Explore the MORE – DIETside

Drop Your Anchor in the Word: the Why That Matters

The Weight Watchers* theme for June is “Drop an Anchor”. This first week we have explored our “why”. In the context of workshops, we were looking for a single “why”. I shared mine and how it came about – “This Time is Different”. However, my “why” is deeper than that. It is the answer to the question, “Why is this time different?”, that is my true “why”. The answer is found in the Word. As a Christian, my primary anchor is the Word and my relationship with God through Jesus Christ. My ultimate “why” is found only in that context.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

This time is different because my “why” is to glorify God in my body and to eat and drink to the glory of God. When this became the foundation of my weight loss and wellness journey, things changed – I changed. When I got it into my heart and spirit that my body was not just mine, but was bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus Christ – getting healthy became a different mission. Saying “no” to certain things and “yes” to others became a victory in a spiritual battle. I began to position myself in such a way that the fruit of the Spirit could grow – especially self control.

When I looked at this battle with weight through this new lens, things began to come into focus like never before. As I applied the Word, my mind was renewed and transformation occurred. (Romans 12:1-2) It has been slow, but it has been permanent change. Fear of going back to who I was or gaining all of the weight back has been vanquished, because God has walked me through this process – confronting me and convicting me of the sins of gluttony and sloth, all while empowering me to change and assuring me that I’m forgiven. That is the point of the Word!

2 Timothy 3:16 & 17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

God’s grace gives us the freedom to change. He will strengthen and encourage us in our journey, but we must take the steps. It is incumbent on us to respond to the Word and be obedient to it, not for God’s benefit, but for our own. He’s made provision for every need, but we have a part to play. Notice in 2 Timothy 3:17, the last word is “work”. We have work to do! God will not do it for us, but He will prepare us and equip us by His Word!

What would each day look like if you treated your body like it was bought with the blood of Jesus Christ?

How would you need to feed, move and rest your body to glorify God in it?

What would you need to change in regard to your eating and drinking in order to do it to the glory of God?

The answers to these questions, along with anchoring your “why” in Christ and the Word, will change your journey and your life!

*Weight Watchers is a trademark of Weight Watchers International. Weight Watchers does not endorse this site or the opinions expressed here.

Today is the Only Day You Can Live

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

If you are anything like me, you might have a tendency to set goals that are in the distant future. You have an idea of what you would like to have, be or do, but no solid plan to achieve it. Maybe you spend more time thinking about it and talking about it than you spend doing anything about it. Today gets wasted as you hope for tomorrow rather than taking the actions right in front of you.

Before we discuss further, let’s lay down our Trinity of Truth, because…it’s the Word!

1. Today is the only day you can do anything about! Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Jesus is speaking here and commanding us to not have anxiety about tomorrow. We can’t do anything about tomorrow. We can only live today. Earlier in verse 11 of this chapter, as Jesus is modeling how to pray, He says’ “Give us this day our daily bread,” Notice that He only deals with a single day.

2. It’s OK to makes plans for tomorrow, but it’s not guaranteed. James 4:13-15, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

3. God has your next step for today. Have you checked in with Him about it? Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

These Scriptures might be very familiar to you, but have you really heard them? Have you applied them in your health and wellness journey? When was the last time you made the most of today by inviting God into every detail?

At various points in my life, I wasted today trying to re-live yesterday or simply hoping for tomorrow. The problem is that we can’t live yesterday or tomorrow. We can only live right now – TODAY. We can hope for tomorrow and dream for tomorrow, but the steps that will fulfill those hopes and dreams must be taken today, otherwise we will find ourselves paralyzed and stuck.

I wear an Apple Watch and a FitBit, which both track my physical steps each day. There has never been a day in which I took no steps. However, if I had a FaithBit that tracked my steps of faith, my steps in obedience to the Word, my steps in the race that God has set before me…sadly, there are days that my feet have been idle in doubt, fear, unforgiveness, depression, weariness, guilt, shame and countless other weights. Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

The good news is that God has provided everything that we need for today! He is strength in our weakness. He supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory. He has ordered our steps! He gave us His Word to equip us, encourage us and direct us. When we hear His Word, faith comes! He gave us His Spirit, and the fruit of His Spirit includes self control!

Every aspect of our lives, including our weight-loss and wellness journey, is lived out in the actions/steps we take today. What will you do TODAY to live like the person you want to be? What is your first step?

What’s Your Pattern?

As WW members, we have been challenged to pay attention to our eating patterns to determine if they are satisfying and sustainable. We try to establish whether they are nourishing as well. How much more so should we pay attention to our spiritual eating patterns!

After many years of study, it has been made evident to me that there are always spiritual parallels to things in the natural, physical world. Jesus spoke in parables for a reason! Creation reflects the Creator. Natural principles reflect the spiritual. In the area of food and wellness, this is especially true.

Before we dig deeper, lets look at our Trinity of Truth for this topic, because…it’s the Word!

1. We must feed both the physical and the spiritual. In Matthew 4:4, Satan is trying to tempt Jesus with food, because He was hungry and had been fasting for 40 days,“But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” His Word is our spiritual food.

2. Jesus is the Word made flesh and the bread of life, John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 6:35 –“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

3. In order to really thrive, we need to hunger and thirst for the right things. Matthew 5:6 –“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

In our journey for physical health and wellness, what we eat is what we become. Every cell is built and nourished by the proteins, fats and other nutrients derived from the foods we eat. Everything we take into our bodies has some sort of impact for the better or for the worse. It is the same from a spiritual standpoint. What we take into our mind and spirit determines who we become. Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” What we feed on, by putting it into our minds, matters. Our food is supposed to be the Word, which renews our minds and brings transformation! 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” It is through abiding in the Word, feeding on it, that we come to taste of God’s goodness! Psalm 34:8, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

In John 6, where Jesus declares himself the bread of life, He had just done one of several miracles with food. Food is important! It is required to sustain life. We tend to seek food and incorporate it into each and every day, most of us more than just once. We think about food – a lot! We spend time and money on food. We share food with others as part of our interaction with them. Do we have the same pattern when it comes to the Word, which is our spiritual food? Do we even have the same level of passion and importance when it comes to our spiritual nourishment? What is your pattern of feeding on the Word? Is it enough to thrive, or are you barely sustained by bits and bytes sprinkled on your social media feed or in a daily devotional that barely gets used? Do you feed yourself, or do you rely on others to feed you? Do you nourish your spirit daily? What is your spiritual eating pattern?

I encourage you to feast on the Word this week and see what happens!

Shift How You Think About Perfection

Recently, the WW technique was, “Shift Perfectionistic Thinking”. The idea was that we don’t expect others to be perfect, so we should not expect perfection from ourselves. We allow others to have flaws, failures and shortcomings without thinking less of them, so why not give ourselves that same grace?

We were challenged to identify someone whom we admire, whether a relative, friend, famous person or even a fictional character. We talked about the traits that we admired about that person and then were asked to find three traits we share in common with that person. Then, we talked about how we could leverage those traits to overcome obstacles in our journey.

It was really a fantastic technique. I realized that I possess many of the same traits as those I see conquer things that have been difficult for me. I apply them to some areas of my life, but they haven’t transitioned into other areas where I might use them.

All of that is great, but we know there is MORE! Let’s shift our thinking even further by looking at how the Word defines perfection. It’s not about being without weaknesses or shortcomings, it’s about being complete and not lacking – wholeness, really. Before we talk about that, lets look at our Trinity of Truth because…it’s the Word!

1. Wanting to be perfect is not a bad thing. It is actually Biblical, but we need to understand what the perfection is and how it is achieved. James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

2. Looking to Jesus, the Word, as the One who perfects us, takes the pressure off of us to perform. We move toward Him and He does the heavy lifting. We don’t need to carry the weight of anything, especially not sin. Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

3. The Word is key. God’s love is perfected in us as we keep His word. We are called to walk in a place of perfection. We do that by imitating Christ. He is perfect. God is perfect and we are made in his likeness and image. We were reborn into perfection when we received Christ. We are in Christ! 1 John 2:4-6, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Seeking perfection is totally appropriate for a believer, when we understand what perfection is, how it is obtained and what it’s purpose is. We are called to seek His perfect will for our lives and Paul assures us in Romans 12:2 that God’s perfect will is knowable, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Biblical perfection is not about our performance, it’s about our relationship with Christ and response to God, His love, His word, and the resulting faith, which then produces results in our lives and makes us useful in ministering to others. From a spiritual standpoint, when we talk about shifting perfectionistic thinking, it is likely a need to shift to perfectionistic thinking. When we have an understanding of who Christ is, who we are in Christ, and who He wants to transform us to be, there is revelation of perfection as a result of what Jesus did for us! We are blood bought for perfection!

Hebrews 10:12-14, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

We ARE perfected for all time – made whole, complete and lacking nothing – in Jesus Christ.

Do You Need to Change Your Eating Routine?

This week, WW continued talking about change. This time in relation to our food – what we’re eating, how we prepare it, cooking method, adding spices, etc. They called it, “Switching Up Your Eating Routine”. The idea is to change things up so that we don’t get bored or stuck, and don’t give up. I thought of some other things we can change in relation to food – quantity, frequency and even environment when we are eating. There is really a lot to explore in that area. I hope you do give that some thought, but we are here to Explore the More, to take things to God’s Word. It is so easy to do that with this topic!

Before we jump into the deep end, you know what I’m going to do…share our Trinity of Truth, because…it’s the Word!

1. We were designed to feed on God’s Word. It is what nourishes and sustains us spiritually. (Matthew 4:4, Isaiah 55:2) It also affects us in the natural. (Proverbs 4:13, 20-22) Faith comes from hearing the Word. (Romans 10:17)

Matthew 4:4, But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Isaiah 55:2, “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.”

Proverbs 4:13 “Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.”

Proverbs 4:20-22, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body”

Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. If you are confused about direction in eating, health, wellness, or any area of your life, the Word of God has your correction and direction. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (Hebrews 4:12)

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two- edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

3. Doing God’s will is spiritual food. (John 4:31- 34) We find His will in His Word. (Psalm 119:105)

John 4:31- 34, “Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Now that we have establish the Word about the Word, let’s talk about how we can switch up our spiritual eating routine. For some, that might mean picking up the Word for the first time. For others it will mean moving from milk to meat. It has been my experience that many people try to survive on what they get spoon fed to them one day each week, if that. In the natural, missing a meal might have us anxious and in fear that we might get too hungry, but in the spiritual, we will starve ourselves on a regular basis and wonder why we feel weak, confused and defeated.

Whatever we put into our mind has an effect on our spirit. What are you feeding on? What are you reading, listening to, watching? Is there any nourishment, or is it all junk? Are you edified and encouraged? If you are spending sufficient time in the Word, what are the conditions? Does it have your full attention? Are you always focusing on the same passages because some parts seem too difficult or confusing?

In our culture, “Word snacks” can be found all over Facebook feeds, Instagram and Twitter. Many of us get the verse of the day delivered right to our phones. These tiny bits of the Word are not bad, but they are not enough to keep you healthy or to make you grow.

How do you need to change your spiritual eating routine?

Do you need to begin abiding in the Word?

Do you need to change what you’re consuming by reading new parts of the Word?

Do you need to increase the quantity and frequency?

For lasting transformation, we need what is described in Romans 12:1-2. The renewing of our minds occurs by feeding on the Word. Don’t give anyone else’s words more weight than His. Don’t just take someone else’s word about what the Word says. Dig in and chew on it yourself. Be nourished by it daily and watch for how you begin to think differently and act differently – not through effort, but through relationship that is built as you know God MORE.

The True Gap Between Intention and Action

June 2021, Week 2 – Goals to Bridge the Gap Between Intention and Action

This week, the WW technique focused on setting goals that will bridge the gap between intention and action. There is so much in the Word about this that I barely know where to begin. Before we really dive into it, I’m going to present you with this week’s Trinity of Truth, because…it’s the WORD!!

1. There is a definite spiritual component in the battle of intentions. Just look at Paul’s dilemma in Romans 7:15-25! It is our sin nature that creates the gap.

2. Our ultimate goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection, the prize of eternity with Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14)

3. Walking in the Spirit is how we achieve the goal and span the spiritual gap, between intention and action. (Romans 8:1-11) The Holy Spirit produces the fruit we need to put action to intention. (Galatians 5:16-25)

Please read through each of these passages slowly and prayerfully, asking God for understanding and revelation. Think on them. Without them, nothing I write matters.

Romans 7:15-25, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Philippians 3:10-21, “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.”

Romans 8:1-11, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Galatians 5:16-25, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

We can all relate to the dilemma that Paul described in Romans 7. We all battle with the sinful nature. This is why it is imperative to bring God and His word into our battle with overeating and weight. We don’t like to think of it in these terms, but it really is the sin nature at work. In the context of WW the two sins we are battling most, perhaps, are gluttony and idolatry. That’s actually good news though, because God already dealt with sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He sent us His Spirit to live in us and to lead us. When we keep our mind on the things of the Spirit, we have the power to overcome the flesh. Very simply put, that means abiding in the Word and learning spiritual principles; spending time in prayer and stillness with God so that you can hear; and actively thinking about how these principles in the Word apply to the things you do every day. Most days I pray based on Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to search my heart and show me anything that is a problem. I also pray that every thought, attitude word and action will glorify Him. I have come to understand that if those things glorify Him, they benefit me. That’s when I am walking in the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit is produced. No amount of self help can manufacture what only the Holy Spirit can produce. Everything else is a temporary counterfeit that requires constant striving.

So what does this actually look like in practical application? Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Christianity is not intended to be a transactional encounter involving a prayer and a list of requirements, it is a transformational encounter that brings us into relationship with our Creator, who then reveals how to live fully and abundantly by His Word. Every guideline and boundary is for our benefit and the benefits are amazing! When you are grocery shopping, eating out, or just looking for a snack at 10:00 PM, invite God into it. Contemplate if you are bringing your intentions to action in a way that glorifies Him. We apply our faith to the gap between intention and action. We keep in mind the ultimate goal. This helps immeasurably in meeting our health and wellness goals. They pale in comparison. In the proper perspective, those goals can become joyful challenges as we seek to glorify God in our choices. Exercising to lose weight is a decent goal, but moving and strengthening our bodies because we are thankful to God for bodies that CAN move and CAN be strong is a whole other level. Eating to lose weight can motivate us for a while, but eating to give glory to the One who made us and gave us every good thing, changes the game. Doing those things because we want to show Him thankfulness and honor Him is what brings peace in the journey. It’s all about the relationship and who God truly is to you. Is He real to you? Is He part of this journey? How are you going to let Him into it MORE?

Our Change Identity is in Christ

This past week at WW, the technique was about Change Identity. We will be finding out MORE about our change identity from a Biblical standpoint. Simply put, true, enduring change is a result of being transformed by the renewing of our minds, in Christ, the Word. Real change is brought about through understanding our identity in Christ. He, is our change identity! Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

There is a lot to talk about when it comes to change. We usually think of change as something difficult that we attain through much striving and human effort, but this verse indicates that there is a better way – God’s way – which is accomplished by Him changing the way we think. When that happens, this passage says that you will know God’s will and that it is “pleasing and perfect”. We must commit our bodies to God in this process, which He helps us to do, by His mercy. Doing so is actually worship. One amazing thing about God is that He never asks us to do anything that He doesn’t make provision for us to do. He always helps us to accomplish it, and the things He asks are for our benefit. If we look at the steps in those two verses, we can see a cooperative fellowship that is mutually edifying.

– It all begins with God’s mercies – His compassion toward us – to help us begin the process.

– We present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Seems reasonable, since He created them, and redeemed them. They are already His twice over! He’s the one who made them holy and acceptable! We don’t have the ability to do that. It is only by His power.

– In acknowledging that our bodies belong to Him, through what Jesus did, we are worshiping God.

– We refuse to be conformed to the world.

– We renew our minds and are transformed. It’s not explicitly stated here, but mind renewal occurs in response to abiding in the Word. God’s Word changes our minds through His power versus our struggle.

In WW’s dealing of this topic of “change identity”, we are offered a cognitive behavioral change approach, we are told to identify how we view change itself. Do we embrace it or resist it? Do we feel capable or incapable? There is truth in this approach, which simply put is, “change your thoughts, change your behavior”. However, it is lacking the proper foundation of God’s absolute Truth about how we change, and what we are to think. The focus is on us striving, versus resting in Him. We are to abide in His Word, which says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 Believing God on this single thing can change everything. If we believe that our answers lie in Him and in His Word, then we will seek there, and apply what it says. We all have the strength we need for change – in Christ!

In the past, change felt like a burden to me – especially in regard to my health, eating and activity. I was weary of fighting, and losing, the same battles over and over again. Matthew 11:28-30, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus did not put qualifiers in that invitation to “come”. It does not matter what has us weary or burdened, the promise Jesus gives us is rest – when we come to Him and take His easy yoke and light burden! If you are tired and burdened all the time in this journey, then you have not fully come to Jesus in the journey. Together, we are going to do just that. When our change is in Christ and through Christ, it can actually be an easy and joyful process!

Man’s way says to focus on the behavior that you want to change; change how you think about it, and eventually, through much effort you can change you. God’s way says to focus on the One who changes everything, abide in His Word, and allow Him to produce a harvest of transformation in your life! Cooperating with God and His plan sounds far preferable to constantly battling our flesh.

Ephesians 4:21-24, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Ephesians 3:14-20, “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.“

Colossians 1:6, “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.”

True transformation is a work of God in us, by His Spirit and His Word. It happens as we come to Him, trust Him and experience His love. It happens when we receive His word as the seed that it is to bring forth the fruit of change in our lives. Take a look at the promises, just in these two passages, of what results from trusting Christ.

– Your roots grow down into God’s love to keep you strong!

– You experience His love.

– You are made COMPLETE with all the FULLNESS of LIFE and POWER that comes from God!

– His mighty power works in us to accomplish INFINITELY MORE than we might ask or think!

– The Good News bears fruit by changing lives!

There is so much MORE to discuss, but I am going to stop here for today. Here are some questions to ponder, considering just the few passages of Scripture that I have shared.

(1) What does the Word say about change? Who does the changing and how?

(2) Often part of this journey is feeling defeated, helpless and weak, but what does God’s Word say?

(3) What are your thoughts on “change identity” in light of the Word?

(4) Can you think of other Scriptures that apply?

Everyone is going to be at a different place in the knowledge and understanding of the Bible, but the process for abiding in the Word is the same for all of us. We need to be in it daily. Become more and more familiar with it and watch for how it will change you.