Breaking Yokes

"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."(John 8:31b-32 NASB)

It's getting harder and harder for me to choose what to write about from these chapters in John... but today, this particular passage really resonated. I knew that Pastor Nathan would be preaching about Breaking Yokes this morning, and it's amazing how even in my quiet times yesterday, God was starting to shift my focus from Alignment to Breaking Yokes.

I'm overweight -- have been for many years. Other than the extra weight, I've been pretty healthy, so I haven't really considered it an urgent problem -- or really a problem at all. I wasn't trying to impress anyone. I've tried to get in shape a few times, with limited success. I just wasn't very motivated. I'd make excuses for myself and shrug it off. I'd tell myself that I needed the late-night snacks so I could keep my concentration -- I'd tell myself that I DESERVED a treat -- etc.

For the first 7 days of this "Journey of Consecration," I was on a water fast. I didn't think I would make it, but I really felt it was something God wanted me to do. One of the things I think God showed me during that time was that my over-eating and making wrong food choices wasn't just a personal preference or an annoying habit like cracking my knuckles... it was a sin! And I had just proven to myself that if I could go days without eating ANYTHING, I could skip the sweets and other snacks that really aren't good for me while I'm eating healthy food in healthy portions.

I also realized that my eating habits and my weight is really a yoke in my life -- it prevents me from doing everything God wants me to do. It pulls me in a direction that isn't in alignment with Him.

I didn't know the truth about my eating habits. But now that I know the truth, I can be set free of that yoke. It won't happen overnight... but I know that the changes God has been making inside of me will show up on the outside if I'll "continue in His Word!"