I was in a failing battle to lose weight for many years. I'd take one step forward and 10 steps backward. I just couldn't figure out how to lose weight and keep it off. I'd start a weight loss program and then overeat and give up for days or weeks or months. Then I’d try again, overeat, and give up again.

Ask for God's forgiveness. Forgive yourself and get into the war now against all kinds of sin.

After I was baptized in June 2006, I started asking God for help to get healthier as I realized my weight was starting to really hurt me. My blood work showed I had kidney damage, and my doctor told me it would only get worse if I didn't lose weight. I started to realize that I was under grace, and amazingly that helped me to start losing weight.

What changed was that, when I started my get-healthy campaign but messed up, I would forgive myself right away. I’d tell myself that all is not lost, and in the spirit of Christ’s teaching, "go and sin no more." I realized I didn't have to wait a day or a week or a month to start fresh. God had forgiven me for failing, so I could start fresh immediately after overeating. I no longer wait even an hour to start fresh. Sometimes I don't wait even a minute to start fresh.

I've lost 60 pounds since 2006. Maybe that's not a lot for this many years, but for many years while I was beating myself up and calling myself a loser and weak and worthless because I couldn't stay on a program, I gained 10 pounds a year.

I believe we need to realize we are under grace in all areas of our lives. As we strive to obey God, we need to ask God to forgive us when we fail. But not only that, we should forgive ourselves and start fresh that very minute. If we aren't doing that, are we really in a war against sin?

We can't say, "I'll fight this sin tomorrow or next week or next month." Our war is here, now. If we have lied or committed adultery or have stolen or used God's name in vain or any other sin, would we wait for hours or days or weeks to ask for forgiveness? Or to forgive ourselves and start the battle over? Of course note. Our growth is in usually the tiny baby steps we take each day.

Ask for God's forgiveness. Forgive yourself and get into the war now against all kinds of sin including overeating, gluttony, or bad eating habits. Don't wait for minutes or hours or days to pass before you get back into the battle. Do it now!