The Lifestyle Change

by Debby Craig

This Week’s Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:9a, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”(NIV)

Read the following statements and see if you can guess what specific change is being addressed:

--We have to live it daily or we will fall back into our old ways and habits.

--We have to practice staying focused – but we do!

--We tell all of our loved ones and friends about it, and in a way we are trying to convince them to try it.

--We don't mean to, but we offend some (probably many) with our chatter about it.

--We know it might take months or years to get where we want, but even so we are determined.

Have you guessed? Nowadays we call it our new lifestyle change, not a DIET! Maybe not all of you, but some, have either been the dieter or the dietee (the one listening to the chatter of your loved one or friend about her new “lifestyle change”).

All of the statements above, however, also sound like they could pertain to living for Christ!

There is nothing wrong with dieting and watching what we put into this body of ours. After all, 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought with a price; therefore honor God with your body.”(NIV)

And then when that 350 calorie meal leaves me still famished and wanting more food, I remember the diet verse I found: Lamentations 3:24, “ So I say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait on Him!”(NIV)

Oh, that we would have the same excitement, boldness, and lack of fear when it comes to telling others about Jesus as we have when telling about discovering the “right” diet. He is the ultimate and final lifestyle change. He has the power to change the behaviors and habits in our lives that need fixin’ and He does so on a regular basis. If we are having success with our weight loss, are we giving credit to the new “lifestyle change” we discovered? Or are we giving credit to Whom it belongs?

Dear Heavenly Father, we forget you sometimes. We are so sorry for that. Forgive us, Lord. We know that you are proud of us when we are trying to do what is best for your temple (our bodies) but help us remember where we get our strength during those hard times. Put people in our path that need you and give us another chance to be helpful. We pray for the right words, Dear Lord, when it comes to telling our loved ones and friends how you can fix their bodies and self-esteem with just a whisper and a hug.

Application:
God directs all our steps and our strength comes from Him. The next time we boast about something good going on in our lives or bodies, let’s remember who has control over it and give Him the credit when someone asks “How are you doing it?”

Power Verses:
1 Corinthians 8:8, “But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.” (MSG)
Psalm 18:1, “I love you, Lord; you are my strength. (NLT)