Losing Weight Spiritually

Part 2 — Start Over

I know a sweet woman who married very young to a kind man who took care of her in so many ways.  He always filled the gas tanks in the car.  He mowed the lawn.  Anything that needed fixed or replaced around the house was his job– from plumbing to carpentry.  He even took it upon himself to replace the light bulbs.  After more than 40 years of marriage, the dear husband passed away, leaving the widowed wife devastated.   On top of her grief, there were just so many things that she had to learn how to do.  It was overwhelming.  And then, a light bulb in her home burnt out.  “How hard can it be to buy a light bulb?” she thought.  “Surely this is a simple item that I can take care of myself.”  So, the woman gathered her courage and ventured in to the local hardware store to replace a bulb.  When she found the light bulb aisle, she couldn’t believe her eyes.  She had no idea that there were so many kinds and sizes of bulbs.  She walked up and down the row.  Fluorescents and LED’s, different wattages, shapes, and bases– she tried valiantly to discern between the various choices.   But she couldn’t.  She really had no idea which of these dozens of items would work in her fixture at home.  A sense of frustration and loss overtook her as she realized that she could not replace this bulb on her own and tears slipped down her face right there in the store.

As I re-read the post, Losing Weight — Spiritually, (part 1 of this series, in case you missed it) I sensed a similar overwhelming feeling.  In an effort to be thorough in that article, I compiled quite a list of spiritual weights.  Perhaps you, like I, felt that there were too many things to change, too many weights to eliminate.  Maybe you are frustrated and don’t know where to begin.

Today, I want to encourage you to pray about where you are, and start with the one thing that God lays on your heart as most important for you to change.  Remember, the Christian life is a process, and sanctification happens gradually and continually.  Just as when we desire to improve our physical health we have to sometimes take it one step, one improvement, one day at a time, we also need to look at our spiritual life in smaller increments.

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul writes something that I find very encouraging.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul has a 2 step plan for running his spiritual race:  1.  He forgets  2. He strains forward.

1.  Forgetting what lies behind—

• Start Over with a clean slate.   This is a very, difficult but important step in our progress.  If we are going to go forward, we need to forget the sins, the failures, the burdens, the short-comings of the past.   We can be so hard on ourselves for missing the mark.  Just remember, when we confess our sins, God cleanses us from all unrighteousness!  We start over clean.  Not only that, but God forgets our sins!  

Isaiah 43:25 — I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,  and I will not remember your sins.   If God can forget our sins, we must make an effort to also forget the past.

2.  Straining Forward to what lies ahead—

•        Start Over with focus  When Paul list the one thing that he does, it is very specific.  He presses on toward the goal.  He has his eyes on the finish line, even as he starts over.  He is looking forward to the “upward call” of God, when he will be called home to be with Christ.  One focus.

•       Start Over with energy  The word “straining” is one that implies maximum effort.  He is not just floating, coasting, or strolling to the goal.  It is hard work that he is doing. However, Paul was not trying to earn his salvation.  He makes that clear earlier in the chapter, verse 9, which says, “found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith..”  In verse 12, he also shows that he is pressing on because of his salvation, “because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”  Paul, in Christ, wants to  to run the race vigorously to the finish.

The Bible has much to say about new beginnings and new starts for believers:

We are new creations:  2 Corinthians 5:17

We walk in newness of life:  Romans 6:4

We are spiritually renewed daily: 2 Corinthians 4:16

We take up our cross daily:  Luke 9:23

We ask for bread daily: Luke 11:3

So, as we start a new year by trying to lose weight spiritually, and improving our spiritual health, remember that each day for a believer can be a new start.  Do not be overwhelmed with the enormity of the task ahead, but look with Paul to the end goal, and strive for the finish line, even as we start over again and again.

And remember, the Lord’s mercies are also new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

 

 

With Joy,

Kathleen

All verses are from the English Standard Version of the Bible

photo credit: Start Starting Line Americorps Cinema Service Night Wilcox Park May 20, 20118 via photopin (license)