Papa

I struggle with food so much.  Eating is on my mind 90% of the time.  I was just crying out to the Lord over this again.  I am grateful for the words He spoke to me a few weeks ago, yet I still struggle, still fail.  Today He brought me back to the women with the issue of blood in Mark 5, and Luke 8.

In "Set Apart",  her story was retold in such a way, I could really feel her shame, her feelings of rejections, her hurt over being ostracized by a society more concerned with rituals than people.  She was an outcast to everyone.  Everyone, that is except God.  He was her Father, her Daddy, her Papa.  The one who was on her side, her protector, her benefactor, someone who saw her as the apple of His eye.  And He had a plan for her healing.

In this story I saw my own struggle. My own feelings of worthlessness and shame in the face of my failure to overcome my addictive nature.  I'm a Christian after all!!!  Why should I be defeated in this!!  Yet I am.  Again and again.

In this story, I also saw a Father who was on the side of His child.  A Papa who rushed in to help.  Who stopped a crowd of people moving to see an "important" man's daughter healed, in order to care for an outcast.

As I contemplated this story (that contemplative prayer again), I heard in my head "It is finished".  My Papa has a plan for my healing.  He has visited me with healing in this area.  I will no longer be held captive, bound to an addictive past, present or future.  It is finished.  I know I will have to stand in His power, and I believe I will have to walk this out before the craving and calling of excessive eating leaves for good.  But it's over.  My Father is here.

Thank You Papa, for Your deliverance.  For coming in and making a way of freedom in Jesus for all of us.  Help us to learn to live in this freedom and rejoice in our relationship with You.