Stand Upright

​Have you ever had a problem that seemed like it would never end? For example, did you lose your job and could not get another one for over a year? Have you and your spouse been going through the motions and appear to be heading for divorce? Have you been sick with an illness the doctors cannot even diagnose, let alone treat, and you know without doubt that you are only alive by the grace of God? If so, you are not alone.
 
During the last recession, my husband was laid off for 14 months, but God blessed him with a job right when we used the last of our savings. Likewise, the first few years of our marriage, I wondered if we would make it. We are not only still together twenty-four years later, but our marriage is also much stronger. In fact, we are more deeply in love with one another now than we were back then. Furthermore, in 2009, I became ill and could have died. I learned the scariest thing a doctor can say is not that you have a terminal illness, as I expected to hear at that time. On the contrary, hearing a medical professional acknowledge that I had a condition that she could not diagnose was much worse because I was in a fight with an unidentified enemy for three (3) years.
 
On top of all that, I spent over a decade of my life ensnared by the sin of gluttony and unable to get free from it despite the time, money, and energy I spent on diet pills, gym memberships, diet gimmicks, and weight loss programs. As with me, your circumstances are probably accompanied by feelings of loneliness. You think no one understands or cares, so you suffer through it on your own. However, the Bible makes it clear that what you are experiencing is nothing new.
 
In Luke 13:10-12, there was a woman who had been under attack by an evil spirit for eighteen (18) years. The unclean spirit caused her body to be bent over in a hunched position, preventing her from standing up straight. You may not have the visible, physical manifestation of the demonic attack in the same way that the woman did, but the enemy has been waging a longstanding battle against your finances, your family, your health, and your physical fitness, nevertheless. Moreover, the battle has crippled you, leaving you bent over in shame and defeat, unable to walk upright in victory.
 
The Lord has already promised you an abundant life through Christ (John 10:10), and abundant living includes being healthy and physically fit. However, just as the Israelites had to fight to possess God's gift to them of the Land of Canaan, you, too, must fight for the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life. Do not be like those who fall dead of heart disease, anorexia, diabetes, cancer, bulimia, and strokes in the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders due to their fear, spiritual cowardice, and lack of faith. Put your war clothes on and prepare to fight! I encourage you, "Do not be afraid nor be dismayed! Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 10:25)!
 
All you really have to do is show up on the battlefield. It is the Lord who will actually fight against the enemy and win the battle for you, for the battle is not yours. It was, is, and always will be a spiritual one to be won by the Lord. Regardless of the circumstances or how long you have been engaged in battle, be encouraged today. The Lord Your God, Who is the Alpha and the Omega, has declared an end to the battle and crowned you the victor through Jesus Christ! As Jesus said to the hunched and bowed woman, I also decree over you and your circumstances in the Name of Jesus, "Thou art loosed!" Hallelujah!
 
If you trust God to loose you from your health and fitness struggle so you can stand upright in victory in the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!