You Got the Power

Back when I was 240 pounds, one of my favorite binge foods was Pepperidge Farm coconut cake. I would often purchase one, totally intending to eat one slice and be content with that until the next day.

But did that ever happen? No.

Instead, I would eat a piece but then the cake would start calling me: “Kim, come eat me…come eat me.” To shut up the voice, I would go eat another piece.

Was the voice satisfied then? No. It compelled me to eat another.

And I ate another. Then another. Finally out of complete abandonment I would get the remaining cake and a knife and a fork. I’d end up eating it all.

And just like the night follows the day, the condemnation would start. The same voice that tempted me in the first place would say, “You knew better than that. Why did you buy that cake? You knew that was going to happen. It’s only happened 10 million times before!”

Physically, I’d feel bloated, sick, and nauseous. Full of regret.

But you know what? I don’t do that anymore. And here is why…

I had to learn to become Spirit led. That was the source of my power to overcome an addiction that consumed my life for over 20 years.

You see, I learned that the Spirit’s voice is gentle, one of confidence and comfort, not condemnation. The Spirit’s job is to guide you on the path of God’s will for your life – and keep you there until you stand before God and he says, “Well done thy good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!”

The Holy Spirit is your Helper. He has a one track mind – to do the will of God.

In contrast, the enemy is two-faced: He will pretend to be your friend, lead you to yield to your weak flesh, and once you’ve obeyed him, turn around and condemn you for it. He wants you to remain caught up in that destructive cycle because if you are running on his treadmill, following his dead-end plan, you will NEVER fulfill God’s plan for your life!

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised his disciples: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

So if you have received Jesus as your Savior, you have received power. Jesus himself received the spirit: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him” (Matthew 3:16).

Jesus only began his ministry after this happened. That is how he could do the powerful works that he did!

When you are led by the Spirit, you will make right decisions every time. Right decisions are ultimately the key to a successful life. The biggest clue that you are making a right decision is that even though your flesh may not like it, you will feel empowered and secure in your spirit. You will rejoice in the knowledge that you are following God’s path and plan.

However when you feel weak, condemned and discouraged by a decision you made – that is your clue that you are allowing the flesh to control you and not the Spirit.

To learn to walk by the Spirit, start now to ask yourself three questions about every decision you face today, no matter how small it is:

  1. “What should I do Holy Spirit?” The bible assures us that if anyone lacks wisdom, God will give it to her if she asks Him (James 1:5)
  2. Whatever the answer, ask “Does this decision give me peace?” A hallmark of the Holy Spirit’s guidance is peace and security. If you are still wavering or don’t think with certainty: “This is what I should do” then continue to ask in prayer and wait before taking action. I believe if God knows your heart is to obey his will, then he will give you clear guidance.
  3. Another way to tell if your decision is Holy Spirit led or just your flesh, then consider the outcome of both sides of the decision and ask yourself “Which decision makes me feel empowered?” If the decision will leave you feeling disempowered or lacking self control it is not of God since self control is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Let go and ask the Spirit to take control once again.

Resist the urge to condemn yourself for your weaknesses. That is the voice of the enemy, not God:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

See your weakness as an opportunity for you to learn dependence on the Lord. Just like a baby learning to walk in the natural, it will take time to learn to walk by the Spirit. You may have a few stumbles, but eventually you will walk in faith and confidence.

Get in the habit of being faithful in this regard in the small decisions you make every day. Health-related decisions are excellent training for this since you face many of these decisions every day, from what to eat, how much, and whether to exercise.

Embrace these decisions rather than shrinking from them because if you can learn to follow the Spirit’s guidance in small areas, then when you must make a big decision, listening and obeying him will be second nature!

As you practice daily and stay committed to the process in both big and small decisions every day, you are guaranteed to fulfill God’s plan for your life.

And by the way, I still love Pepperidge Farm coconut cake. However, the Spirit leads me not to buy it unless others are around to share it. He knows my weakness and he gives me wisdom concerning it, which I gladly follow since I know it is for my ultimate good. And for that I rejoice!

To encourage you in this area, listen to the words of this song called “The Very Same Power”. The lyrics just make me want to shout for joy and I know it will do the same for you. Click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i6mo6c_HDU

Be blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor

Creator of the Take Back Your Temple program

P.S. When it comes to weight loss, do you often know what you should do but have a hard time doing it?

I struggled with this issue on my own weight loss journey, but I discovered that “Nothing is different until you think differently.” – Pastor James MacDonald

The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through using Biblical keys to overcome obstacles. You’ll discover how to win the Spiritual and mental battle that often causes us to become inconsistent and get off-track on our weight loss journey.

Join a community of like-minded Christians losing weight and keep it off.

Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple program

About the author 

Kimberly Taylor

Kimberly Taylor is a certified Christian life coach and has a heart to help others struggling with emotional eating and weight loss. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify of God’s goodness and healing power to overcome. She lost 85 pounds as a result of implementing techniques to overcome emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

Kim is the author of "The Take Back Your Temple Program," which teaches Christians how to take control of their weight God's way and the books "The Weight Loss Scriptures" and "The Weight Loss Prayers."

Kim has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Charisma Magazine and on CBN’s 'The 700 Club' television program.

  • Kimberly, thank you for your email and You Got the Power testimony. The entire post spoke volumes but especially the three questions you listed to ask myself before making a decision. I am printing those out and posting on my pc to see in front of me each day as a reminder to apply and change this habit that I have struggled with for to long.

    Kind Regards, Janet

  • please pray for me..im feeling not so much okay…please pray me for the gifts and fruits of the holy spirit…

    • Hi Shone,

      What a wonderful thing that you want more of the fruit of the Spirit! I have prayed that God show you how to nurture an environment in which your fruit can grow. It will happen as you spend time in the presence of the Son and water your fruit with the Word. Scripture says that we inherit God’s promises with faith and patience. So just know that you already have the fruit and you will bear more fruit with patience. God bless you!

  • Kimberly,

    Thank you for your advice regarding making decisions. I’ve been struggling with a call God has place on my heart. I believe God is calling me to begin a ministry but I’ve been waivering back and forth like a wave being blown by the winds of doubt and fear.

    The devil knows that fear of failure is one of my strongholds. So, I used your steps to sort through my emotions. When I think about what God has placed in my heart and mind, I feel peace. And as I begin working towards God’s plan…the pieces just seem to fall into place.

    God clearly sent this word to me today to help me move forward. I praise him for his goodness and you for your sharing your testimony. God is truly using you to build his kingdom.

    Thank you.

  • Hello Kim-
    I was just wondering if you still buy a Pepperidge Farm coconut cake every so often… and are able to eat one slice a day?

    I wish I could do that. If I buy something good like that, I usually do what you used to do.

    I hear the Spirit talking to me, but I usually don’t listen when it comes to overeating.

    Your blog is such a blessing to me… and the lyrics of that song are soooo true!!! Thank you!

    God bless!
    Laurie

    • Hi Laurie,

      Thanks for your post! You asked me if I still buy Pepperidge Farm coconut cake. The answer is yes, but only under 2 conditions – if family is visiting and I want to share it with them, I will. Or if they aren’t and I want some, I will buy one but I will immediately slice a piece and throw the rest away so that it isn’t a temptation. A principle of martial arts is the best way to win a fight is to avoid getting into one in the first place. Because I don’t want to have to fight with myself over the cake, I will remove the temptation to eat more 🙂

  • Hi Kim,

    I needed to hear this SO badly today. I have been giving into temptation lately, and have not been sticking with my diet. Now I have a “battle plan”. You are truly a blessing to me.

    Love,
    Heidi

    • Hi Heidi,

      Just keep in mind when you stumble – there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and he will help you up no matter how many times you stumble. As long as you promise yourself you will never give up, you will win!

  • Hi Kim,
    I just want to thank God for your life and your ministry!
    I feel very special and blessed receiving e-mails from you…
    Every time I have a temptation I tell God “TAKE BACK YOUR TEMPLE LORD”, and it looks like is qeting a little easier…
    Thank you so much dear sister in Christ!
    God bless,
    Regina

  • Thank you so much for sharing. I have only started to realize that the life I lead around 20 years ago was a life of action. My weakness now is inaction – sit and do nothing – and I have gotten good! I am working hard to make my life a life of action once again.

  • Hi Maile,

    Praise God! I am praying for you – please do what the spirit tells you as to when you should start. He wants to set you free right now. And being led by him is the only way you can be free. God bless you!

    Kim

  • This is the Lord reading your e-mail today, I was feeling empowered, strengthened and losing weight successfully and I hit rock bottom like a drunkard in the streets accept feeling fat and condemned every time only to gain my weight back.

    Thank you for your faithfulness I really needed it today, I will begin again tomorrow in Jesus name! Because he lives, I live…. Maile Canlas

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
    >