Do you ever need to hear that you CAN do it? Right now my 13-month old is walking well when holding onto things and standing upright on his own just fine. But he has yet to take that step by himself. I know he can do it. He just needs to learn that he can.
In the same way, God as our Father sometimes nudges us that we CAN do something that seems insurmountable to us. I was reminded of this fact in my devotions today. The last verse I read was Joshua telling the house of Joseph that though overcoming the Canaanites with all their iron chariots may look impossible, they could overtake them and have their territory; Joshua 17:18 ends “..though they are strong, you CAN drive them out” (emphasis mine).
I’ve thought about that verse throughout the day. Maybe you feel defeated today because the sheer number of pounds that you need to lose seems impossible. Or maybe you’re losing hope that the last 20 “sticky” pounds will ever come off no matter how hard you try. But, we need to remember that NOTHING is impossible with God. I encourage you to say it out loud right now: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!
Throughout the book of Joshua, I’ve noticed it said that God Himself was the One who fought for Israel. He kept telling Joshua to “be strong and courageous” because His plans would be accomplished. Joshua 10:42 says “All these kings and their lands were conquered in one campaign, BECAUSE the Lord the God of Israel fought for Israel.” Later in Joshua 11:20, the Bible says “For it was the Lord Himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that He might destroy them totally…”
If God is encouraging you to treat your body as His dwelling and therefore live a healthier lifestyle (which we see in the Bible), then He will accomplish His purpose in your life. While you may not have hope, I can tell you today that there IS hope! God Himself will be on your side. And if God is for us, what else do we need?
Take a moment to soak in today that God is helping you in this battle. Then realize that there may be times that you need to dig in as He says (just like He spoke through Joshua to the tribes of Joseph) “You can do it!”
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that the Bible is truth and life for those who believe. God, we confess that there are times we want to throw in the towel and deem this pursuit hopeless. But, God, at these very moments, please help us remember that You are fighting for us, that You are strengthening us for battle in this area, and that with You NOTHING is impossible. Thank You for reminding us that with You on our side, we CAN! We will! We want to honor You. Help us become healthy and thin for Your glory – drive out anything in our way (even ourselves and our attitudes!). We surrender to Your control and authority. Please help us. Thank You!!! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
VALGOOD 