2.95). "The spiritual approach to reducing," writes Pastor Shedd, "is a sure road to healing your obesity, permanently." But certain preconditions are necessary.

First, one must see that fat is sin ("We fatties are the only people on earth who can weigh our sin"). Second, one must accept God not as a terrible judge but as one "who loves you and wants to be your friend." Pastor Shedd, 41, recommends that his fat readers pray God to show them to themselves as they really are, to show them what he wants them to be, and to show them why they eat too much. "Teach me to face my hidden self," he prayed. "Open the windows of my subconscious closets and let in your clean air."

Having faced the closeted frustrations and resentments that may lead to overeating, Shedd turns his prayer power on the French-fries and pecan pie. "Ask God to bless each bite," he urges. "I have found that whereas I used to go away hungry, when I ask him to bless each bite to his use, I leave the table deeply satisfied."

Another thing to pray for is to like exercise, advises Shedd, and gives readers ten exercises to like. He himself found them most effective when performed in cadence to scriptural quotations ("It will not only tune you in to God, but it will automatically teach you verses of Scripture"). Sample exercise:

Position: Stand erect.

Movements: Place hands under lowered chin and push up hard. At the same time resist with neck muscles to give the effect of lifting a heavy object. The text to go with it: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).

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