What if I told you that your journey to freedom hinged on your obedience and your willingness to take a step of faith? I’m sure some of you may doubt the simplicity behind that statement, as losing weight is believed to be a mix of arduous physical activity sessions and a commitment to bland, unsatisfying food. The devil is a liar! And here is why:
We visit Jesus in John 9 as he is in the process of healing a man who was blind from birth. The man who was blind was likely at a crossroads, as he could either believe in Jesus or continue on in the way he was going. As Jesus prepares the heal the man, he "spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes." He then told the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. As the man took the long walk to the pool, I’m sure he had many emotions. "Is this going to work?" Is this a man crazy for telling me to go walk to a pool? Am I going to just remain blind and be made to look like a fool? With all of those thoughts and likely more, the man walked. He went to the pool "and washed, and came home seeing." He came home SEEING.
The only difference between your journey and the man’s journey is the ailment. Many of us have struggled with weight concerns for as long as we can remember. It felt like the moment we started eating, there was a problem with food. The battle has been frustrating, difficult, and discouraging. But now, we are faced with an opportunity. We have Jesus, wonderful life-changing Jesus, who has come to us and has propositioned us with a choice. Will you do what I say and believe that I can make you whole? Will you learn to eat normally, use food appropriately, eat when you’re hungry and stop when you had enough, and change your heart to worship me instead of the mini food god you have used for so long?
As I walked that journey, I had thoughts all of the time of whether or not this is going to work. All the time. Everyone laughed at me, and mocked the amount of food that I had on my plate. People thought it couldn’t be done – I would be hungry and unsatisfied. Even I thought it couldn’t be done. But day by day, deciding to walk in obedience, doing just what Jesus told me to do, I saw a change. I slowly walked myself to wholeness, a greater relationship with Jesus, and 65 less pounds of excess weight.
The only thing that stands between yourself and freedom is your willingness to believe, be obedient, and have faith. You must be obedient. Your way does not work. Repeat that as many times as necessary. Your way does not work. Freedom only comes through Jesus. Believe him, accept the challenge, and watch your life begin to change.
Wow, thank you for this truth! I have been battling overeating for as long as I can remember. I have recently begun to understand that the reason I have continuously failed is because I have tried to stop on my own strength by creating my own laws around what I can and can’t eat and when I can and can’t eat…and none of them have worked! As I sought God this past weekend about this maddening cycle, it was as if He was telling me to stop trying. “What do you mean, stop trying?” I said. He said, “In Your weakness I am strong. In me you are a new creation. Walk in my spirit, moment by moment. Believe and have faith that I have already overcome! All you need to do is accept that and stop trying to please me in the flesh. Your righteousness is as filthy rags! Embrace my freedom, stop trying to create your own.” So thank you for this affirmation and being obedient to speak the truth!
Praise God, Amanda! I’ll be praying for you as you and Jesus take your own journey of faith. He can do it Amanda. Just be obedient, trust him, and watch them change your life. Go girl!