In this lesson, I want to ask you this question: why do you want to lose weight? It is an important question because the answer will affect your perseverance in your efforts toward weight loss.
For example, if I’m trying to lose weight for a big class reunion coming up, what happens after the reunion? Or if I want to lose weight to look good in summer attire, what happens after summer? Or, if I desire to lose weight for health reasons, will that motivation be strong enough to stand against temptation?
For myself, I had so many competing motivations to lose weight, such as needing to be able to pass my medical every 6 months so I could continue to fly; but after the medical test was done, I went right back to overeating and gratifying my flesh with food. All the above motivations are temporary and not heart-changing.
Question 1. What motivations have you had in the past for wanting to lose weight?
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Wende probably reveals the heart of many of us, when she answered the above question this way:
"My motivations have been many and varied. Vanity has been a big one along with her conjoined twin, insecurity. Both are completely self focused. I have dressed it up by telling myself that I want to be my best for God and my family. This is true to a degree, but tainted by vanity and insecurity."
As we wash at the cross, one of the things that happens is our motivation for living changes. Our old motivations are washed away, and they are replaced with the love of Christ for us. As we wash at the cross, we are given the Holy Spirit, and as we begin to walk by the Spirit, He changes our motivations.
Notice how the love of Jesus, as shown at the cross, changes the motivation of the believer:
“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV).
Question 2. From 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV, what do you see as the believer’s motivation?