Lord's Table Testimony: Rick Streu

While I have been a believer for quite some time, I have had an ongoing struggle with my weight. I have tried on several occasions to lose weight with some success for a time, only to regain the weight I lost and more. I made many excuses for it over the years; I had a slow metabolism, I liked food, I was big-boned, some sins are more obvious than others, etc., but in my heart I was suffering greatly. This course helped me to see what it really was, sin. Overeating, like all sin, takes a hold of us and gradually day by day claims more of us until we are controlled by it. This was my condition as I approached this course.

Through the daily studies, I began to really see the results of this sin of overeating. I was forced to see the many scriptures that showed me that remaining in this sin (or any other) was open rebellion against God. How could I claim to be a Christian and be in open rebellion? My mentor and the course helped me to see the need to repent of this sin and to turn from it and turn to Christ.

Here is where I have found my answer, in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to restore us to God, to redeem us. This redemption is more than just a one time event. He doesn't redeem just our soul, but every part of us, every aspect of our lives.

While I gave Him my life many years ago, I am finding that I must do so every day. My sins, including overeating, have caused me to no longer trust myself or to find strength in myself. My strength and my hope is in the Lord. I am amazed at how things have changed. Overeating was so much a part of my life I never even realized it. Now if I eat too much for a day or even a meal, I immediately see it and repent of if. I am enjoying exercise and activity more each day. More importantly I am enjoying a closer walk with God because He is dealing with my overeating. The separation that it caused is being removed day by day. I cannot say that I am free from overeating at this point, I have much weight yet to lose (starting weight 290, current weight 235). Yet, I can say that I am being made free and most importantly each day is, indeed, a new day in Christ. My hope is in the Lord, not in myself. I pray that He is indeed working in my life, but I rejoice that the journey has begun and I know that He will see it to the end. The victory will come and in it I will praise His name, because He is doing what I could not.

Hopeful (Rick Streu)