“WE COULD LOOK LIKE THIS, but we like cake”. It’s a meme with a super fit, buff couple that my husband and I were laughing over. It’s the truth. I know what it takes to look a certain way. The weighing and measuring of food, food charts and logs, exercise log with increasing weight, hours and hours of training and disciplining your flesh- all this and more.
At this point in my life, I’m not willing to do what it takes to have 10% body fat, not anymore. I have seen hundreds of people transform their body through the DISCIPLINE of the flesh. Pay attention. I’m drawing a spiritual parallel. There is NOTHING that a saint of God cannot overcome. NOTHING.
However, most are not willing to do what it takes. There’s no excuse for those in Christ to NOT be an overcomer. We are exceedingly and abundantly super-conquerors (Romans 8:37) through Jesus Christ. He has given us everything we need (2 Peter 1:3) to conquer and overcome, yet we are often unwilling to do what it takes.
Here’s a clue- You are crippled by your thinking. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
There is new evidence recently put forth that there is no chemically related reason for depression. None. Many would try to disagree, but I like to use Scripture for all my answers. The Bible says: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.”Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
Please read that again. It’s as if the Creator knows His creation. He has made a way for us to not fall into depression: renew your heart to God’s Word and think on these things. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 “Think on these things and the God of PEACE will be with you”. Peace is actually an evidence of having the Holy Spirit in you. If you have lost peace, then what are you dwelling on? Like a physical eating plan, to overcome you have to cut things out of your diet: wrong and destructive relationships, places, movies, books, etc.
Example: You’ll never overcome a spirit of fear if you keep filling your mind and your eyes with fearful movies. You won’t overcome lust and sexual immorality if you don’t cut off those things (relationships, books, movies, etc) that are the cause of that sin. You won’t overcome your past if you continually label yourself by the pain and hurt of your past. You will never grow in faith if you neglect the Body.
If you don’t feed yourself the Word of God continually, you will be fat and bloated. Either God is greater and He can do all things, and nothing shall be impossible with Him; or not. He has all strength to help you overcome, but are you willing to put in the work?#runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
