Scripture: Matthew 4:
1-11
As the calendar flips over to a new year, statistics show
that 45% of us make New Year’s Resolutions. Not surprising, the resolution at
the top of most lists is to lose weight. In considering the feeding frenzy that
usually accompanies the holidays, it is also not surprising that our expanding
waistlines and disappearing exercise schedules (if they still existed by
December) are typically the result.
As a consequence, a four-letter “d” word, diet, starts to dominate our thoughts
and conversations. We become vigilant
and almost obsessive about food intake. Our purpose is to ultimately transform
our bodies by cleansing our diets of unhealthy choices and unwanted pounds.
Sadly, this procedure rarely works as statistics show that 95% of all diets
(let’s be real, dieters) fail. While the end result is a good goal, it seems as
though the procedure (let’s be real, the dieter) needs a new focus.
A new year is significant in the spiritual realm as
well. Following the joy and wonder of
Christ’s Birth, believers begin preparing for another significant event,
Christ’s Death and Resurrection, by participating in Lent.
During the Lenten season, believers roll up their sleeves
and perform some spiritual “spring cleaning.” This involves taking spiritual inventory
and cleaning out what hinders his/her personal relationship and service to
Christ. In doing so, some believers will
enter a time of “fasting,” which is a period of self-denial and sacrifice much
like Christ endured during his forty days in the Wilderness. By fasting, or denying him/herself of
something, the believer is reminded not only of Christ’s Sacrifice but also of the
importance of transforming the entire person – body, soul, and spirit – to
become more like Christ.
Like dieting, the intent of Lent is admirable, beneficial,
and necessary (in order for spiritual growth to occur). In order to be
successful in the endeavor, we need to make sure that our focus and hearts are
in the right spot. In other words,
rather than focus on the negative, which includes denial and sacrifice, we need
to focus on the positive, which includes growing closer to our Savior and
allowing Him to transform us into the people He wants us to be.
Romans 12:2 “Do not
conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his
good, pleasing and perfect will.”
In order to be successful in achieving both weight loss this
year and spiritual gain during this Lenten season, here are five tips to
consider:
1. Warm
up. You will accomplish more if you do. Just
as a warm-up protects and prepares the body for exercise, a spiritual warm-up
protects and prepares one for the challenges that a day may bring. Before you
start your day, make sure that you are “warming-up” for it by spending time
with God in prayer and devotions. As you
spend time with Him and His Word, you will increasingly know and understand who
He is. You will learn His true
character, and you will be transformed as a result. This warm-up will prepare your heart and mind
for what is ahead.
Psalm 119: 105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
2.
Schedule
(spiritual) exercise like an appointment. If mornings don’t work for you, then find a
time each day to spend with Him. Just as all healthy, lasting relationships
are built on love and commitment, the same is true of your relationship with
Christ. If your relationship is to grow,
you need to commit to spending regular time with Him.
James 4:8 “Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.”
3.
Quiet
your mind. Stress is major
contributor to weight loss failure. When
under pressure or facing anxiety, many people turn to food for instant comfort. In order to successfully stay on track with
weight loss goals, people need to quiet their minds so that they don’t lose
long-term focus to short-term stressors.
The same is true of the believer. While God loves it that we choose to talk to
Him –through both formal and informal prayers/conversations throughout the day,
He also wants to talk to us. That means
we have to discipline ourselves to become good listeners as well. Quieting our minds allows Him to continue
leading and guiding us in the way(s) in which He wants us to go.
Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you
look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
4. Keep a (food) journal. Many people are not aware just how many
calories they consume in a day. While
they may be quick to point out a healthy choice – say veggies instead of chips
– at lunch, they often “forget” about the handfuls of M&Ms they grabbed
from a co-worker’s candy bowl throughout the day. A food journal is realistic
way to track progress. It also holds one
accountable for his/her choices throughout a day.
Again, this concept applies to a believer as well. Maintain a journal. It can be a prayer journal in which you record prayer concerns and answers to those prayers. It can be a devotional journal in which you record your thoughts about the devotional verses or concepts for the day. It can be a prayer on paper. The point is that you are keeping a physical record of the transformation God is working in your life. While it is a blessing to trace personal progress through your journal, it may also be testimonial tool for the future.
Psalm 145: 4 “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.”
5. Find someone to be your accountability
partner. Statistics have shown that
individuals who work out with a partner have a higher probability of achieving
their personal fitness goals. One is
less likely to blow-off a work-out if someone is waiting for him/her to show
up.
Spiritual support provides accountability as well. You are more likely to stay the course if you know someone will be checking up on you. Choose someone whom you trust to be honest, discreet, and encouraging. As you continue the transformation process and clothe yourself in Christ’s character, you will be able to do the same for your partner.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”
As we enter into the Lenten season and consider Christ’s
40-Day Fast in the Wilderness, it’s important not to focus on the Fast itself,
but the purpose of it. Christ was not
merely “giving up” food; his denial was a part of the process in “giving in,”
or submitting, to His Father. We, too, have the opportunity to “give in” by
submitting the very essence of who we are to Him so that He can transform us
into the person we were created to be.
This Lenten season, don’t just
give up; give in.
