Stupid Scale

I just got off the scale. It’s one of those scales that tell you your weight, water intake, body fat percentage, visceral fat, BMI, and BMR.  I’ve been on a journey of health and wellness for a couple of years now.  And as I continue to lose weight, that darn scale still says obese!

It's kind of annoying.  All of this work I’ve been putting in.  Exercise, eating better, walking and moving more, and it seems to amount to the same results, obese.  Can a brother catch a break! But I do see progress.

I know that the results are coming.  Some are better than others.  I have a lot more energy.  I was walking with my wife, sister-in-law and nephew and the whole time I was thinking, “I’m tired of walking.” But when the walk was over, I remember thinking “Man, I want to walk longer.”  That’s a result of my constant effort in bettering my health.  

I also am stronger.  Grace continues to inform me that parts of my body are becoming more solid.  Now, I don’t know if that’s because my muscles are becoming more solid, I am decreasing in fat percentage, or both.  But it is happening. 

Another thing is I can find clothes easier.  I went in to look for some joggers to wear.  Something comfortable to just everyday chill in.  Living in a van you have to have something you can continue to wear that's comfortable.  I didn’t have to shop in the big and tall section (though I still shop there because I am still tall, and big). I found some in the regular folks store. This was nice.

All of this is evidence of my lifestyle change.  I have made a huge impact on my quality of life in this journey I’ve been taking.  Even when the scale says obese.

I think this is the same in our Christian life.  Who feels like “Geez, I still am worthless!”  or “Why do I keep doing stupid stuff!”  I know I do.  But when that happens I remind myself of the transformation that God has brought me through.  

I love seeing those reels that say, “Good thing they didn’t catch pre Jesus me!”  And that is absolutely true.  Before Jesus, I was a whole lot meaner, dirtier, angrier, and viler.  I got to remember that.  Now, I can recognize the need to show grace.  Now I don’t always do it (haha!) but the Holy Spirit does remind me of the need for it.

I also see the need to have integrity. Pre Jesus Paul would have not cared to be truthful. If a lie was necessary, then thats what would happen.  Now I try and show character in everything I do.  Now does this always happen, naw.  But, God is convicting me and instilling in me the need to practice this.

This is evidence that this Jesus thing is working.  He is making me a better person.  He is making me like himself.  And I know that soon and very soon, when I meet the king, I’ll see his beauty because I will be like him. And it will be the same for you.  Remember God is drawing you nearer to him and conforming you to his image.  He does this by his word and our actions.  As we study who he is and fall, he takes these together to form us and bring our good and his glory! So we must take heart! Some day that scale won’t say obese, and someday I won’t be simultaneously sinner and saint. I’ll be fit and I’ll be like Jesus. We will get there! Let’s just keep going!

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, Romans 8:29

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2