There is nothing worse (or better) than a weight loss diet. A diet of this kind is a terrible way of losing weight. Why can’t we shed the pounds just by watching TV or sleeping? Why must we push away all the delicious foods that God has provided for us?
On one hand, there are many people (like my mother) that are able to eat whatever they please and never get fatter. This is just not fair! Some say that it is the result of their active metabolism, but the only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than we need or to burn those calories through exercise.
A good, well balanced and healthy diet and exercise is what we need to follow, if we want to have healthy bodies and a better shape. It takes a lot of discipline and self control to maintain this regimen. The key to change the way we eat, move and look is to change the way we think and live. Fad diets come and go, but a disciplined and healthy lifestyle will bring permanent results.
The same is true for our spiritual life in Christ. Millions of believers are out of shape simply because they don’t eat right (feed on the Word of God) or exercise (walk with God). Some of them jump into the latest Christian fad or trend, in hopes of revitalizing their sagging spiritual life. They read the latest how-to books that promise:
“7 steps to…”
“40 days with…”
Or they attend the latest conference, Christian concert, summer camp or revival meeting in order to get closer to Jesus. The problem is that the results don’t last very long and they soon return to a life of apathy and mediocrity.
The only way to have a fruitful and victorious Christian life is to be on a “Die It” plan. The Bible teaches that the followers of Christ must die to sin, to the world and to their former (and sinful) way of life. If you follow this plan, along with a daily walk with God, you will be in the best spiritual shape of your life.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:11-14)
There you have it! To lose weight, we need a Diet and to get rid of worldliness, we need a Die It.
- G.
