Freely Speaking Audio Devotion
"When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, ‘Wilt thou be made whole?’" John 5:6 (KJV).
This year, I embarked on losing 100 pounds. Amazing, right? I’m only five pounds away from one big goal set in motion two years ago. I can’t believe it’s almost here! It wasn’t my goal when I started; it was only a by-product. What did I need? Healing. The type of healing that only the Lord can provide. I didn’t know it came with weight loss, but boy, I am glad.
What goal are you setting in your personal and spiritual life this year, and does it include healing?
In John 5:2-9 KJV, we meet a man who has been diseased for thirty-eight years (ironically, the same age I started my journey). The first thing Jesus asks him is, “Do you want to be made well?”. In our journey to change, we must first be willing to acknowledge that something in our lives is not serving us or glorifying God. Most of us know our “hang-ups” but are unwilling to surrender them for fear of change, failure, and dependency.
If we use excuses like this man by the pool in Bethesda, we should ask ourselves if this is disobedient to God. Wow! That’s a tough pill to swallow. Truth says that giving excuses does not reflect the glory and nature of God.
Jesus then called the man into action, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” This is Jesus asking for obedience—no hesitation in His language. Once the man obeyed, he received power through his limbs to do what he had been asked. In the same way, when we take our first step of obedience, God will give us the strength we need to continue.
That’s how I did it. Not me, but Christ in me. I tapped into His strength and the resources He provided. I allowed the Holy Spirit to do the heavy lifting. Anything is possible when we let the Lord do the work He wants to do in our lives. Just ask the girl who put the weight of thirty-eight years behind her. It can happen for you!
Do you set goals to lose weight and struggle to reach your goal? What do you find most challenging in your weight loss journey? Comment below so we can pray and encourage you.