Let's face it! None of us like to admit that we have failed at something. Failing leaves us with this feeling of being "less than!" When we feel "less than" in one area, that feeling may try to filter its tentacles into other parts of our lives.
When I was a young girl, I can remember...SO VIVIDLY...being the last one chosen for a team sport. In my heart, I knew I was going to be chosen last. I tried to mentally prepare myself, and even tell myself that it was NO big deal. It WAS a big deal! Everyone was saying "I was a loser!" I can't tell you how many times I cried in my bed at night. Why did I have to be the one who was weak in sports? I could feel the sneers and arrogance of the strong ones, which further hammered into me that I was not important.
Recently, I have had YET another failure! Several months back I prayed and asked God what would be the one thing that I could do that would bring me closer to Him and closer to others. The most surprising answer came back to me. The answer focused around getting myself back in shape, losing this weight and caring about my health.
I wondered WHY would getting back in shape help me be closer to Him and others! I'm not going to question God. He knows me better than I know myself. I would venture to say that it has to do with that old "less than" feeling I have been in some way or another been dragging around for years!
Anyhow, I tried to honor this request. I started working out, eating better, lost about ten pounds, but then I stopped making it a priority, and I derailed in a major way! I couldn't hold on to the stamina that I needed to be successful in this area. I felt like a loser again!
Should I just give up? No, giving up is the EASY thing to do! One thing that I have realized is that God doesn't condemn us, but He will be persistent in wanting us to follow through with what He has put in our heart to do. In certain counseling situations, where people seem to be "stuck", I will ask them, "What is the last thing that God asked you to do that you haven't done?"
The last thing I haven't done is get the weight off and take better care of myself, but this time I am not going to adopt the "less than" attitude! I am going to adopt the "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" I need strength that I don't have!
On January 11, our Church is going to do a 21 day Daniel fast. Fasting is a powerful way to have breakthroughs! There were times in the bible when the disciples could not do the things that God asked them to do. When they went back to the Lord and asked why, He told them "these things only come out by prayer and fasting!"
Fasting is a lost spiritual principle in most people's lives, but I would say that we need not forget it! Even the disciples failed! They failed because they did not have the power they needed, but God told them how to get the power they needed, for them it was fasting. That is what I am hoping this fast will do for me. The Daniel fast fits right in with getting healthier, as God told me to do. It's not a total fast, but it is fasting from meat, processed food, fast food, soft drinks, caffeine, and sugar.
All I can think is, "This is gonna hurt!" That's my "flesh" yelling! Oh, the flesh is always there to get us off track, but I am praying that I will find the victory I have been praying for, and that the devil will not triumph over me, and that the devil will not triumph over what God put in my heart to do.
What about you? Do you have an area in your life where you feel "less than?" A place that you have not attained the goal that you have set out to do? Don't give up! The worst thing we can do is "give up!"
What is the last thing that God asked you do to that you haven't done? Pray and ask God what your next step is to have the victory!
Let's start this New Year ahead out right! With God's help, and our obedience, we CAN do this!!
I plan to join the fast too. Hopefully we will find out some good news from the Doctor on Jan 5th, that says I am just heavy cause, I am not doing anything about it. Then I know it will be something I can handle.
Posted by: Mandi | December 27, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Hey I always got picked last for sports growing up too!
Posted by: Brandi | January 06, 2009 at 07:58 PM