Why Ditch the Flab?
December 31, 2008
What’s the big deal about munching on your favorite food groups, such as chips and cookies, whenever you feel the urge? Does it really matter to God? Doesn’t He just care about what’s inside?
Sure, God loves you and approves of you just the way you are, but there are some great reasons to take care of the outside of the package, too:
• Many times when people overeat or eat a steady diet of junk food, they use food to make them feel better (comfort) or because they’re bored. Isaiah 55:2 says, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
God is jealous for your affections. He wants to be you’re A-1 priority and to be the one to bring you comfort before anything else. Binging on food will never give you the kind of satisfaction and meaning in life that He will.
• Jesus came to set people free from things that control them. Galatians 5:13 (The Message paraphrase) says, “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.”
The kids you go to school with have all kinds of things controlling their lives—food, gossip, social life, smoking, pornography, alcohol, drugs, sex. But when your friends see you taking such good care of yourself and being healthy about the way you eat, exercise and live, they’ll want to know how you do it. It will be a great opportunity to explain that yielding to the Holy Spirit empowers you to exercise the discipline of self-control.
• When you don’t take care of your body, you miss out on opportunities. Maybe you don’t have the motivation to go on a really cool missions trip that you once would have loved, or you can’t do your best at your favorite sport or activity, one that God gifted you for. In John 10:10, Jesus reminds us that He came to give us an abundant life full of great opportunities. Remember, too, that someday you’ll want to be your very best for the godly guy God is saving for you.
• When you’re physically fit, you have more energy, feel better about yourself, look better in your favorite clothes, and your healthy habits will keep you grooving for years to come.
• God created us as physical beings. Therefore, when He commands us to be good stewards of His creation, our bodies are included. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating nutritious foods and keeping your body in shape are all effective ways to stay healthy and care for His finest creation—YOU!
4 Easy Tips to Getting Fit
Here’s the bod-acious news! If you want take care of yourself and get in top form, you need not starve yourself or search for the latest fad diet. In fact, there’s a great yet simple plan that will get you fit and keep you fit with no more yo-yo dieting. You can follow it anytime, anywhere, and it will help you maintain a healthy weight by setting good habits for life, without starvation or a bunch of impossible restrictions. The best part is that within just a few days, you’ll already look and feel better!
