Leadership Tips & Training Dedicated to Success

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16

Our society seems obsessed with fitness or at least the appearance of fitness. Why on earth would I say that when a large segment of the nation’s population is obese? Well, it’s because of the reported billions of dollars spent each year on diet pills, diet foods, fitness clubs and surgeries to help people with their fight against the “battle of the bulge.”  Many of us have a desire to be fit but aren’t always willing to do what it takes to achieve our desired outcome. 

The problem is the gap between our beliefs and our behavior. We know what is right, but we don’t do it.  James said, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). I had to recognize my abusive eating for what it was--sin. I had to bring my beliefs and behavior together. For me, the first step was to dedicate my body to God.  No more playing the games of, “Well, this one bite won’t hurt” or “I’ll buy this treat for the kids, but I won’t touch it.” I had to finish with all that. I had to learn to honor God with my body.

Bringing the Holy Spirit Into It
Dedication is one of the most important aspects in the challenge to losing weight and living healthy.  I truly believe we must dedicate our bodies to God if we are ever going to have a Bod4God.  I continually refer to the scripture Galatians 5:16, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  I had to bring the Holy Spirit into my life when it came to eating and exercise. I had to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me in my choices of food.  I had to ask Him to strengthen me when it came to exercise.

Flesh is Weak
The Bible says that the “flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). My flesh is particularly weak when it comes to eating and exercising. As I mentioned earlier, the Bible also says if you walk in the Spirit you won’t fulfill the lust of your flesh. That simply means that you will allow God’s Holy Spirit to control you and your intense desires for something.  In all practicality, how does this work? Well, I had to learn to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and allow it to prompt me to make good choices for my body--what I ate and the amount I ate. If I truly wanted to live healthy, I could no longer stuff whatever I craved into my mouth with wild abandon. I had to stop and think about what I was about to eat.

Most of us look for the easy way out – pills, fad diets, etc.  Yet we know to be successful, desire alone is not enough. We must set goals and then be dedicated in our efforts to reach the goal. This is especially true in the matter of weight loss. There is no magic pill or piece of exercise equipment that will perform the task.  Hard work, some sacrifice and dedication is the requirement. 
  
Steve Reynolds
Steve is the Senior Pastor of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, VA.  He is also the author of the book Bod4God and the creator of the Losing to Live Weight Loss Competition.  Steve has lost over 100 pounds and has led his church to lose over 4 tons of weight.