My weakness, God's Opportunity by Laura Monica

Welcome guest blogger Laura Monica of WholyFit.

Our adequacy does not come from ourselves, or from men, but from God. God's power and perfection is shown in our weakness.

First let's get to know each other. I'm not some hardbody exercise freak, in fact the contrary is true. I am coming to you from a background of Epstein Barre chronic illness, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, food allergies, and clinical depression. God raised me up to teach WholyFit because of my many weaknesses, not my strengths. I want to encourage you that if I can become fit and healthy so can you. Of course it will take the miraculous intervention of the Lord but that's what WholyFit is all about: wholeness, holiness and fitness in Jesus Christ. Let the adventure begin!

From Floor Pounder to Body bender

"Asthma? I can't have asthma! You don't understand. I'm an aerobics instructor. I work out 3 hours a day," I said. My doctor simply had to be wrong but my pleadings did not make her repent of her diagnosis. I wanted to believe the paramedics who had diagnosed me with "panic attacks" for a year. At least that was less permanent. She explained that my fit condition was apparently not enough to protect me from the smog of Los Angeles and its devastating effects on my body. Furthermore, there seemed to be nothing anyone could do to cure the cascade of crippling diseases that had taken up residence within.

Though only 30 something, I gave up in defeat when the immune-related issues like asthma and reactive arthritis had stolen my fitness and forced me to quit teaching the group exercise classes that were such an important part of my life. The simplest tasks now were challenging. I couldn't raise my arm high enough to brush my hair due to joint damage in the shoulder from the rheumatoid arthritis attacks that had "eaten" some of the connective tissue, and walking down the stairs was precarious when my hips were frozen with joint pain.

I was a sick, overweight, discouraged woman. Walking down the hall of my new church, I glanced at my choir member ID picture on the wall. Gasping in disbelief at the picture of a worn, prematurely aged woman with chipmunk cheeks, I thought, "No. That's not me!" My identity had been firebombed. I was not the same person who had once competed in the Crystal Lite Aerobic Nationals.

God's Word became my only hope and comfort. I read, "Is there anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick..." The words came alive to me and suddenly I believed that they were true - for me- RIGHT NOW.

The following Sunday at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, my mouth literally dropped wide open when from the pulpit, Pastor Bryant said, "You know we don't normally do this, but I have felt impressed by the Holy Sprit to hold a healing service Sunday night." (Why is it we are so surprised when God answers our prayers?)

When I went up for healing prayer, the Pastor said something I'll never forget. He said, "If you get well, I want you to understand that it had nothing to do with me. Jesus is the One who does the healing." Then he laid hands on me, anointed me with oil and prayed a simple prayer.

Jesus Does the Healing

From that night on, I underwent a process of gradual supernatural healing until I was well enough to start teaching fitness classes at that very church, sharing my story freely with the participants. Although I didn't realize it at the time, chronic illness was the training that God used to reveal a mission He had planned for me: to administer His healing through exercise and prayer. This was the beginnings of WholyFit.

In Jesus
Laura Monica
WholyFit, Health Fitness Specialist, American College of Sports Medicine
wholyfit@live.com