Image courtesy of nirots / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
One particular morning, just recently, I was writing in my journal and talking to the Lord about how maybe I need to hold particular foods with open hands. Then He stopped me in my thoughts and this is what I wrote: You are showing me that I’m trying to go back to food focus. I’m thinking too much about it. You want me to leave the [food] issue alone and to walk in freedom.*
Then He told me to look up Galatians 5:1 again:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)
In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. (AMP)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (NKJV)
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (The Message)
The words underlined and orange indicates what CHRIST has done. He has set me (us) free! The blue words are what my (our) responsibility is in that freedom. “Do not let”. “Let” means that I have a say in it; I am responsible. No one can make me! I choose it! So I can choose to stand in the freedom, or I can put back on the yoke, the chains and carry around a load that isn’t necessary. Christ bought me…He paid the ransom. He CHOSE to die for me so I could have life. He freed us from the chains of death and everything that leads to unrest/death. Am I going to choose a different way? No way!! Why in the world would I want to go back to captivity and be a slave to food, diets, etc?
I’ve noticed the temptations. Just this [particular] morning there were like 3 things on Facebook: an intense exercise challenge (that’s linked with dieting), someone’s before/after pictures after drinking a diet smoothie, and something else. It’s everywhere!! I have to choose to keep scrolling and to look away! I cannot even go there! I need to fix my eyes on Jesus and keep them set on Him! He wants me to guard my mind.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3
The temptations are out there beckoning me to obsess and bring me back into captivity. I cannot walk around blindfolded or my finger in my ears and singing, “La, la, la, I don’t hear you!” (although that might come in handy some times). I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK!
I have written down Galatians 5:1 (the Amplified version) on a piece of paper and have it up in two places in my house: 1) on my bathroom mirror, and 2) on my refrigerator. And when I read the scripture many times throughout the day, God’s peace is ignited in my heart and I remember that I am FREE!
Christ has made you free!
Stand firm!
Do not let yourselves be entangled again!
*If God was, in fact, asking me to hold a particular food with open hands, then I certainly would be obedient to that. But in this case, He wasn’t. I was trying to make up another reason to focus on food.
Independence Day (United States) is in just 2 days! I promise I didn’t plan this post to come right before, but when I scheduled the post for today, I thought it was really neat that here I am posting about being FREE! July 4th is celebration of being an independent nation. So as you are watching the fireworks bursting forth and enjoying the celebration, think about your freedom in Christ and STAND!
I love this post, Christina! I’m with you – there is no way that I would EVER want to go back to captivity and be a slave to food, diets, etc.!
Amen! I’m glad you are with me, Molly!
Let’s celebrate! Send up the fireworks! Yay! God has set us free!
This is so inspiring, Christina! It makes me wanna shout Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!
So glad you are part of our journey here because girl, you got it goin’ on! I wanna be on your team!
Bless your heart foe being so willing to share your journey wih us. May God richly re-fill you for everything you give to us.
Cathy, your comment made me smile! Thank you! That means SO much to me! Yes, thank you JESUS!! Hallelujah!!! He gets all of the praise, honor, and glory!!
I totally agree with your comments. We do have to be ready and keep our guard up because dieting and exercise is an obsession with our culture (as it has been with me for many years), and it is everywhere. I was on a trip with many Christian girlfriends, and all they could talk about was the latest diet drink, and rules, rules, rules. At first it took me off guard, and I wanted to shout NOOOOOO you have it all wrong. But God told me, when they are ready I will be able to share with them about TW and what victories I am having through what I have learned.
Tammy, I hear you. It’s out there, everywhere! I have some friends I would really love to encourage about TW, but I don’t think they are open or ready to hear the message. I just want to share this freedom with everyone because the Lord has done SO much! It hasn’t been through a diet, an exercise program–just listening to Him!
What a powerful blog and so anointed of the Lord…Thank you for sharing your heart with us..it is so encouraging to keep on with the renewing of our minds and to keep our lights shinning for Jesus in this world that is becoming darker…we are called to shine with His love and joy…and peace..
Chris, I’m so glad you are encouraged! Yes, this blog has so many encouraging testimonies and encouragement to go with God! Let’s shine His marvelous light!
This really spoke to me — what a wonderful reminder to live in freedom every day. Thank you so much for such a spiritual breath of fresh air.
Karen, you are welcome! Praise God for His freedom!
Thank you Christina for such awesome encouragement! I am standing and cheering right along side you. And . . . I’m IN!!! I never, never, never want to go back . . . missteps of course, observations and corrections of course, but I never want to go back to allowing food and body image to master me. God is so good! So thankful to be running beside you (another Christina) in this journey! 🙂
Christina, I’m so glad I’m running with you on this journey (another Christina) as well! I’ve thought a lot about your water park post a lot the last few days. I’ve been so encouraged by what you wrote! Thank you for your encouragement in this journey! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM!!
Thank you for sharing this! I am so thankful that Christ has set me free from the bondage of dieting as well as bondage to any sin. Well said!
Allison, praise God! Yes! I’m so thankful too! Not only for my freedom, but for yours! And for all who grasp hold of the hem of His garment and let Him lead.
Thank you so much Christina for sharing this, it was shared on the FB page of our Thin Within bible study- so I’m sure many women were inspired and uplifted by it!
I am fresh out of the excessive dieting trap, and I never, ever thought I was in chains. It’s funny how I would constantly tell myself and others how, “free” I was to eat whatever, whenever, when I knew that the moment I steered off the perfect diet road, I would be completely condemned and overwhelmed by guilt, self-hate and disgust.
But Christ’s freedom is now what is saturating my thoughts, changing my mind and renewing me. Galatians 5:1 is such a powerful reminder of how free I can truly be (and AM) and this post locked it even firmer in my mind.
Thank you friend for being transparent and helping us all along this road! May God continue to use you for His glory, and for (wo)man’s good! We need a sister like you who can shine some light on this struggle – I’m not alone!
Nicole, that was really sweet of you to share! Thank you! Sometimes it’s “scary” being vulnerable through these posts God puts on my heart to write, but it’s comments like yours that make me see that it’s so worth the “sacrifice” of being real. 🙂 So glad you are experiencing Christ’s freedom in your journey! Praise God!