No. I didn’t fall off the proverbial cliff or get lost on my way to my little Out of Deep Waters world. And…no…I don’t work for the federal government. So, where have I been?

I could almost ask myself the same question, but since I’ve been with me (most of the time, that is), I kinda have an inkling of my whereabouts.

Let me just say this…God’s up to something.

Now – I know He’s ALWAYS up to something. He’s God right? But, He’s up to something new…in ME! Actually, a lot of new.

He’s actually been answering the cries of my heart, in many areas. Things I’ve pleaded over and over with Him about. However, that comes with some difficult territory.

Sometimes He has to allow us to experience a little muddy water before we can receive that purifying cleansing. Oh…friends…I’ve been deep in that muddy water as of late. Much – not of my own choosing – but it’s still all part of the process. I’m thankful, nonetheless, as it’s all part of the refining process of prayerfully allowing me to look more like Him each day.

As Christ draws me closer and closer to Him, the enemy also tends to turn up the heat. I’m used to that. I’ve witnessed a lifetime of it, but it always seems to catch me off guard.

Just as Christ began working on my heart’s desire (my TRUE heart’s desire) to work on my health goals, I faced another crisis. The worst crisis I’ve walked through since losing my late husband to suicide. That’s huge folks! The enemy knows this area of my heart well. He knows that, in the past, whenever I’ve walked through a fire of any kind…I’ve turned to food for comfort. It may not happen right away, but it will happen. Satan also knows that I typically celebrate those victories of surviving those fiery trials with food.

As God has been so faithful in walking me through another journey to optimal health, the darts of temptation to eat my way through this most recent crisis were aimed right at me. Just after my last blog post when I alluded to the “changing Leah” here, the gavel slammed down, and the enemy tried to render his verdict. It went something like this…

Leah, why do you waste such effort to lose weight over and over and over? You know you’ll never reach that goal weight. You keep trying, and yet, you keep failing. You’ve gotten close before, but you give up before you ever reach that “magic number”. So, sit back and just relax. Don’t put forth such effort. Enjoy life. Enjoy food.

He is such a liar! The Father of lies scripture tells us (John 8:44).

And, I refuse to believe the lie anymore.

God promises me…

His strength (Philippians 4:13)

He is a restorer of health (Jeremiah 30:17)

His presence during difficult times (Isaiah 43:2)

A hope-filled future (Jeremiah 29:11)

His protection (Psalm 91:14)

That when I’m weak, He’s very strong (2 Corinthians 12:10)

His saving love (John 3:16)

He wants me to be in good health (3 John 2)

And so much more…

I clung tightly to Abba during this most recent crisis, and while it may not be completely over, I trust Him (not food or anything/anyone else for that matter) to get me through it. I trust Him to deliver me from these “deep waters”.

Through that trusting, He’s been so faithful to me. I’m thrilled to share that as of last Thursday (I weigh in every Thursday), I’ve lost 19 pounds in 4 weeks! The bondage chains have been loosened, and the prison walls are cracking…I can smell freedom!

Be sure to stop by this Friday, and I’ll share my “scale numbers” that I’ll find out this Thursday in addition to what it is I’m doing to lose the weight and reach a state of restored health! See you then!

Before I go…just wanted to share a picture that keeps me motivated. This was me just slightly over 6 years ago. I was in a weight loss journey at that time too and had lost a significant amount of weight. But, I allowed life to derail me, and I never reached my goal weight. This time is different! I refuse to quit!