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There was a time in my journey that I didn’t dare set a weight loss goal. I knew it would become my focus, my god. And for me, that was God-led.

Thinking about a “goal,” reminded me of this passage in Philippians 3: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I was also laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

God calls us to press on toward the goal—not of weight loss but of pursuing Him. The moment that we get our eyes off of why we do what we do, we need to repent and return to the One who has called us to this path.

Rather than resenting this weakness in our lives—food addiction, diet addiction, body issues—we can embrace the struggle for the spiritual maturity it will bring when we strive for victory. We can’t do it on our own so as we lean into dependence on Jesus, we grow: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

This struggle we face has led us to greater knowledge of who God is. As we’ve suffered and pursued self-denial, not eating unless we experience genuine hunger, we experience His power. Can I get an amen? What we’re gaining spiritually far surpasses the pain we’ve felt!

This path is a daily walk. There will be days that we realize we pursue God imperfectly. We listen to our appetite instead of our hunger. We eat to fill heart needs that only God in His grace can meet. But we repent and return and start again.

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I was also laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul implores us: “Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” It’s amazing to think that we’re becoming stronger, attaining new standards with every day of God-honoring choices. We’re not the same people we were when we started this journey. I hope you’ll enjoy the progress you’re making and the new level you’re living at now—even though you know you’ve got a way to go.

Get ready for this! Are you ready? Paul writes and I would add “sisters” ““Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Aaaaa! See there it is! “Whose god is their appetite!” These people are “enemies of the cross of Christ”! God is calling us to not obey our appetite and to not set our minds on earthly things. Instead, God is calling us to set our minds on His Spirit! God is calling us to wait for the privilege of eating when we hunger—not eating every time we have a craving.

Why? Because earthly things aren’t our focus…instead, heavenly things are our focus.

“For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,
by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Philippians 3:20-21