Because You Have Grown So Fat

“In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.” Isaiah 10:27

When I read this verse in Isaiah, I literally blushed. I knew God was speaking directly to me as I “resembled the remark.”

I started my weight loss journey after completing Beth Moore’s "Breaking Free" Bible Study. In it, I learned about generational bondage and how sin can entangle us like a literal yoke on our neck. My entire family (other than my mom) struggles with weight issues and eating. It’s all I’ve ever known. I had all but given up the struggle, figuring that I have been fat for a long time and will probably die obese. But, after this study and realizing that God can do ANYTHING, I decided to try again, this time focusing on His strength. And, I’ve decided that I want to cut off this sin and its power to enslave before I pass it along to my children.

Beth Moore suggested that we need to become yoked to something else in place of the original sin or we will fall right back into temptation. The above verse, which almost jumped off the page at me reminded me of the following verse: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:28-30.

So, we can exchange yokes – our yoke of bondage to addiction that is literally weighing us down for Jesus’ easy and light yoke. While part of weight loss is the choices we make about food and exercise, another large portion is being set free from the bondage of sin – something only Christ Himself can do. People who rely on their own strength to lose weight often yo-yo back and forth on various diets. I believe God can cure us forever. If it’s His will to set us free (and I believe it is!) then we will be free indeed.

God spoke to me through this verse, and I’m praying that He lifts the burden from my shoulders and the yoke from my neck. I’m done with sin and eating unhealthy and treating my body like it’s not a holy vessel! I am being set free of generational bondage and learning a new way of life...beauty and health that starts from the inside out!

Dear Lord, we thank You that You provide for us hope we can’t find anywhere else. We praise You that we can exchange yokes and that You alone can cure us from this addiction. Lord, we’ve tried other things in the past to help us in this struggle, but we believe by Your strength alone that this time we can see the enemy’s bonds broken off our backs and that we will no longer be know as “so fat.” In Jesus’ powerful and holy name we pray, AMEN!