Jesus said it this way, “”If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]” (Luke 9:23, AMP).
Free Fall
That, my friends, is the definition of free-falling. We don’t know the outcome, but we trust at the end everything will be all right. The parachute will deploy. There will be a net to catch us. We will land without injury. And if not, we trust God for the results.
We have to be willing to give all to Jesus. We have to be willing to put ourselves on the line. Truth is, if we are not physically fit to some degree, we will not be able to do that.
Weighing 430 pounds, I was also selfish in that I couldn’t answer God’s call to do much of anything. If it required any physical stamina at all, I was sunk. I volunteered for other things because if I didn’t feel good physically that day, I didn’t have to do it.
If we allow God, though, He will help us on this journey. He will help present your whole spirit, soul and body as blameless on that day when Christ comes. “Faithful is He who call you, who also will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).
Wake Up Call
I know this change doesn’t happen without our participation, without it becoming an all-consuming desire in our lives. At some point in time, we have to decide if we want Jesus more than we want a cookie. It really boils down to that simple choice.
Free will is an awesome concept because it puts the ball in our court. No longer can we blame God for our shortcomings. He has given us everything we need for life, and He wants us to live this life full to overflowing with abundance (John 10:10).
We all need a wake-up call. I had several on my journey. You can read about them in my memoir, Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor. The major one for me came when I was told by a cardiac surgeon I only had five years to live. That was 18 years ago.
It took some time, but with God’s help I turned my life around and lost 260 pounds, Today, I live my life helping others turn theirs around as well.
Your Choice
I love coaching people through their weight loss journey and discovery of what they were created by God to do. I’ve learned, though, I can’t be another person’s wanter. They have to get their own.
They have to want to go on this journey. I can’t make them. However, if a person is wants the journey, desires the journey more than anything else, I can help them get there.
Maybe that’s you. Maybe you are finally at the point where you desire this healthy living journey more than anything else. If that’s you, I’m willing to work with you. I can help you achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of, because I know a God who is a giver of dreams greater than you can imagine (Eph. 3:20).
Teresa Shields Parker is a wife, mother, business owner, life group leader, speaker and author of Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor and Sweet Grace Study Guide: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Overcome Sugar Addiction and Sweet Freedom. Get a free chapter of her memoir on her blog at Teresa Shields Parker.com. Connect with her there or on her Facebook page or Twitter.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett