Like many of you 2021 brought me new personal goals requiring new habits. My big goal? Weigh 15 pounds less by March 20.

 The road to a lighter me entails: rethinking why I eat when I do; eating at the right times; ensuring calories-in stay lower than calories-burned; regular exercise that keeps calories-burned as high as possible.

The number of calories I need to liquidate daily equals 930. Which is not easy when your typical day consists of computer screens and zoom calls from the confines of your home office.

Yesterday’s 930 required 45 minutes of free weights and bike trainer in the morning and a one-mile dog walk before bed. 

Every day of following Jesus includes some similarities to my 930 calorie burn off. 

Loving those who treat me poorly. Saying “Yes” to my wife’s needs. Trusting Jesus has my future even when it looks dark and cloudy from my perch. 

All part of the Jesus life. All part of becoming more and more like Him. But all requiring work and discipline on my part.

Unless I begin each day with simply being. 

Begin by resting in His love for me. A love that requires nothing from me. 

Begin by remembering the day He made me His child in baptism. A birthday that was all His doing.

Begin by hearing again that divine fact, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3.1)

To simply be a child of God. To simply belong to His family.

Walking the Jesus walk requires practice and discipline and outside help. Yes.

But it especially requires being in Jesus.

Which is simply God’s gift to you. Enjoy!