At this time last year, I had a bit of an issue. I had just gone in for my annual physical and I found out that I had pretty high cholesterol. I had never had that issue previously, but I immediately knew the cause: the keto diet.
You see, I was looking forward to going on a cruise with Jill that February, and I wanted to get in better shape. I jumped on board the fad diet of keto. While the food was delicious, my body just couldn’t handle it. My cholesterol suffered.
After getting those results from the doctor, I had to make a shift in my mind. I had been looking for a quick way to lose weight. And, honestly, it worked. I lost 20 pounds on the keto diet. However, it became apparent that this quick fix had some pretty terrible unforeseen consequences. I remember the nurse telling me that I needed to get off that diet immediately.
At that point, I realized I had to make changes that would actually be sustainable (and wouldn’t shoot my cholesterol through the roof!). I started having a more balanced diet and made a commitment to running more regularly. It started off slowly. I didn’t see change right away. But incrementally, month by month, I started being able to run farther and I just felt healthier. Now, a year later, I weigh the same that I did when I was on the crash diet, without the negative side effects.
Why do I share that story with you? I think we often want a keto-quick fix when it comes to our relationship with God, when the discipline of getting in his Word and spending time with him daily is the true recipe for long-term success.
Can God miraculously transform our lives in just an instant? Of course! But a strong, healthy relationship with him happens by regularly spending time with him. Eugene Peterson argues that following Jesus is long obedience in the same direction. It is allowing Jesus to mold us and shape us and transform us more and more into his image. It is developing spiritual disciplines and displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
In John 15:4, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”
Instead of looking for quick fixes, let’s commit to remaining in Him. I want to encourage you to stay the course with our Grounded reading plan and allow His Spirit to slowly transform you, day by day.
In Him,
Pastor Zach