Holy, Healthy, Whole: Growing Fruits of the Spirit for Weight Loss and WellnessSample

Who Needs Your Kindness Most?

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10 (NIV)

Do you walk your Christian life in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him?

For many years, when it came to food, I was not walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.

I compulsively overate and binged. While I was obedient to God in other areas of my life, I was completely out of control with food. My weight spiraled upward at an alarming rate. I had constant stomach problems, and walking up even one flight of stairs left me sweaty and exhausted.

On top of it all, I beat myself up about my weight constantly. I felt guilt, shame, and embarrassment every single day because of my body.

I could get it together in other areas of life, but when it came to my weight, I felt like a total failure.

While I had gotten good at beating myself up, what I hadn’t gotten good at was confession. I had not yet learned to trade shame for grace.

The truth is that a pattern of repeatedly overeating is a sin. Sin needs to be confessed, and when we confess, God offers complete forgiveness. This is grace.

When it comes to your body and your weight, the person who most needs your kindness is you. After you confess and accept God’s forgiveness, treat yourself with the same grace, compassion, and kindness that God offers to you.

Beating yourself up is pointless. Turning to God for grace and forgiveness is everything.

Reflection: Do you show yourself kindness when it comes to food and your weight? How can you show yourself more kindness starting right now?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for showing me the ultimate kindness by dying on the cross to take away my sins. I praise and worship you! I confess the times I’ve overeaten and relied on food rather than you. I accept your forgiveness. Help me show myself the same grace, compassion, and kindness that you show me, so that I can walk in a new way. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.