Okay. I admit it. I'm not what you'd exactly call "buff". It's more like "fluff". People keep trying to tell me I need to get in shape. I argue the point that round IS a shape, so I am therefore "in shape". Somehow, they don't seem to buy that argument. Go figure.
Dawn and I enrolled in a fitness club near our home here in Hope Mills, but it was short-lived. I started out going regularly each morning, but it quickly fizzled out. My philosphy is.. "No Pain, No Pain."
"So, you wimped out, Danny?" Not really. When I got in there, I suddenly realized that I had no earthly idea of what to do once I got there. Those machines were all lined up in a row, looking like torture devices from a dungeon in a castle in Transylvania. I didn't know how to use them or what they were for. Add to this the fact that the other guys in there who WERE buff (and knew it) had forearms the size of my thighs. Doing arm curls with an 8-pound dumbbell next to a guy who looks like the Terminator who bench-presses his car every morning is sort of intimidating.... much less humiliating.
A lot of Christians are this same way concerning their faith. It can be intimidating as a new believer when you're surrounded by other people who seem to be growing strong in the faith. But this challenge of intimidation is just an illusion. Everyone struggles and grunts and strains in the gym, regardless of whether they're lifting 8 pounds or 800 pounds. All Christians struggle to grow at times.
Don't be intimidated when you decide to step into the spiritual gym. Instead, you can feel good and proud for deciding to do something good for your spiritual self.
Now.... as for understanding what to do once you get there?..... Here's a five step workout plan. Use this daily regimen of spiritual exercises and I guarantee you will grow stronger in your faith.
STEP 1 - PRAY:
Stop first and pray to God. Don't use the "King James" language with Him. Talk to God the way you'd talk to your friend. Begin by thanking Him for everything He's done and for what He's in the process of doing in your life. Then ask Him for things you need to help you become the follower of Christ you desire to be. Also, as you pray, ask Him to speak to you as you read the Word.
STEP 2 - READ:
There's really no rule here. Just read something. Maybe read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month. Or you could read a couple of verses in one of the Gospels, or one of the Psalms. The key is QUALITY rather than QUANTITY. It's not how much you read, but rather how much you retain and digest. Studying and meditating on one or two verses carefully is far better than wandering aimlessly through four chapters.
STEP 3 - THINK:
After you read, pause and think about what you just read. Maybe ask yourself some questions, or go online and look up what you didn't understand. A lot of Christians tend to skip this step, and it's vitally important. You need to stop to think, meditate, and contemplate what you're reading or you'll never fully comprehend it.
STEP 4 - WRITE:
This step helps you with Step 3. It will jumpstart your mind and get your thought process flowing. Find a small journal and write down some things you found interesting, questions you might have, or some things you learned about the verses you read. Something about writing causes you to comprehend what's going on in your mind. This isn't a diary. All I'm talking about it moving the truth from your head to your hands. It doesn't have to be formatted, organized or even grammatically correct. God doesn't count off for spelling. It doesn't have to be a doctrinal thesis, either. Just write your thoughts down. It will also help you to remember, and will serve as a way for you to go back and re-read your thoughts and questions from time to time.
STEP 5 - DO:
Finally, and most important, ask yourself if there's someway you can DO what you just read about. Ask yourself how this truth applies to your life or to the life of others. THIS is where the rubber meets the road. This step is the catalyst that will bring about growth in your spiritual life. It's one thing to accumulate knowledge of the Word of God. It's another thing to APPLY what you know and flesh it out in your daily walk. If you never apply this step, you'll never change. Without this step, your spiritual health won't improve. Refuse to apply this step and you'll never wind up livign what you say you believe.
I'm not a gambler.....(unless I'm eating out somewhere, or driving down Skibo Road here in Fayetteville)! Still, I'd be willing to bet that if you press the pause button on your life and apply these five steps for a few minutes each day, you'll start noticing some positive changes in your life and you will grow stronger and stronger in the faith.
Selah.




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