I’m Not Defined by the Numbers

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
(2 CORINTHIANS 10:5)

Thought for the Day: A scale is an excellent tool for determining our weight, but it’s a terrible tool for determining our worth.

I was in an exercise class one day when the gal next to me leaned over and shared concerns about her sister’s increasing weight. I was half listening and half straining to lift my aching legs when she quipped, “I mean, my sister now weighs like 150 pounds!” I didn’t know whether to laugh out loud or keep silent, because the number that horrified her was the exact number I had seen that very morning on my scale!

I found great joy when I realized that my workout buddy’s statement didn’t rattle me. Just a few years ago, it would have. It would have sent me into a tailspin of crash diets and unrealistic expectations.

However, there I was, at peace in the aftermath of her thoughtless comment. I wasn’t yet at my goal weight, but I was in the process of investing wisely in my health and my spiritual growth. I had been diligently filling my mind with God’s truths. These principles now protected me from thoughts of condemnation, jealousy, and defeat. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

When we are familiar with God’s truth, we can challenge any comment with the questions, “Is it true? Is it beneficial? Is it necessary?” If the answer is no, then we don’t open the door of our hearts. We make the choice to walk away from the comment and all the negative thoughts it could harvest if we listened to it.

My classmate’s shock at her sister’s weight wasn’t beneficial to me. Therefore, I didn’t have to internalize her comment, feed on it, and let it crush my identity. I could leave it on the gym floor and walk away because it didn’t belong to me.

Right there in the gym, I desperately wanted to yell out three glorious words: “I am free!” In that moment, I experienced a small victory over an identity disorder I’d battled for a long time. This is what is true (beneficial and necessary): Jesus is the gatekeeper for the thoughts I put in my mind and the identity I allow to sink into my heart.

Lord, I want this truth to sink deeply into my heart and my mind. Help me to remember to process the thoughts and comments of others through the filter of this question: “Is this true, beneficial, and necessary?” In Jesus’ name. Amen.