"I noticed that you are losing weight. What's your secret?"
Someone asked me this question today. I was really glad that this man came up to me and warmly praised my new physique.
For those who cannot see me now, I was tipping the scales at 255 lbs. at the beginning of 2017.
I had staved off eating fast food, and then my weight went down to about 225.
My weight was still fluctuating here and there.
Then during my physical earlier this year, my weight was 238 per the scale, with my clothes on. Weighing myself right after taking a share, I was at 232.
I really wanted to reduce my weight, since I wanted to avoid high blood pressure issues and a possible stroke.
However, I realized that I wanted whatever further weight loss to remain a constant. I was not interested in yoyo dieting.
I answered the man this morning: "JESUS!"
Indeed, His work granted me sonship before God the Father — our father.
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not."
This is great love, and yet I was struggling to receive this love all too often!
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15)
I had been meditating on the work of the Cross, and how that expanded God's love for me. I realized that there were perversions I had been struggling with because … the love of the Father was not in me.
I realized that the same problems — lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life — are all a result of loving the world, not knowing, not receiving, not welcoming the Love of the Father!
Why was I eating so much? Why was I indulging in certain foods? That is one example of the "lusts of the flesh" (1 John 2:16)
I was not enjoying the rich, expansive, ever-growing love of the Father!
The more that I realized how alive, how real, how all-encompasing His love is for me, I realized that this richness was filling me up way better than food ever could!
That's what has made it easier for me to forgo eating as much as I used to.
Now, I honor hunger, I honor satiety. My life does not revolve around the next meal, nor do I eat food to feel better.
Jesus!