It is God’s intent that we prosper and be healthy as our souls prosper (3 John 2). I believe that a healthy lifestyle is a choice. Of course, because we live in a broken world, we are subject to that world because of sin and free will, but wisdom and the Holy Spirit (as He is the revealer of all things) can help us live well.
At the start of the pandemic, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to two words, “go walk.” I had just bought new walking shoes, so it was a perfect time to break them in. I started walking two years prior. I was doing good, but unfortunately, I had stopped. Here I was again, with the Holy Spirit nudging me to restart. In obedience, I laced up my new shoes and off I went. As I obeyed, I received great instructional insight. I could see God’s plans for me and how I needed to partner fully with those plans.
To work on being healthy was one way I needed to fully corporate with God. He said, “you can’t work for me if you are sick. I need you to break this curse.” In my family there are few that have a healthy diet and lifestyle. My maternal grandmother died of heart disease and my paternal grandmother died of cancer. I felt the Lord nudging me to change this in my immediate family. He wanted me to show my children a better way of living.
The Deception of Unhealthy Food
Lust and deception are two powerful mechanisms, especially when combined. During my devotion time, He instructed me to make better food choices. I asked, “Lord, can you help me with that?” He said, “just as a sinner needs my grace and power to remain free from sin you need that same power to be free from unhealthy foods. Sin kills but so does excessive eating—gluttony.” When God spoke these words of conviction, I humbled myself, repented, and asked him for help.
Friend, God’s grace is sufficient for our weaknesses. Paul told us,“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). A weakness for someone may be the crack pipe, cigarettes, or like for me, sugar. I needed God’s power to resist sugar and maintain a low-sugar diet.
Lust and deception ultimately got Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden of Eden. The lust was so powerful that it caused them both to disobey. Deception blinded them from realizing the consequences. No one takes drugs intending to die. No one smokes with the intent to kill themselves, and certainly no one eats with the intent that it will one day end their life. Lust and deception are the enemy’s ultimate weapons. Satan is a deceiver and master manipulator. He appeals to the carnal nature and its cravings, and his motive is to destroy his unsuspecting victims.
The Thief
The thief comes to kill, steal, and to destroy (John 10:10). The thief is masterful at what he does. How do I know this? Simply put, there have been many believers that have died at their own hands. A thief is a person who steals another person’s property. I believe health is one thing the thief attempts to steal to destroy Christ’s followers. What I have noticed about this thief is that his motive is to act under the radar and carry out his mission in such a way that the victim is unsuspecting and unaware. My friends 2 Corinthians 2:11 warns us, “lest Satan should get an advantage over us. For we are not ignorant of his devices.”
These devices are ancient tactics. We are wise to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit that we may journey well and fight a good fight of faith, so we can finish our course and assignment in the earth (2 Timothy 4:7). Friend, I encourage you to change your unhealthy habits today and invite God into every area of your life. The enemy is a defeated foe, but he is seeking to take as many Christians as possible.
If you have read this and felt conviction, you may need to repent, ask for help, as I did. I needed God’s power to assist me when I was weak. He wanted me to live life and live it to the fullest. I couldn’t do that while the thief had access to my health through unhealthy food. I want to encourage you to take your health back. God desires to stop the thief from stealing anything that belongs to you and that includes your health.
Check out Sherri Downs and Susan Neal’s YouTube discussion about this topic at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiVC5po1W_0
Author Bio
Sherri Downs is a wife and mother of two. Sherri is the owner and founder of Touch Downs Enterprise LLC/Ministries, a published author, life coach, podcast host, mentor, and speaker. Sherri is committed to her mandate to teach and instruct in the body of Christ. Sherri believes in the power of God that allows every believer to walk in newness. You can find Sherry at Touchdownsenterprise.com. Check out her book, Don’t be Bullied by the Devil.
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/SherriDowns
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