Driving Out Demons

"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you." Luke 11:20

How many of you have struggled with yo-yo dieting? I can name several times in life that I've lost significant amounts of weight, only to gain it all back again and then some. After doing the South Beach Diet and stopping when I got pregnant with my first son, I gained back more weight than I had lost, leaving me heavier than ever. UGH!And I can't blame the pregnancy - for after gaining over 60 pounds, I gave birth to a little guy who weighed just slightly more than 3 pounds. 

Why can't I stay on task and keep with what I know is right? As I've been studying God's Word and pondering this thought, I read the following verses that Jesus spoke in Luke 11:24-26: "When an evil (or unclean) spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." When I read these verses, I'll admit that I was horrified. It dawned on me that this may be happening to me.

I think in the present age, we don't think so much about 'spirits' that enter us. Maybe our culture doesn't make it 'fashionable' or 'hip' to think that demons could be possessing us - that's for horror movies and non-fiction, right? But as I've been reading the New Testament, driving out demons is often how Jesus' healing was described. I have a great friend who struggles with seizures, and I just read in Luke how God rebuked the demon who had been possessing a boy who had various seizures (Luke 9:37-43). When God healed a man who had been mute in Luke 11:14, He did so through driving out the demon. Jesus drove out an evil spirit on the Sabbath in a synagogue in Luke 4:31-37. He would also say things like "your sins have been forgiven" when he healed folks. For me, I know that overeating has been a sin in my life. But, have I left the door open in committing these sins for actual evil spirits to enter? I shudder at the thought.

Then I read the story of "the Healing of the Demon-possessed Man." I remember this story well, for I did Bible quizzing when I was in high school and we were to memorize the first half of the book of Luke and be quizzed on it. I wasn't completely committed to the quizzing as some of my friends were, but I did enjoy learning this way and remember much of what I read from those days. In any case, I remember Jesus meeting a man who called himself "Legion" because many demons had gone into him (this story is found in Luke 8:26-38). "A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and He gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned." I almost giggled at the irony. What do pigs represent in society? Typically, if we call a person a piggy, it means that they eat too much. Could my demons be sent into a herd of pigs that they would die rather than me? That is my prayer! I would rather the demons not wander around aimlessly and come back into my cleaned-up life and settle in with seven of their friends. Rather, I'd rather be done with this sin once and for all!

After this man was healed, he begged Jesus to go with Him. But Jesus sent him away saying "Return home and tell how much God has done for you. (Luke 8:39)" I think this is a crucial step to our healing, too. I boast not at the fact that I've lost weight. For honestly, this has been a struggle for me almost my entire life. If I had discipline to begin with, I wouldn't even be writing this for you (and the public at large) to read. Rather, it's humiliating to talk about something that society looks down on and is truly sin in my life. But, in saying that, I've lost over 60 pounds and it's only been through God's amazing grace. For, I don't have willpower or discipline on my own, but God has been showing me His extravagant love for me and His desire for my well-being. Please pray for me, and I will continue to pray for you. It's only through prayer and God's work on the cross that we'll ever be set free from sin!

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are holy. We can praise You and magnify You even on days that we don't feel worthy for You are ALWAYS worth of honor. Father, we thank You for Your Word today. God, we pray and ask right now that You would drive out the demons in our lives by Your very finger so that the kingdom of God would come to us. Lord, I'll be honest and admit that I don't understand a lot about demons. I don't fear them, for You alone are to be feared. Instead, I ask You to drive out any evil spirits that we've allowed to enter our lives. And, please don't let them wander, but we ask that you instead send them into the pigs that they may die and we might have life more abundant. God, we don't want to leave room for even more evil spirits to come into our lives. God, guard our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our souls and our actions. Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to protect us as only You can. Please mold our bodies and hearts as You intended when You created them. Don't allow sin to enter our lives and destroy Your creation. May our bodies glorify You, as we long to display Your splendor for Your honor. God, help us admit where we've been wrong and tell others what You alone have done for us. It's not by our work, Lord, but by Your very finger that we are healed. We thank You and praise You, Lord Jesus. Have Your way in our lives! In Your Name we pray, AMEN!

Depending on God's Mercy

^"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Romans 9:16

I read this verse as I was studying the Bible, and I realized how true it is. We can desire to be thin, we can struggle and make lots of effort to overcome our sin, but in all reality, our entire success depends on God's mercy. You see, He's the only one that can forgive us of our sin and set us free from the bondage we've allowed ourselves to get into. And, we can't do anything to earn His favor. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But, the good news is that God is merciful! The work has already been completed on the cross. We don't have to earn it. We just need to receive it and believe that God has forgiven us so we can begin again. It doesn't depend on human effort but on God's mercy. If you're struggling today, fall back on God's mercy. He desires to set you free as His beloved child.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You in awe and worship. You are a holy God. Lord, no amount of effort or works gets us to your throne of grace. Instead, the blood of Your Son Jesus has already paved the way for our forgiveness. Thank You for reconciling us to You even while we were still sinning. God, we don't deserve Your goodness, but we thank You for Your mercy and love. Thank You that You have called us children. We long to honor You in what we say, do and even eat. Please forgive our sin and help us start fresh today. We humbly ask to be healthy and thin for Your glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Watch & Pray

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

This verse spoke to me as I read it. Jesus was telling His disciples to keep watch and to pray that they wouldn't fall into temptation. Do you struggle with tempting foods? I know I do. One thing I fell in love with this summer was the caramel frappe from McDonald's. In just one drink, there's over 600 calories! Yikes! Yet, I couldn't seem to resist when the opportunity arose for one. Then I noticed their advertising called these drinks 'temptations.' Was that a sign or what?!?!

According to Jesus in the gospel, we need to watch and pray so that we won't fall into temptation. I run most mornings and I start the day thinking that I'm going to eat healthy and light and workout a ton. In my spirit, I'm willing. But as the day wears on, I notice the weakness of my body as I get hungry or tired. What's the answer? Prayer. Being watchful. Realizing that our body is weak. Going back to a loving God and asking for help so we don't fall into temptation. Let's pray now!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a holy and loving God. Thank You for Your Word. God, we want to be watchful and we're coming to You in prayer. Please keep us from temptation. You know our spirit is willing, but you also know our body is weak. Please protect us, oh Lord, and strengthen us. Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. Develop character and discipline in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!

Believe

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

As I've been reading the Bible lately, I've noticed an emphasis on having faith. For example, I read recently in Matthew 13:58 that Jesus "did not do many miracles there [His hometown] because of their lack of faith." He was healing all kinds of diseases and freeing people from demons (Matthew 8:16-17), but when people didn't believe, He didn't perform miracles. On the other hand, I again read 'the Faith of the Canaanite Woman' in Matthew 15:21-28. Jesus was not planning on healing her daughter, for He said "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" (verse 24), but when she pressed on, He said "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." (verse 28).

Since I was a small kid, I remember hearing that the faith of a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Why is it then, though, that I doubt sometimes that God would make me thin? I realized that I still have the mindset that I will always be heavy and struggle with weight. Why is that? Do I believe that God can do heal me if He wanted to? YES! Do I believe that being healthy and thin lines up with God's Word? YES! So, if I ask for something from God, the giver of all good gifts, why do I sometimes feel like I could walk on water to Jesus and then other times I sink all too quickly like Peter did (Matthew 14:27-33)?

James 1:6-7 tells us "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." Yikes! I don't want to be double-minded or not receive what the Lord has for me. For , I believe that He wants my best. I believe that God is compassionate and gracious. I believe that He is the Creator and Redeemer of my body. I believe that if He promises in His Word to give us whatever we ask for in prayer - and if we're praying for something in line with His Word and His will - He will indeed keep that promise.

After studying the Israelites for some time, I've seen where God kept up His end of the bargain even though His people sinned. If He says He will do something, He does it. He doesn't lie, and He even goes above and beyond what we would expect from such an amazing and just God. 

So, I'm asking Him to be healthy and  thin. And I'm believing that He will answer my request. But, make no mistake about it - I don't think that this answer to prayer is because of my faith. For, I deserve nothing from a holy God and am unworthy even to serve Him on my own accord. But, through the blood of Jesus, I believe He will save me. The perfect gift, given by grace and mercy to a hopeless world.

So, today, if you're going to be like me and ask God to make you thin, then friend, BELIEVE! Have FAITH! And glorify God when you see the results of His hand in your life!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that even though Jesus came to heal the lost sheep of Israel, He also healed all kinds of people from their various diseases and demons when they had faith in Him. We believe that You sent Your Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins. And, we confess that we have sinned! God, the amount that I weigh reveals sin in my life. I am ashamed of my past behavior, but I ask humbly at your feet to be healed. Please take my body and make me healthy and thin for Your glory. Help me make wise choices, motivate me where I need it, but most of all, God, I beg of You to reveal Your glory through my life. God, part of me thinks that I shouldn't write this for all to read. But, instead, I give up my pride for the sake of Your ultimate glory. As people see a difference in my life, may they bow and honor You alone. I confess that I've tried on my own to do the right things and earn Your favor. But, I'm far too imperfect to even begin... that's when I stand in awe at Your mercy and grace since You paid my debt in advance. I can't earn it. I just have to believe to receive it. I believe that You can and will heal me of this burden and make me a display of Your splendor. I thank You and praise You for the work You're completing. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Foolish?

"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3, NIV).

I read this verse on a friend's facebook post, and I smiled at God speaking directly to me. As I looked at older posts on this blog, I realized it sounds like I only learn during sermons. On the contrary, I read my Bible everyday and often see verses related to my journey of losing weight, as well as other things I'm studying in God's Word. But, lately I've been too ashamed to write them down. It's easy to read about something, almost as easy to know about it then, but extremely difficult to put it into practice. Earlier this summer, I severely sprained my ankle. And without exercise in my life, it became all the more difficult to want to eat healthy. So, I quit for awhile. And I'm paying the price as I look at the scale in utter horror.

I realized this week, though, that God is again working in my life as He's weaning out the ugly sin of pride. When I am able to work out and I somehow gain back a little motivation, I tend to think that I am in control or doing the right things. How foolish I can become in so little time! I throw everything I've read out the window as I take on the world's view of weight loss. I started thinking of different diets I could try and different workouts, and pretty soon the scale is rising again and I'm floundering. And I feel all the more ashamed because I know that I know the right things to do but I can't stop screwing up and I wallow in self-pity at my choice to sin again and again.

I have done what the Israelites did when they forgot God and started serving other things. The above verse brought back perspective. I've asked God to help me in this walk. I have to have faith that He can transform my mind and my body. I have to rely on Him each step of the way. I have to rest in the fact that He has died for the sins I've committed. I have to start each day fresh with Him. I have to get rid of any thought that I'm doing something right, for this journey is simply not about me. God is the one who started it, and He will be the one who finishes it.

Does that mean I keep going back to my old lifestyle? As Paul would say, "By no means!" But that does mean that I have renewed faith that God can still work in my life after I've started screwing it up again. For human effort isn't enough to change a person from the inside out. God started this work by His Spirit, and He is mighty to save. I have faith that He and only He can do this. So, I boast about my weaknesses because they are where God shows up strong (as I paraphrase the Bible). I have no pride left. It is God alone who deserves honor and glory. And that's the best place to be.

Dear Heavenly Father, Your name is holy. You alone are worthy of honor and praise and glory. Forgive us for being foolish. Thank You for being gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross for our ugly sin. We realize that we can't attain our goal by human effort. It is only through You that we are able to 'go for it' another day. Please help us. Please give us motivation and willpower. Please let us shine for You alone. Please rid us of our pride and help us always shine Your light. Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Being Content

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13

God has been speaking to me a lot about contentment lately, and I didn't even realize it until today. Last week, one of my best friends came over and as we were talking, she said she's trying to learn to be content with what God has for her. It really struck me, particularly because of who this gal is. So, as I was reading my book on raising children this past weekend, the above verse on contentment jumped out at me. I even made note of it as I set my book down so I could send it to her in a letter of encouragement.

Then yesterday was a particularly rough day at our house. I had a migraine and my kids were also having rough days and wanted to SCREAM. I was angry and frustrated and by the end of the night, I felt extremely guilty for my behavior that resulted from my anger. I am not two, and yet I found myself wanting to scream and yell as well. Last night, I saw a friend on facebook posting about a verse from Jonah about how being angry does us no good, and I knew that God was gently talking to me. 

So, this morning wanting life to go a little better, I picked back up my book and read some more. I'm currently reading "Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration For Character...In You and Your Kids!" by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. It has been an extremely good book so far and I would highly recommend it. I was still on the chapter of contentment, and as I was reading the pages, I realized that this was an area of struggle for me more than for my kids. I have been the child that hasn't dealt with disappointment well and learned to be content. Here is a passage from the book that stuck out to me; Turansky &Miller (2002) write:

"Children who are demanding and grow up with unchecked selfishness will have a harder time as they grow older. They won't have the character necessary to understand and accept the limits that God may place on them. As you help your children address their arguing, badgering and whining, you will begin to prepare them for a life of contentment. We all need to learn to live within boundaries, whether they are financial limits or health restrictions. Limits are part of life. Contentment means that we say no to things we can't afford or shouldn't eat. If children can't accept no from their parents, how will they ever learn to say no to themselves or accept limits from God? In the school of life, the 'Developing Contentment Curriculum' is not an elective; it's a required course." p. 101-102 [emphasis mine].

As I read this, it reminded me of a conversation I had with my father a couple weeks ago. He said that he can't stand to say no to himself. He's also extremely overweight, but he was talking about living on a tighter budget now that he's retired. He hates limits and doesn't think he should have to follow them. I truly fear for his future, both financially and health-wise. Sometimes these conversations make me panic, and I pray for him and then have to let go and trust God to take care of him. That said, I relate to him, both in the natural sense that he's my Dad and with what he was saying. I, too, hate to be told no. All too often, I buy what I shouldn't or eat whatever I crave. I'm an adult now, so I shouldn't be told no anymore, I reason. But how wrong I've been!

As I was reading this chapter on contentment, I recognized the symptoms of a selfish heart in me. Arguing, whining, badgering... all things done in the name of 'persistence' when in all reality it is pure selfishness. If something doesn't go my way, I have a tendency to try and outwit my opposition rather than recognizing the hurt that it will do to the relationships I have. This started as a child, I realize, but growing up while my parents were in the middle of a divorce, I can say that I typically got my way. Now I've turned into a childish adult. A childish adult with an addiction to food that is really stemming from an inability to tell myself no and accept limits from God. 

Our bodies weren't made to handle an indulgence to all our cravings. When I see someone limit themselves on something they really want, it is truly impressive to me. And I realized today that this is where the battle needs to start again for me. I need to learn to be content with whatever circumstances I'm in. As Paul articulates so well in the above verses, I need to learn to be content whether I'm well fed or hungry, in plenty or in want. And what's his answer to contentment? He believes in God - that he can do all things through Him who gives strength.

I wonder how I can teach my children to be content and not demanding if I have yet to master the skill myself. This morning, I bowed face first on the ground to beg God for His mercy and fill me and my children with contentment. That means being content when He says 'yes' and 'no' ... that means trusting God and believing He has our best in mind. That means ridding ourselves of childish behavior and demanding that we get anything we want and living a life of grace for others and for limits in our lives. I think this will be a tough journey but it's a lesson I wish I had learned a long time ago. Let's pray!

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a holy God. Thank You for giving us limits and saying no when we need the answer to be no. For only You really understand the long-term future. Thank You for teaching us those lessons that humble us and make us bow down in repentance. Lord, we need You and Your righteousness. May the blood of Jesus also cover our sins of selfishness and demanding our own way - please forgive us! We ask for Your amazing grace. We also beg for contentment. Please give us the strength of character to be content even when we are hungry or living 'in want.' May we follow what Paul says in these verses. Please continue to develop character inside of us that shines through to the outside of us. Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. In Jesus name, AMEN!"

Stop Going Back to Captivity

"However, if you say, 'We will not stay in this land,' and so disobey the Lord your God, and if you say, 'No, will will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,' then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'If you are determined to go to Egypt and you go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you to Egypt, and there you will die." Jeremiah 42:13-16

When I read this passage, I immediately recognized the irony in it. These people were the survivors who hadn't been taken to captivity in Babylon. God was telling them to stay in Judah and be His remnant there; but instead after they had seen all the destruction that had come in their land, they decided that Egypt was a better place for them. If you know anything at all about the Israelites, then you know that they were slaves in Egypt at one time and God had set them free by bringing plagues against the land and the people who lived there, including the plague on the firstborn. The Egyptians had treated them harshly, and God had saved the Israelites when they cried out, and made them His chosen people. Here in Jeremiah, many generations later, they decided they wanted to go back to this territory to settle because they feared being hungry for bread, among other things.

How many of us fear being hungry when we try to lose weight? I know I do. I hate being hungry. I hate feeling light-headed and desiring the taste of something that I know I can't have. It's easy to be overweight - you simply eat whatever sounds good. But, it's a struggle to maintain weight and even harder to start losing it. That said, we knowingly go right back into captivity when we give into our fears rather than trust God. We don't like being hungry, so we willingly go right back where we started. It sounds awful, but I've done it time and time again.

And what does God promise His beloved people who go back into captivity? For one, the famine they dread will follow them there, and more importantly, they will die there. If we don't obey God's instructions of where He wants us to go and if we put more emphasis on our desire for food than His will for our lives, then the good He has planned for us will instead end in destruction. God wanted the people in this passage to be His remnant in His land and rebuild it. Instead, they gave into their desires for an 'easier' life; and God warned them up front, through Jeremiah, that this was NOT His plan for them and that they would die of the very things they feared when they went to Egypt. Unfortunately, this people didn't listen to God's warnings. They found out the hard way that when God says He's going to do something, He means it. He only speaks truth. And while He's gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, He also is just and righteous.

I keep reading throughout these pages of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations and Ezekiel of how much God warned His beloved people. They were doing detestable things, including worshiping other gods, and yet He sent His messengers to speak to them in love and promised to relent if they would turn from their wicked ways and follow Him wholeheartedly. When they didn't, He followed through on His word that He had sent to His prophets. Today I realized that we're in a similar situation. We can choose to do things the way we've always done them, giving ourselves comfort through food rather than laying down our fear of being hungry and giving it to God. Or, we can say that we realize we'll die in captivity if we don't make a significant change and follow God wholeheartedly in this struggle.

We may not know what that looks like, but we can trust in our compassionate God, who will reward our obedience by saving us! Only through Christ can we be saved from a life of sin. We need forgiveness and we need redemption - we need a 180 turn from our old patterns. Let's not go back to Egypt. Let's press on toward what God has planned for our lives! Who's with me?

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You today and admit that we fear being hungry. So many times we've allowed that fear to take us right back to our place of captivity, where we are slaves to our cravings and food addiction. We pray that today, we can make a stand once and for all to stay in the place that You have created for us - a life where we rely on You alone. Forgive us, oh God, of our sin. Help us turn from our wicked ways through Your salvation. Show us compassion. And I pray that we would see the outcome of this decision - that You would please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. We return to You with our whole hearts. No longer will we serve other things. Be glorified and praised today! In Jesus' name, AMEN!