I am broken. I want to be whole.

This is the cry of every person on earth. Broken hearts. Broken dreams. Broken ideas. Broken homes. Broken people.

It may happen when we are three or seventy-three but we will be broken. It is inevitable.

We try fixing the brokenness with pleasures that fill the physical gap. Sex, drugs, alcohol, working longer hours, making more money, eating whatever we want whenever we want. The list is endless. We fill it with our strength.

We try fixing the brokenness filling our minds with endless thoughts and musings of where we are in the universe. We think lofty thoughts. Or we find relationships to make us feel better.

We try fixing the brokenness with spiritual endeavors, religious pursuits, church, God as we know him, rousing music that meets deep spiritual needs, connecting to our mystique and aura.

And still we are broken.

Because we are still endeavoring to fix our brokenness by ourselves.

Brokenness can only be fixed when we submit, not when we control our outcome.

Loving God with all our heart means to first lay our lives totally in His care, not holding anything back in reserve.

Loving God with all our soul means to allow the Holy Spirit to led our spirit in the care of our emotional and mental needs. To submit our thoughts and feelings to His care. To let Him lead our thoughts and feelings rather than the other way around.

Loving God with all our strength means to use our bodies to serve Him rather than asking Him to serve our bodies.

We are broken people placed on a broken world as a demonstration that wholeness is possible.

Living in wholeness means living in connection with the God of the universe. He is the God as I know Him but He is God regardless of whether or not I know Him.

I believe He can change me. I believe He can change you.

Because I once was broken. Now I am whole.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,” Deuteronomy 6:5, KJV.

Teresa Shields Parker

Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,”  “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,”  “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].