I had no idea that my battle with obesity, this stronghold, this bondage I’ve been in for 18 years was satan’s attempt to kill me. In the past, I always approached my weight loss challenges as being simple. All I have to do is change my eating habits, exercise and I’ll be just fine. But what I didn’t know was that inwardly, in my soul and within my spirit, there was a battle going on. Losing weight for me wasn’t that simple and no matter what I did, I’d always end up at square one. What I didn’t know was there was a mighty fortress, a stronghold, that I was fighting against that ultimately controlled me. So today, I’m learning daily on how to break down that stronghold that’s been controlling me for all these years and unlearn some behaviors.
In the last post, “The 14th Step To Overcoming: Punish Disobedience By Being Obedient,” I learned that there were certain things that God would do to help me supernaturally, but, there are certain things I need to do to help myself by crucifying my flesh in the areas of discipline and self-control.
2 Corinthians 10:6 (NKJV) say’s “…being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” That scripture stuck out to me because it let me know that I can pray and fast all day, but at the end of the day, I have the ability to choose right or wrong and at some point, the decision is up to me, but, I have to be willing to fight, I have to be willing to die and ARISE and say NO to anything in my way and not just say no sometimes, but consistently. Saying No consistently in this battle is hard and with a stronghold, you can’t waiver, it’s either a hard yes or a hard no, but it can’t be both.
This process of surrendering and crucifying our flesh is hard and if anyone say’s different, they’re lying! Crucifying my flesh in this area is killer for me, but little by little, I’m overcoming. How?
- Surrendering the struggle to God. Admitting you can’t help yourself not just in words, but being in a place of coming to an end of yourself where you throw yourself on God’s alter pleading for help. You have to be desperate, I became desperate. You have to be hungry and want to change.
- Repent. Keep it real with God about your struggle of either accidentally or purposefully falling into sin. I’ve come to learn that there are certain sins we grieve over trying to change and others, in our heart, we don’t really want to change but know we have to. God want’s us to be honest with Him and if we willfully have a taste for certain sins, we can tell him that and ask Him to take the taste out of our mouths. We have to be heartily sorry for our disobedience and then, God can move.
- Go before His throne consistently. Ask God to point out the lies satan’s been feeding you and write it down. Ask God to reveal to you the root of that lie, where it stemmed from and ask God to reveal to you the strongman operating behind that lie e.g. rejection, unforgiveness, perversion, deception, etc.
- When attacked with the thought to sin, ARISE and rebuke the thought with God’s truth. This is where I am in this process. I’ve written down the lies, now underneath that lie, I need to write down God’s truth and speak it out-loud.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) say’s
“… casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”
You truly have to speak to yourself when you’re tempted to sin, you have to speak to that thought, that demon, cast down the thought, rebuke it, and address it with God’s truth. You have to talk to yourself and as Pastor Guillermo Maldonado say’s in the video below, be bold and ARISE and declare what you know to be truth. You’ll have to war and fight with that thing until it goes away. This is something I have to do everyday to take my health back. It sounds grueling and could even be depressing and yes, it’s heavy emotionally, physically and spiritually and it’s exhausting, but you know what, I’m fighting satan to take back my life and everything He stole from me, so I’m committed. I’ve lost 70 pounds fighting in this manner and I’m not stopping, TGBTG!
If there’s something we truly want, it’s up to us to go get it. The life changing word The Lord gave me is that I can’t go into satan’s house and take back my goods if I’m in agreement with him. At some point, I’m held responsible, accountable and have divine backing to choose God’s way. It’s going to be hard and at times I still fall, but I’m encouraged in The Lord that He’ll help me get back up, start all over again and fight to win. I’m learning, yes it’s hard, but I refuse to give up, give in and quit.
If you haven’t viewed the video about strongholds taught by Pastor Guillermo Maldonado below, I strongly encourage you to watch it. It has truly helped and helping me everyday. Continue to join me as I share with you what God is sharing with me about breaking strongholds.
As always, Be Encouraged, Stay Connected, Fight and Let’s Become Free Together.
How to Overcome Strongholds – Pastor Guillermo Maldonado
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kceGaDvpGrg
In His Name,
Ke’Shawn Adamson
B.O.O.M!
