A Requirement of Change (A Season of Change Series Part 2)

The Lord initially placed the desire on my heart to write about the journey of change throughout the month of October. I never imagined that another installment would follow into November or that I would love its phrasing even more than the first. It was the greatest blessing to be able to share the story of my journey with PCOS and it was even more wonderful to see Him apply it metaphorically through my discussion of salvation and all of what it entails. Romans 8:28 will forever be my favorite life verse. 

While the first installment touched on reflections of change, I couldn't help but remember the briefly mentioned low-carb diet that I was instructed to begin shortly after my diagnosis (and I can tell you it lasted all of three days before I caved.) I didn't possess enough self-control to stick with it.) The foundational bones of today's message revolve around the requirement of change. 

While physical dieting is necessary in order to maintain a healthy body, the state of our spiritual diet determines the health of our heart for the Lord. 

What does your spiritual diet plan look like? 

I keep traveling back to the low-carb diet aspect of my story because I feel as though it fits perfectly into the message---the diet attempt was unsuccessful on its own because I possessed no understanding of its significance. Countless souls are forever "starting over" or "turning over a new leaf" and it never works out well because, for lack of better wording, "you can't have a head change until you have a heart change."

Allowing Christ into your heart and making Him the Lord of your life will forever change it in mighty ways. You won't walk the same. You won't think the same. You won't live the same.

But it doesn't mean that you won't struggle with the presence of sin and flesh. 

That's where I want to begin today.

It would be wonderfully convenient if all we had to do was take our prescribed medicines to efficiently manage health conditions but that's almost never the case--a quick Google search on most if not all of them include recommended dietary or lifestyle changes that require human effort. 

Let us quickly visit what I discovered while researching all about PCOS; these recommendations are immensely basic but it honestly makes all the difference in the world. (I can't say that I follow them perfectly, but I consistently try to be more mindful of what I put into my body.)

• Eat whole foods
• Limit sugar and processed carbs
• Stay hydrated
• Incorporate strength training and cardio

Placing this thought together brought to my recollection three awesome Bible verses (all of which I will include), but the perfect one to begin with is Luke 9:23 which plainly discusses the intentional and purposeful act of denying ourselves, taking up our cross on a daily basis, and choosing to follow the Lord. 

 

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

The bulleted list above could double as recommendations for keeping our spiritual health in good standing. Snacking on God's Word will forever be greater than snacking on sin. (I read that somewhere and loved it!) Whole foods are considered natural and processed carbohydrates are nothing but empty calories; nothing in this world will ever satisfy the soul the way only He can. No amount of worldly knowledge will saturate our hearts the way His infallible Word can. Choosing to exercise our faith and desiring to live a life of godliness will strengthen your heart for Him; it will allow you to move through all of life and its challenges with grace.

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:8)

Lastly, please know that Jesus doesn't expect you to live perfectly. His only desire is for you to be willing to follow Him. You won't always get it right. You'll mess up. Every day comes with a fresh opportunity to begin again. Those times are teachable moments that you learn from. It's on my heart to share a story that I hope and pray the Lord will use as an example: 

I was out somewhere and I made the conscious decision to consume an obscene amount of sugar within a short amount of time. I wasn't thinking about how my body would handle it (or wouldn't handle it) and because of the insulin resistance that comes with PCOS, my glucose level skyrocketed and subsequently crashed shortly after. I was a hot emotional mess and felt disoriented. It was an uncomfortable feeling that I instantly knew I never wanted to live through again. I just didn't feel well. The initial enjoyment I experienced from all of that sugar definitely wasn't worth it and I learned a valuable lesson from that day.

I'll end today with these final verses that the Lord placed on my heart as I bring the message to its close: 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)