Squeezing into a pair of blue jean capris pants, I yanked the zipper shut. Do I have the correct size? I double checked the store tag hanging from the waist band. Yep! And I thought all my clothes had mysteriously shrunk.
Vanity refused to purchase a larger pant size. I left the store empty-handed. Perhaps a hot green tea latte with whole milk and a raspberry scone will make me feel better. It didn’t.
I returned home determined to battle the bulge. For three weeks, I counted calories, weighed my food portions, and exercised. And each week, I stepped on the scale with the same results. Nothing! The only thing I lost was patience.
On the fourth week, the needle on the bathroom scale inched backwards by two numbers (which shall remain anonymous). Victory at last! Just keep on keeping on….
If self-discipline marks the road to a successful diet, then perseverance is my battle cry. Not unlike my Christian walk.
“Enter by the narrow gate….Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Oswald Chambers wrote, “If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and ‘it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13). But we have to ‘work out’ that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12).”
Chambers says there’s no room for “pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life.”
No joke! Some days losing weight seems like a piece of cake compared to discipleship. Lord, do you really expect me to love my neighbor as myself? Is it really more blessed to give than receive?
No one said following Jesus is easy. But Heaven forbid my Christian faith fluctuates like my weight. By His grace, I want to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
And that is a goal that lines up with God’s will and is worthy of my best effort.
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Even In This 
I had to smile when I pictured you trying on those jeans…only because I’ve had that same experience TOO many times! And those numbers on the scale seem to refuse to budge to the left… I’m so quick to let this either make or break my day. I’ve learned over the years that God’s love for me isn’t determined by those numbers. He loves me unconditionally, always, forever, and ever, and ever! And when I get to heaven, I am absolutely, 100% sure, there will be NO scales!!! So glad we’ll get to celebrate eternity together 🙂
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Enjoyed this post. I could picture you with the jeans. Lol! I feel as though I have not been exerting the discipline “to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life.” No time like the present to begin. 🙂
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Like our weight, there are lean and fat seasons of life. And the Lord restores the years of the locusts too!
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Thanks, Karen, I’m glad you like it! I get your blog in my WordPress reader and am always happy when I see you’ve posted again. You always have good things to say, plus I like your blog set-up. I check gardening books out of the library just for fun sometimes, so I like the beautiful area you’re sitting in front of at the top of the page!
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Even in our best effort we fall hopelessly short. Our only hope is as we apply Romans 12:1&2 I find this to be the greater challenge. Keeping with your analogy………………..a lifestyle change of eating habits, as opposed to a “diet”.
Food for thought 🙂 thanks for shareing
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How true S.J. It’s only Christ blood that makes us righteous. Our best efforts can’t atone for our sins. But the discipline of changing our daily lifestyle to include Bible meditation and prayer must be a priority.
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This is interesting, Karen! Character growth is a lot like being on a diet. We keep persevering with God in His Word and sometimes we’re growing like crazy, but other times it seems like nothing is happening – we can focus on all those faults but it doesn’t do much good. Far better to just keep persevering in His Word, trusting in the process. I love all the Bible verses you used in your post.
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Thank you for responding! Last week I found your blog and have found it very beneficial. If anyone is reading this comment, I highly recommend you read Barb’s blog. Especially if you struggle with weight! Blessings to you!
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