By: Kacie Starr Long
I started shifting uncomfortably in my seat. The more my Pastor spoke, the more convicted and challenged I became. I didn't want my nervous movement to prevent my husband from hearing the Pastor's message, so I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer to God.
"Lord, please help me..."
Have you ever been so challenged after hearing a preached message, that all you can do is take a deep breath and ask God for help?
This particular night, my Pastor was teaching on spiritual warfare and the importance of determination. He explained how Satan wars against Christians through sin, and how we must be determined to drive out sin at any cost.
I grew convicted upon hearing the message because God has been speaking to me, over and over again about my eating. It first began almost seven years ago, when God revealed to me that food had become an idol in my life, and my overconsumption of food was really gluttony and how gluttony is a sin. I wrote about overcoming a food addiction in my book "Loving God More Than Food" and have since hosted seminars, workshops, and online Bible studies on the topic. As I outline in my book, God gave me key strategies and principles to overcome the spirit behind my overeating, and told me, if I remained committed and obedient to His direction, I would have success.
Recently, I have begun gradually opening the door to bad eating habits thus allowing the entrance of sin -- enemies to the destiny God has for me-- back into my life.
Have you ever overcome an enemy in your life? Have you ever beat an enemy to the pulp, bodyslamming it into defeat, only in a later season allow it to resurrect, and take over your life?
This is how I felt listening to my Pastor's message. I was embarrassed and angry at myself, having taught on the principles of overcoming gluttony, (and the spiritual issues that can lead to overeating) yet my complacency and pride had allowed these enemies to return back into my life -- and they seemed stronger and more stubborn.
Maybe food isn't the enemy that has been resurrected in your life. Perhaps it's gossip, overspending or lying, and/or being deceptive with your spouse. You know it's wrong. You took control over that sinful habit, yet now it has appeared again in your life.
Whatever your enemy is, know this: God does not want you to become complacent. He doesn't want you comfortable with it. Even if it is not "as bad as it used to be." God is calling you and He is calling me to drive out each, and every sinful behavior NOW, so it doesn't become a stronghold in our lives.
In fact, God, wants us to be determined. To be relentless and to be more aggressive in driving out the sin in our lives, than the enemy is for the sin to stay.
The Bible provides a great example of what happens when we are NOT more determined than the devil. In Joshua 17:12, the Israelites are ready to divide the land. They had been previously instructed to destroy all of the land's inhabitants but failed to do so.
"But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in the region."
There was the land God established for them. It was theirs but they could not occupy the land because the Canaanites were more determined to remain than the Israelites were to drive them out.
The devil wants to gain a foothold in our lives, and may subtly deceive and say your sin 'isn't so bad.' But the Bible says that the "kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the men of violence take it by force." (Matthew 11:12)
It may take a fight. It may take a war. You may need to pray more, fast, or reach out to your accountability partner, but whatever you do, will you make the decision that you will be more determined than your enemy?
After praying to God for help with my overeating, I immediately stopped squirming in my seat at church. God used the conviction I felt in my heart, to reach out to Him and receive His grace. Yes, my rebellion and disobedience to God had opened the door for the food addiction enemies to enter my life; but the blood shed by Jesus and His resurrection at Calvary, assures me that I can receive forgiveness and obtain victory over gluttony and food idolatry again.
This article was published in Jewel Warrior, a Christian women's online devotional. Please subscribe to receive encouraging devotionals each day from women from around the world.
Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either working out at Orange Theory Fitness or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry for women who have been previously incarcerated and at-risk teens. I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for more daily Christian teachings and encouragement.