The Weight Hinders The Run

Two scriptures come to mind as I begin to share this thought, Hebrews 12:1 and Galatians 5:7. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (Hebrews 12:1).  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7) Because of the climate I am currently in I have to bundle up when I run. Unfortunately, I don't have the proper jacket for running purposes; so I've been wearing a  sweatshirt-like hooded jacket. Now it's a great jacket to keep me warm but it's too heavy to run with. It felt like I was running with weights on my back and arms; thus hindering my speed and endurance. I began to think that this is how sin affects my run and walk with God when I choose not to lay it aside...in other words, repent and never turn back!  It also hinders my ability to be an effective Kingdom-worker. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) When I choose wrong over right, I pick up a weight. When I choose bad over good, I pick up a weight. When I choose to disobey, I pick up a weight. Every time I do what the Word of God tells me not to do or not do what the Word of God tells me to do, I pick up a weight. If I want to be an effective runner on this path with God, then I must lay aside those weights that I have picked up along the way. I do this by staying connected to God, confessing my sins, asking for and receiving His forgiveness, and never picking up that thing again. Instead of wearing the weight of sin, I will constantly clothe myself with the armor of God. The armor of God equips me with everything necessary to effectively run this race to eternal life with Jesus Christ. If you're tired and ready to give up on your run/walk with God, then it may be time to check your running gear for weights and remove them quickly! There is too much Kingdom Work to be done!
Peace, Blessings, and Favor

An Unhappy Temple

A couple of years ago I was afforded the opportunity to attend one of my church's many physical-fitness boot camps. The trainer's vision was to promote a complete lifestyle change: mind, body, soul, and spirit. She wanted us to come out transformed! Two of her favorite scriptures were: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). and ...with God all things are possible...to them that believe (Mark 10:27 emphasis added). During those six-plus weeks, I did things that I've never done and thought I never could do. Even now, when I run or workout, I can hear Doella saying, "PUSH!" or "YOU CAN DO IT, RONI!" One time during cool-down, which was something like yoga, she said "Listen to your body." Now, I was familiar with listening to the preacher, the teacher, the Holy Spirit, the Word of the Lord but not my body. Because I trusted her knowledge and heart concerning my physical, mental, emotion, and spiritual health, I started listening. I realized that my headaches, constant fatigue, occasional shortness of breath, etc., were statements from my body. My body was letting me know that I needed to make some changes for it to be happy again. What I put into my body ultimately determined what I would get out of my body. I realized that I would not be effective in LIFE if I didn't treat my body right.  Paul poses a question in I Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For this very reason alone, we should take better care of our bodies. We clean our homes, cars, churches, offices, inside out because those are places that we dwell. We can get way more work done when our surroundings are clean and neat, right?  Well, why not treat our bodies the same way, since it is the dwelling place for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Who fills us with the attributes necessary to make us better people. While on my morning run I listened to my body...and it's not happy.  Before I could get down four blocks, I was already tired and ready to stop. My body was letting me know that it wasn't happy and I knew why. I have not been eating, drinking, nor sleeping right. Yes, I've been praying, meditating, and fasting but those all benefit my spirit man. I must do the right thing by my body so that it will be a healthy place for my spirit to dwell, thus making me more effective to do the work that I've been called to do. We focus so much on the outward man with clothes, shoes, hats, earrings, purses, make-up, etc.; yet, we neglect the inner us...physically and spiritually.  If you know that you have an unhappy body, then change what you're doing to it. It's definitely talking; but are you listening? 

Peace, Blessings, and Favor