Mastered by Our Habits
By Kelli Thompson
“‘I have the right to do anything, you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12
I was a little chubby much of my life. Dressing room episodes began with hope and ended in a heap of clothes on the floor and a promise to eat better and exercise more. In my mid-twenties, everything changed. An attempt to pull up the largest size of misses jeans resulted in a battle between me and the denim. With my jeans barely buttoned, my reflection in the mirror rivaled the best Betty Crocker “muffin top.”
That day I committed to change my life. I made healthier choices and lost about 20 pounds. But internal wars waged. My troubled marriage I fought to save was ending. Filing for divorce was the one thing I said I would never do and left me feeling like a failure.
Before long, I became enslaved by my food and exercise obsession. I weighed every ounce of food. Logged every bite. I placed my gym visits above God, friends, and family. I packed and ate my own meals in place of family dinners and business lunches.
“I can do anything to stay perfectly healthy!” I thought. “I’m free from being fat.”
I wanted to be free but was deeply controlled. Controlled by food and my scale. Mastered by the extremes and not the healthy values of God.
Is our desire really to be free? Deep down, I believe what we truly desire is freedom from consequences. When I’ve worshiped my “right to do what I want,” I suffered from extreme striving that never left me satisfied.
Even though God gives us freedom to make our own choices, we’re not free of the consequences. I realized I was relying on myself to direct my life instead of trusting God. What daily decisions can you turn over to God to achieve healthy balance?
Kellie Thompson is a gifted writer and speaker. After living most of her life trying to make things go her way, she reveals what can happen when you let go and let God. Even the most difficult things can be worked together for a greater good when we begin our lives again with our eyes fixed above. First, a wife and mother, she also travels across the country as a leadership speaker, writer, and consultant. Kelli loves to share insights about our everyday struggles and practical ideas for peace that God already has waiting for us. Read more at KellieRaeThompson.com
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Originally published Wednesday, 16 January 2019.
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