Monday, July 23, 2018

July 23, 2018 - God's Fitness Center

I saw a Facebook post today that read: “I can’t believe I forgot to go the gym today. That’s seven years in a row.”



The reality is that most of us avoid anything that seems like it will be unpleasant; yet those that are committed to fitness have a different perspective. They view the discomfort of workouts as a necessary evil… in order to achieve their goals. In fact, many get to the point that they look forward to “the burn’”



One article I read was on a blog called “Refine the Mind”; the title of the post was “How to Love Exercise: The Crucial Mindset Shift” by Jordan Bates. In the blog he talks of the fact that if one is exercising just to enhance physical appearance, it probably won’t last. He goes on to list good reasons for why one should exercise… (and by the way, it is amazing how the benefits of physical exercise help combat many mental and emotional struggles that are epidemic in our society… i.e. anxiety, depression, self-image, motivation, etc.)



Yet, although I hope this week’s devotion encourages each to get in better physical shape, mostly I hope it reminds us of the importance of spiritual shape!



The blogger stated that there has to be a paradigm shift to the way one views fitness… stating that if it is viewed as “optional, pretty soon it will be absent.” I believe that is accurate from a spiritual mindset as well. Christian growth/fitness is based upon renewing one’s mind… a paradigm shift in how we think. (See Romans 12:2)

 

One of the big areas we must change our view (thinking) is in how we approach adversity / trials / “storms” in life. Each of those descriptors carry the idea of something unpleasant; they are things that we spend much energy, and here much teaching / preaching on, trying to avoid…



Recently I wrote about my new fascination for the buffalo; the fact that a buffalo will run into a storm, not away from it. If we are going to grow… become more spiritually fit… we must decide to go to God’s Fitness Center!



God’s Fitness Center, according to Scripture, is adversity / trials / “storms.” We should not be dismayed when life hits hard… that is the equivalent of sticking to a fitness plan… with God as your personal trainer!



Get out your “Playbook” and read: James 1:2-4!

While you have it open read: Romans 5:1-5



On another blog (called “Biblical Fitness”) it stated this: “Do you struggle to view difficult times and daily inconveniences as something that God can use for good? I know that I often do. We should humbly ask God to change our mindset towards difficulties in our lives, including our attitude towards the hard work of disciplining our bodies.”

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