Three Deadly Sins (Part 3)

I heard a pastor recently say that in our attempt to correct errors, we sometimes overcorrect and end up in just as an erroneous lane as the one we began in. At the root of them both, is often what the Lord had shed light about me – arrogance. And let me tell you how so in the words He spoke to me, “Whitney, it’s arrogant of you not to ask Me.” So, on the floor that weekend the Lord appointed me to spend specific time with Him (while I was trying to get on everyone else’s calendar), He taught me a lesson I’m sure He’s been seeking to groom in me since I could speak. That to not ask is to presume I know best. It is to think that I’m right about what I think I know to be true.

The journey of God bringing me to repentance had already begun months prior, as He had highlighted the word self-indulgent to me. I had been reading Because He Loves Me by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and was so shocked at the words this woman had written in this chapter (The chapter was called I Will Cleanse You, btw. And yes, yes He will.). I felt compelled to keep re-reading it because I was trying to find me in this laundry list of sins, she had contrasted with the fruit of one who worships God from the thorns produced when one worships idols instead. Looking back at that list, I can see more weeds that have been evident in my life. But the one that leaped off the page that faithful day was self-indulgent. It is characterized by doing what one wants to do, especially for pleasure or idleness. All in that one word was a picture of sister Sodom, a picture of me.

I had already been feeling the conviction concerning my eating habits and the frustration of a body that was uncooperative with the youthful, functionality I was trying to experience in it. I lady I recently encountered had posted on her social media account about a gut health event for women, and it seemed to be a start to the answers I was seeking to make different choices. I had waited until the day prior to RSVP, finally submitting my confirmation to the number provided. No more than seven minutes passed before I received a message through my social media account from a former colleague I hadn’t spoken to in years. And when I read what she had written, I sat there stunned for a moment, contemplating if I was about to walk into the same idolatry I didn’t know I had years prior. And all because I hadn’t asked God.

My colleague was apologetic as she explained that the natural health center she had directed me to go to was actuallya center for witchcraft. She said she had been praying for some time to the Lord about the avenues she’d been seeking concerning her health. And it wasn’t until that week that He began to give her more clarity. One of the things He had shown her was the practices of the center were rooted in something demonic. She said she had been thinking about how to share this with all the people she encouraged to go there at some point or another but hadn’t settled on when and how. That night though she felt strongly impressed by the Lord to reach out and tell me now! I don’t think it was a coincidence that I was back in a similar space. Seeking answers for my health. Thinking I was about to find a solution at this workshop. And she tells me the solution I sought before was spells of witches. My goodness!

It gave me a little bit of pause, and I was grateful I had a day to think about it before deciding if I’d go. I remember checking out the website of the featured speaker to see if I saw any yellow or red flags on the field. Initially, I didn’t. But I also couldn’t see everything. Half of her bio was cut off due to the page formatting on my phone. I let it go and continued to pray that God would grant me peace or not. I remember sitting in the chair the next day as my hair was finishing drying. When I left the shop, it was going to be time to head to the other workshop. Something told me it was important to see that woman’s whole bio though, so I said whatever it took, this formatting wouldn’t stand in the way. I decided I’d just copy the whole page and try pasting it in a blank note on my phone. It worked. And I’m glad it did.

First of all, as I was reading through the site again, I noticed the language that was used. She was saying that by having the right diet and mindset I would have a life of freedom, gratitude, and blessings. Pause. The only thing that provides a life of freedom, gratitude, and blessing is Jesus. One of the things the Lord had been highlighting to me in prayer is that some people can begin to look at food and health as their god. That if I do this regime, then I’ll be able to have this kind of life – a life free of disease and dis-ease. And when I finally saw all the words in her bio and her love for yoga, I knew my attendance was revoked at that moment.

Yoga was something else the Lord had recently brought to my attention through several podcasts (Christians and Yoga and Ex-Witch Tells All). It’s highly marketed and popularized, unfortunately even among many believers. It touts promises on hooks we can’t see for the muddied water. Honestly, if it had not been for the Lord protecting me, I can’t tell you how many times I would have enjoyed myself some yoga with cute baby goats. I spent time that weekend on that floor, repenting not only for idolatry and witchcraft I didn’t know I had become a participant in, but also for my arrogance to not ask my Heavenly Father about all the things that concern me.

If He made me and all things, doesn’t He know best? I think we’ve become so accustomed to reaching for things advertised as our saviors rather than asking the One who actually saved us. And sometimes because that’s the pattern we’ve seen laid out before us. So, if it promises us access, health, connections, peace, resources, freedom, enlightenment, success, and the list could go on, God’s kids are here for it. But He ain’t. God has given us His Spirit, His Word. He’s granted us knowledge and wisdom, yet not for us to operate outside of His. We’re still dependent. In humility, we need to ask God. God, what should I do? God, what do you think about this? God, show me what I can’t see about myself and the things I’ve involved myself in. God, grant me a humble heart to know you know best and to trust your yeses and your nos.