Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Micah 7:8

Since I was a teenager, I have had an enemy that has pursued me relentlessly. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw this enemy staring me back in the face, so I quit looking in the mirror for a season, a very long season. This enemy stole my feelings of self-worth and my joy. Even to this very day, I battle this enemy. And when Satan wants to try to sneak back into my life, he uses this enemy to beat me down and claim defeat.

What is this enemy I battle? It’s my weight and my health. I love to eat. I love anything smothered in cheese or warm and cinnamony with a glass of milk. I’ve never craved a carrot stick and drinking water is next to non-existent in my life. But none of these choices help me defeat my enemy. If anything they add to the defeat and despair I often feel when I look in the mirror.

Although in my eyes this isn’t a God issue and too silly of a thing for me to ask Him to help me with, it is a God issue. Anything that is important to us or causes us pain or stress is important to God. He wants to help us be our best selves even if the issue seems superficial and irrelevant for such a big God.

Most everyone has one (maybe more) issue in his or her life that likes to rear it’s ugly head every once in a while. It’s part of being human. We think we finally have overcome our problem when it sneaks right back into our lives. Satan loves to use my issue to try to pull me away from the goodness of God or condemn me and separate me from God.

What enemy are you facing? Depression, low self-esteem, chronic illness, gambling, or alcohol abuse? All of these are internal enemies that have already been defeated by the blood of Christ. So why do we continue to battle these forces of darkness?

For me, it’s a loss of focus. I become too “me” centered and not enough “Jesus” centered. I forget to quit looking in the mirror at the person I sometimes hate and look at the heart that Jesus lives in and the person He loved enough to die for.

As I embark on the healthy eating journey for what seems like the millionth time, I’ve learned that not only do I have to change my eating habits, but I have to change my focus too. I have to focus on getting healthy so I can do what God has called me to do for Him. I also have to change my attitude about my appearance. That is when God gave me the verse in Micah.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Micah 7:8

Though it shouldn’t be, food and my appearance has become my enemy in my life. The one thing that can spiral me into a pit of darkness on a moments notice and out of the light of the Lord. On the days that I’m struggling or have just completely blown it, I repeat this verse to myself. Except I change the word enemy to what my problem is. Don’t gloat over me, my unhealthy food habits and low self-esteem…

Change enemy to what your problem is:

-Don’t gloat over me, depression…..

-Don’t gloat over me, gambling….

-Don’t gloat over me, alcohol abuse….

Scripture defeats our weaknesses. Praying scripture is even more powerful. God has told us through His word that His word never comes back to Him void (Isaiah 55:10). Every morning to help set the stage for my day, I pray Romans 7:15-20, 24-25, 8:1-2 over myself as a reminder that I can overcome this struggle but have to use the blood of Jesus to help me overcome it.

I know when I’m struggling with something, I sometimes forget to invite God in to help me with my problem. I’ve learned that some things are just impossible to do on my own and in my own strength. However, this time is different. When I struggle, I look into the eyes of Jesus and draw on His strength.

Don’t let your enemy defeat you. Don’t give Satan an “in” to your life and an area that he can beat you up in. Believe me, I know how difficult this is. But we can all do this by taking each day and dedicating our successes to the Lord.

And when you are struggling in the area that you feel the most defeated, repeat Micah 7:8 to yourself:

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Micah 7:8

And just know that I am thinking about you and praying for you to overcome your enemy and to live in the fullness that Jesus provides for us.