Monday’s Devotion: The Whole Shebang

1 Timothy 4:16  (NLT)  Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

I started the day with a mile walk / jog to warm up before my weekly Monday morning workout with Stephen, my trainer.  We (I) worked hard and by the end of the hour my muscles were trembling.  We visited for awhile afterwards and agreed that a health and fitness program must really be all encompassing.  It doesn’t do much good to start a physical activity plan if one is still eating hamburgers and french-fries regularly.  To be truly healthy comes from a broader commitment to a healthier lifestyle.  Don’t smoke, eat healthy but delicious food, control portions, work on stress management, plan good physical activity each day and avoid lack of sleep.  Spiritual fitness also requires a well-rounded program.  Coming to church once a week is great but it would be even better when accompanied by daily prayer, devotion, Bible reading and Christian companionship.  Like my diet / fitness program doing all the right stuff doesn’t happen all at once. Yet when it does all come together we will reap the benefits and so will those around us.

Lord, as we start this new week help us to find time to consciously plan ways in which to keep or get ourselves fit in mind, body and spirit.  Help us to seek the power promised – that we can do all things through Christ who gives strength.  We ask in his name, Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Spiritual Weight Lifting

Psalm 59:16 CEB   “But me? I will sing of your strength! In the morning I will shout out loud about your faithful love because you have been my stronghold, my shelter when I was distraught.”

I love our Wednesday night fellowship meals. Each week I present a short program or study.  As always, I learn grow as I prepare for them. This week I used some visual aids.  I wanted to share about physical and spiritual strength so I brought some of our dumbbells and a kettle bell.  When I was young and not in a close relationship with God I had to face life’s challenges without the strength God provides. My challenge might be like a 20lb weight but I was only able to comfortably lift a 5lb weight.  As I became a regular church-goer in my late 20’s I learned more about praying for strength.  I was able to carry heavier burdens – like my 15lb kettle bell.  Now God is truly my strength.  I have met many challenges successfully with God’s help.  I can carry the 20lb weight now although not yet with great ease.  I still have more to grow both spiritually and physically.  That growth comes from perseverance in prayer and in my physical workout with those weights.  God wants us to be fit spiritually, mentally, and physically.  Let’s all pray for direction and help in getting into shape.

Lord, you are our strength. Help us to rely on your strength and now try to function only under our own power and understanding.  Be our help and salvation today.  We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Tuesday's Devotion: Use It or Lose It!

Proverbs 14:23  All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

My title is from an old saying but it certainly rings true.  Studies have shown that seniors who engage in activities that work their minds, like playing solitaire and other strategy games can improve their mental alertness.  The same goes for our bodies.  I hope that by living in a house that requires me to go up and down stairs frequently, I will retain my ability to climb stairs.  Many of my church members cannot get up if they have a fall. I regularly sit on the floor and get up without holding onto anything.  It may not be a pretty sight but I make it with relative ease. Use it or lose it!  What about our relationship with God?  I believe we must stay in touch with God or slowly our spirituality will be supplanted by worldly preoccupations.  Someone once used the illustration of a flashlight.  If you put it away in a drawer the batteries will eventually corrode then when the lights go out, it won’t be there to guide you.  I hope you regularly give your mind and your body a regular workout but even more I hope you work on staying in relationship with your divine creator. 

Gracious and Holy God, I pray that you will keep us healthy in mind, body and spirit.  That you will put a hedge of protection around us and that you will help us resist temptations that would lead us beyond your will for our lives.  We ask in Jesus name. Amen.