I finally got fed up with how tight my clothing is and I decided to lose weight. And when I make my mind up–watch out! I’ve been on WW and Atkins and Scarsdale and blah, blah, blah. Nothing has been permanent for me. I lose weight, but then I gain it back. (I am NOT putting anyone of you down who are doing those other diets. I’m saying I never achieved permanent weight loss with them.)

The one diet that has always made sense to me, although I haven’t followed it, is the Weigh Down Diet (WD). It calls for me to give up chewing, for me to obey and not make the food obey. They other diets count fat grams and carb grams and points and on and on. I have never really understood a diet that says you can’t eat this or that. Did God put those things on earth to torment me? The WD calls my over eating what it is–sin. I am greedy and guilty of turning to food instead of God when I hurt or am stressed. I gained 20 pounds when Shawn was breaking into our house and terrorizing us. (I’m not telling you that to excuse my sin. God was there all the time but I had my head in the refrigerator.)

The Weigh Down doesn’t just address greediness in food. It really looks at the heart and all of its wickedness. I am seeing some pretty ugly things in this heart of mine. I kept my audio tapes and I’ve been listening to them over and over in my car (my CD player died so my selection is pretty limited.) I am amazed at some of the things that are said that I simply don’t remember hearing before. I was faithful to the plan–I did it religiously. But, as I listen, I hear the WD calling me to die to self. I hear a call to let go and let God. Why didn’t I hear these things before? Why didn’t I let them seep deep?

I lost a lot of weight on the WD. And, I thought I “got it” and understood flying above the food. But, I didn’t. I thought flying above meant being able to push away from the table–self control. It really means having no desire to eat more despite what’s on the plate. It means that I don’t need to push away because taking another bite is as repulsive as going into a store and stealing something. WOW, I can’t wait for that! I know that it’s happening. It happened for me during Lent with chocolate. I believe that it is happening to other foods in my life.

Lord, thank you for revealing Your truths. It has been said that when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear. This pupil is ready.