South Beach, WW, Jenny Craig, Keto, Mediterranean, Low-Carb, Palio — the list of diets are endless. Many of them promise rapid weight loss in just a week or so and say you can eat whatever you want. Is it all about the motivation, the food, the discipline or the special magic formula that you can get along with $200 in free food? We think there’s something else – something big that is missing that none of them talk about. It is a change in attitude, a spiritual approach and a releasing of your appetite to a deeper and lasting freedom. In just one week you can learn and commit to diet weak.
What does it mean to “diet weak”? It’s simply recognizing that you can’t do it on your own, or with a program or even with tons of encouragement from those who support you. You need to really give every aspect of food and eating to God. Sure, that’s easier said than done. In fact, it’s going to be different for everyone. So, don’t expect a single fail-proof solution. Instead, taking one diet week to diet weak is about learning to listen to:
– the basic wisdom of others
– your body
– God
DIET STRONG – DIET WEAK, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
To ‘diet strong’ is to do all the right things but leave God out of the picture. It is the failure-is-not-an-option mentality. It is following the prescribed plan to a “T”. For those struggling that can be lonely and defeating – a state of mind filled with self-hate and an oppressive sense of failure. For those who are achieving their goals it can become pride, intolerance of others, and a perpetual lust for the elusive ‘more’.
To ‘diet weak’ is to have discipline, perseverance, and anticipation balanced with God’s grace – the strength that helps you endure disappointment, face challenges (and celebrate them as gifts from God) and to see all elements of better health as progress that God is giving you (ultimately so that you can be a positive influence of God’s grace in the lives of others).
IN YOUR WEAKNESS HE IS STRONG
Let’s be clear. You don’t need anyone to beat you up about how you should pray harder or trust God more. Many people pray for self-control, guidance from God, the wisdom to make good choices and that his or her body will respond to their good diet efforts. So — they are strong in giving it to God. However, when they don’t see physical results they question, “Where is God? Why doesn’t God hear me?”
To ‘diet weak’ isn’t about the apparent weakness it is about recognizing the subtle strength.
Knowledge is power but it’s not faith. Knowing that God is strong when you are weak isn’t the same as believing it. Listening to God isn’t some mystical secret reserved for only the ultra spiritual. In fact every time you take a pass when someone offers you food that isn’t part of your diet or when you take a moment from your busy schedule to get outside and walk you’re responding to God’s voice. Recognizing that and then letting those beginnings burgeon into more is where you grow in faith.
Post a comment below and share how you listen to God, ‘diet weak’ and gain strength.
MORE RE-IMAGINED
With just one ‘diet week’ you can start to prayerfully identify your personal challenges, learn about solutions, begin some healthy habits that are right for your body, and commit to a lifestyle approach to your diet. Again, that is going to be done differently by everyone. One step we suggest is that you do some sort of a fast.
Josh Hawks, a contributor to Faith & Fitness Magazine says, “Fasting is a great practice that often deepens your relationship with God.” There are so many different types of fasts out there. Find or create one that works for you. The general idea and main focus of a fast is to deny yourself of physical pleasures and thus grow in your relationship with God. The Biblical psychology (so to speak) is that humanity has a natural tendency when apart from God to misuse the natural survival needs of the physical body. So, the spiritual discipline of fasting enables you to personally explore the Biblical truth that while you are free to do anything — not everything is beneficial to do. 1 Corinthians 6: 12: 13
Take a week to fast from what is the usual for you. Begin some thorough research, get help from others, practice paying closer attention to you body (both in how you care for it and how it behaves and responds) and document (so that you can continue to reference) what God speaks to you during your fast.
Here are some selected Faith & Fitness Magazine features to get your reading and research started:
Rewire Your Taste Buds
Wut Fat Cowz Won’t Tell U
Do You Know How To Yo-Yo?
Salt, Sugar And Sitting Around
Our Body Image Problems Are A Belief Issue Not A Body Issue
