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My weight spiked upward after a nice dinner out with June, but the next day I started a better routine: a decent workout first thing in the morning and sensible eating all day. The first day went really well, and I really assumed my weight spike would go away, but guess what? Same weight the next morning. “It” doesn’t work! NO! Diet and exercise work fine…if we stay with it.

Sometimes, we resolve to be more faithful with our spiritual disciplines. “Train yourself for godliness.” And the first day of memorizing and reviewing scripture and having a decent time with God is the worst day ever! Traffic causes us to be late for work; we lose our temper with a colleague; there’s a blowup at home. “It” doesn’t work! Again, we need to stay the course.

Spiritual growth (and weight loss!) take time…but they do occur over time if we stay with the process.

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. (Mark 4.26 – 28, ESV)

So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. (2 Corinthians 4.16, Passion Translation)