“We shall have no better conditions in the future.” Thomas Edison said, “If we are satisfied with all those which we have at present.”

Although he probably wasn’t talking about attaining health and fitness goals when Edison made this statement, it applies! As we pack away bulky sweaters and drag out the shorts and t-shirts for spring, we are faced with a decision: Are we satisfied with our present health and fitness condition, or are we dissatisfied enough to make changes?

In other words, are we going to spend the summer trying to hide those extra pounds, or will we shed that weight and get in shape?  Being dissatisfied with the status quo is the first step toward change.  That dissatisfaction must then translate into action.  And the ability to take action and make lasting changes in this, and every other area of life, can be summed up in one word— commitment.

 Impossible! You may think.  The minute I make a commitment, I’m doomed for failure.  I’ve tried and failed at weight loss more times than I can count!

I understand exactly how you feel, because I’ve been there!  But I want you to know that making a commitment and sticking with it isn’t impossible.  Not when you understand the spiritual keys to commitment, and you have a plan in place to take you from where you are to where you want to be.

 Put Your Goals Into the Hands of Another

To begin with, let’s look at what the word commit means.  Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language gives a number of definitions, but there’s one in particular that I want you to consider. 

This definition gives us a clear-cut step to successful commitment, and ultimate change.  To commit means: “To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another; to entrust.”  To succeed in our health and fitness goals we must put them into the hands of another.  We must put them into God’s hands! 

Psalm 37:5 talks about this very thing.  It says: “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass” (The Amplified Bible). 

Isn’t this a wonderful scripture?  It is encouraging to know that when we commit our ways to the Lord, we can know He will bring them to pass.  Many of you may be familiar with this particular verse.  It sounds so easy, doesn’t it?

I believe, however, that successfully committing our ways to the Lord so He can bring them to pass depends on a number of things.  Just prior to this verse, in verses 3 and 4, we find what I believe are the preliminary instructions for being able to successfully commit our ways to the Lord.

Sit Down for a Visit and Trust…

 “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed” (Psalms 37:3, The Amplified Bible).

 Successfully committing your way (in this case, your health and fitness goals) to the Lord begins by trusting Him for your health and fitness.  Doing that isn’t so difficult when you think about how you develop trust in any person.  For instance, do you have a family member or friend who you trust implicitly?  If so, why is it that you trust them without reserve?  I can tell you why.  Because you know them.  You know their character.  You know what they believe in and stand for.  You’ve spent enough time with them to have confidence in them.  When they tell you something, you don’t doubt their word.

You develop trust in the Lord the exact same way.  You come to know His character as you spend time with Him.  Granted, you can’t dial a phone and talk to Him, or knock on His door and visit over a cup of coffee.  But you are in His presence when you spend time talking to Him in prayer or when you sit down to read His Word.  The more time you spend with the Lord, the more you will trust Him.  And not only that, but as you spend time with Him you will begin to “do good.” You will also begin to experience His faithfulness.

God’s presence and His Word have the power to change us.  As you read your Bible ask the Lord to show you scriptures to help you with your health and fitness goals.  They are in there, I promise!  God’s Word will anchor your soul and strengthen you so you can obtain the promise of victory.  That is what Hebrews 6:18-19 tells us:

 So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise and confidence.  This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. (New Living Translation)

 The more time you spend with the Lord and His Word, the more you will become like Him.  And remember, Jesus “went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38).  We will also be able to “do good” where our health and fitness goals are concerned as we become saturated with Him.  As we daily trust Him with our eating habits and fitness goals, we will do good in these areas.

 The first step towards a spiritual commitment and lasting change is to trust in the Lord and do good, and you will surely feed on His faithfulness.  God will reward you as you feed on His Word and spend time with Him!

 The conclusion of this article will be in my next week’s blog post.