
While doing a partial fast with two friends, praying for forty days, I discovered that in the food deprivation, I was actually gaining weight. I had to question my motives. I told myself this was an unselfish pursuit to focus more on God. But a fringe benefit (weight loss perhaps?) would compensate me for my suffering. I didn't expect to gain weight! I had to come to terms, resolving to accept the "sacrifice" of weight gain if that was the consequence, because my first priority should be my relationship with God, not with my scale.
I did end up blessed after all. The above verse really hit home. All things have been added unto me even a fit and healthy body. And not by my striving, not through diets, but by God's provision. It's awesome.
For 38 years, I was a willful, self-powered, self-made woman who could do it all... And yet life was still missing something. At a pivotal point, I realized I needed God's holy spirit to truly be satisfied. It was the one thing I just couldn't seem to manifest on my own. I had to receive it as a gift; and receiving was something I wasn't in the habit of doing... I thank God for His wonderful gift of eternal life, given to those of us who choose to believe in Jesus Christ, God's son. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3 NIV) When we let the old pass away, new life can come forth.
It is indeed a blessing to have higher purposes in life. The hope of sharing God's love with others brings true meaning; seeing God's love received brings true joy. Exodus 3:8 reminds us: We come from a land of strife and adversity, but we can enter a land of God's promises, a land flowing with milk and honey.