Diet Devotional 22

Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Dieting isn't just about giving something up. In the passages before this one, Micah asks rhetorically what he can do for God. He asks if gifts, offerings, or his firstborn would be enough of a sacrifice to please God. The question is rhetorical because he answers it with verse 8, a striking denial that sacrifice is the goal. MIcah shows that the heart is what God is after, not just the actions. So as I look at my eating habits, I have to continually re-evaluate my motive. I can easily get into a martyr mentality, as if I'm somehow suffering for the sake of my spiritual life. But rather than this being about giving something up, it is about gaining something better.

What does the Lord require of me? To act justly. When I overeat, I'm tired and groggy the next morning. I act differently toward my kids, my spouse, or anyone else that may cross me that day. My actions are far from just. To love mercy. When I'm drowning in self-pity and self-indulgence, I want to blame everyone around me for any slight injustice that may come my way. My heart is far from merciful. To walk humbly with your God. When I'm so focused on what I can't have (sugar, special treats, that extra portion to make me feel full immediately), I cease to be thankful. I become a slave to that sense of entitlement that says I should have what I want when I want, regardless of the price. My heart is far from humble.

The discipline of dieting is much, much more than sacrifice. It is gaining the attitude of the heart that God most desires from me.