Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were willing to give just about  anything to obtain it? I have. It’s a dangerous position to put yourself in. It places what you want between you and God. It creates an idol.

All my life I have struggled with my weight. Well, at least, I thought I had. In high school, I don’t remember feeling fit a single day. This is huge coming from a four year Varsity athlete and State Champion. Ironically, my perception of my self has always been fat.

My adult life has been filled with several diet plans including the dangerous Phen-Phen, a fad Minute Rice diet, phentermine, numerous diet pills, water pills, and so many, many more. There were also several fitness plans where I pushed my body physically before it was ready. These plans resulted in knee surgery and a broken leg. There were numerous gym memberships and and a lot of wasted money spent on an image I was willing to do anything to obtain.  Anything, that is but obey God.

My point is this: obeying God was always within my grasp. My eyes were fixed upon an idol or image which led to sin. My eyes were not fixed upon the Lord. ”Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Every road I had ever taken led me down a path of sin rather than righteousness.

It took me a long time to learn that my weight has never been an issue. My ability to obey has. I have an obedience problem not a weight problem. Once I truly saw myself the way God sees me, beautiful and broken, I began to believe the beautiful image I was created in as well as acknowledged my brokenness and need for obedience (God) in my life. My submission to God provided precious self control.

Friend, do you struggle with obedience? Are you letting something stand between you and God? Don’t wait another day, another minute, another second. Stop being a slave to anyone other than Christ. Move whatever it is in front of you or move yourself. Never let anything stand between you and God, even if its you. Believe what Christ says about you. Believe that you cannot survive another day without the guidance and obedience provided by a loving Father. Don’t waste another precious moment. 

In the photographs above there is a fairly dramatic difference in my face from when I started my journey towards obedience and where I am now (6 months). But look closely, because there is proof in these pictures of obedience. Can you see it? It’s joy. Obedience in your walk with the Lord will get you that.

P31Wife

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23).