“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV)
About 8 months ago my doctor said to me, “Well, your blood sugar is a little higher than we’d like.” My heart began to race and tears started burning my eyes as I pressed to hold them back. She went on to add, “You are young enough to lower it, check out a diabetic diet and you should be fine.” My Earth shattered right there on that table. “A DIABETIC DIET???”
I went to God with my tears and cried at His feet. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;” Psalms 55:22 NIV “Lord, You know I don’t want diabetes and yet I am knocking on its door. You know that I don’t have the will power to push back from the table, nor the energy to work out. Lord, please help me. Please give me the resources and the will to do better.” I casted this burden over to God. My entire life I’ve tried to lose weight on my own. I never took it to God. But the day I did was the day He began to open my eyes. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17 NLT)
You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. God showed me that this body, this temple, which He gave me, is for one reason only, and that is to glorify Him. That may mean being strong enough to help others, active enough to nurture my family, or healthy enough to be a strong witness. Last week I talked about being a good steward over my money, but I wasn’t being a good steward over my body.
I once heard a preacher say, “Jesus doesn’t deal with the fruit until He has dealt with the root!” Little did I know, this weight loss journey was also going to surgically heal my spirit. My root was self-control. I’ve never had boundaries with food. I didn’t realize that I should be eating to live, as opposed to living to eat. God had to show me my issue: self-control. As I continued to pray for healing God showed me the abundance of life that I was missing. I was missing running around a playground with my daughter without breaking a sweat. I was missing more “fun” with my Hubby. I was missing ME! Guess what else? My self-esteem shot through the roof. I’ve always been characterized as confident but it was all a front. Those that know me also know that my “confident” air was also accompanied by a stern face. This was the shield to my insecurities and unhappiness. I smile more, I’m happier, I’m energetic, and I am pumped about encouraging other people to break out of the bondage of being overweight.
I made a decision that I needed to eat healthy and lose weight or I would die. I was going to experience a social, emotional, and spiritual death soon to be followed by a physical death. It’s not all about losing weight; it’s about breaking out of bondage. I’m truly happy with me and I am even happier to know that God is the one that sparked this within me and will continue to let this light shine. I’m not burdened with anticipated failure because I know that I am connected to the One that helps me do it! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) And you can too!
Dear Daddy,
Teach me self-control. Help me to give You the issues that I think are trivial so that I may know that You truly know and are concerned with the desires of my heart. Help me with will power and to eliminate excuses. I want to live in the fullness of life through Your grace and in Your will. I avail myself to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Ladies, I EMPOWER you today to allow God to give you the will to live. Talk with Him plainly about your issues. If it’s going back to school, losing weight, stopping smoking, alcoholic drinking, or promiscuity, ask God to give you the strength to overcome it. He will do it for you! Jesus encourages us, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8 NIV). Ask it in Jesus’ name!
To read more about my Christian Weightloss Journey, check out my blog: WeightandLeanonHim!
As a professional, Mrs. Khalilah Burton is College Biology Instructor. She is also currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Higher Ed and Community College Leadership. Khalilah is passionate about her faith journey and uses this key scripture as her inspiration: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV) She teaches Young Adult Bible Study and Sunday School and also serves as a guest speaker and panelist for various events for women and Christian empowerment. Khalilah resides in Millbrook, Alabama with her wonderful husband Donald Burton, Jr. and their energetic three-year old daughter. They attend St. Luke Christian Church. Check out Khalilah’s Christian weight loss blog here.
