Your Faith’s Biggest Enemy

Whenever you want to do something great in your life, your faith that you will succeed will be TESTED.

This is especially true when you are working to change your weight and health.

• Your resolve will be tested
• Your desire will be tested
• Your patience will be tested

Yet, you can pass every faith test when you know how to defeat faith’s biggest enemy.

What enemy am I talking about?

Forgetfulness. Remember this phrase: “Forgetfulness is the enemy of faith.”

Think about it. How many times have you started a health improvement plan with great enthusiasm – only to abandon it a few weeks later?

Did you ever wonder why this happens?

Many times, it happens because we conveniently forget about the reason we wanted to make the change – or else decide (subconsciously) that the process to change isn’t worth the effort!

If you are believing God to help you change your health for the better, then you must combat forgetfulness in three areas:

• Forgetting about God’s mighty Power
• Forgetting about your Purpose in better health
• Forgetting about the Plan necessary to achieve your purpose

Let’s deal with each one:

• Forgetting about God’s Power: Remember – there is NOTHING too hard for God!

Most of us have read the story of the 12 men sent out to spy the Promised Land (see Numbers, chapter 13). In the story, God promised the Israelites a land of “milk and honey.” And yet when it was time to take over the land, they refused to do it because of the obstacles they would face.

They forgot that this same God delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. He defeated their enemy and parted the Red Sea so they could cross safely.

To remember God’s power in your life, start a “Journal of Testimony” to document all the blessings God has done for you in the past and as you live in the present, write down every blessing as it happens – before you forget.

Then when your resolve faith is tested, you can open your “JOT” book and be encouraged that if God helped you before, He will do it again.

• Forgetting about your Purpose in better health: Answer this question – why do you want to lose weight and get healthy?

If you don’t bother to write down your purpose in achieving better health and review it often, then forgetfulness has just defeated your faith. Make your reasons powerful and meaningful for you. You need to see the end of the journey and make your vision so magnetic that you can’t help but be drawn to it. Remind yourself of your vision as often as possible so your faith remains strong.

• Forgetting about the Plan necessary to achieve your purpose

I used to HATE counting anything regarding my eating. I didn’t care if it was counting calories, carbs, fiber, points, whatever. I did not like to count. So thankfully, in my first 8 years on this health journey, I didn’t have to. I reached my ideal size and stay there for several years. As long as I maintained a healthy eating pattern 90% of the time and allowed myself treats in moderation 10% of the time, I was good.

But then something changed.

I found myself gaining weight. My clothes started getting tight and energy level headed south. My diet hadn’t changed much, so what was going on? Then the lightbulb came on – I am getting older. My hormonal balance has changed. I needed make adjustments in my portion sizes. I can’t eat as much as I used to.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I needed to take the step of counting.

I wrote about this in a previous article, but I use an app and website to do this. There have been times when I conveniently want to “forget” to record something I’ve eaten, but I remind myself: “Forgetfulness is the enemy of faith.” So I record because I want to remember to do the things that will help me stay on track.

My pastor often says “A sharp pencil is better than a good memory.”

The reward for my faith is that I am within shouting distance of my regular size. It feels great!

What plan do you need to practice to reach your vision? Whether you use an app or a website or journal or a piece of paper, you need a method to help keep you accountable for remembering to do it.

Don’t let the enemy of forgetfulness rob you of your future vision. Power, Purpose, Plan. Remember, remember, remember!