Diet is Die with a T

It was a PayDay bar at the checkout and it was taunting me. I could almost hear it saying, "You know you want me."

I'm on a diet. This was war.

No way was I going to buy that PayDay bar. However, it was interesting that it was my favorite candy bar had been carefully placed at eye level at the exact checkstand where I was unloading my groceries. Not only was it right there, but I thought I might even pick it up and place it back where it belonged in the candy boxes below.

But, as I scanned the boxes below, I came to realize that there was no PayDay box on this aisle. I stared at the bar, in its clean white wrapper, and narrowed my eyes to a slit -- my best Clint Eastwood look. It was mocking me and just daring me to take it.

"Ha!" I thought. "I'll never touch you!" And I began placing my items on the counter, purposefully ignoring it.

It's said that diet is "die with a T." This is so true. Everytime you deal with something like that PayDay, you are putting a small piece of yourself to death. Diets are war -- the spirit and the flesh.

Now, I'm not going to tell you what kind of diet I'm following and what how I'm losing all that weight. You see, that's not the point. I can tell you that it involves reducing my calories and increasing my physical activity. Sound exciting yet?

Really though, I specifically wanted to focus on the struggle to lose the weight that I've carried my entire life. Those extra pounds have become the proverbial "thorn in my side." (and every where else for that matter!) You see, losing weight is more than just joining in a program or changing your behavior. It's about inner change. You can go up and down with your weight -- just as I have--your whole life without really accomplishing anything.

This time my diet is flowing from a change in my heart. I'm forgiven, accepted, and even beautiful in the eyes of my Creator. And yes, His opinion is the only one that counts. It's that feeling of twirling in a new dress and getting that smile of approval from the one that matters most. When you feel beautiful like that, any sacrifice becomes a joy.

I did leave the lonely PayDay bar on the shelf. It was even pretty painless because I was more concerned about becoming healthy. My thoughts were focused on how I could bring delight to the Master rather than having a quick sugar fix that would leave my body full of unneeded sugar and my heart full of woe.

The Bible addresses this same thing in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 1 and 2.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Emphasis mine.)

It was for the joy of pleasing the Father that Jesus endured the cross and every thing that went with it. It was the joy of wanting to please God that kept me from taking that bar. Even though it was conveniently placed right in front of me, it really held no allure for me. No food could ever compare to the love God has for me.

That's the war. That's the struggle. It's real and many of us are dealing with it. How about you? Are you on a diet? If so, how are you doing in your struggle?