Remembering the Warrior in Me

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

We are called to be warriors, to overcome the world, but so many of us (myself included) cannot even overcome our own flesh. My warrior is buried beneath many pounds of fat. If I needed to move quickly into battle, I'd be in big trouble. My warrior is being crushed under the weight that I have put upon her shoulders, and it's time to break free.

But I know that I cannot do this on my own. I've been trying to do that for years and the result has been an over 100 lb weight gain.

So today I'm remembering something:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

This struggle is not a physical one. Sure, it's about diet and exercise, but it's more about remembering who I am, what God has called me to be, and how Satan does not want me to be there. I have potential. And God would not call me to be something that he would not help me to become. I need to rely on Him and trust Him and allow Him to create in me the warrior that He sees in me.

And not sabotage His efforts by believing the lies that my personal demons tell me, the first of which is: "You can do this on your own."

It's obvious that I cannot. I've been trying for over 10 years to battle these demons on my own. And it's time instead to stop making this about food and start making it about nourishment.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)

God will nourish me. He will fill me with that which I truly need. 

In prayer and diligent Bible Study, I know that I can fill the emptiness in me that food cannot fill. By God's grace, I will remember the Warrior in me...