More Lessons From Week 1 Back to the Gym...

As I have continued at the gym I see more and semblance to every other facet of my life. I thought I would just jot a few down as they have helped me as I ponder them. They help me to not only gauge where I am currently at, but what changes I must make, or things I must maintain to stay on a productive path. Think about these with me.

1. Just because I do not see the immediate results that I am looking for does not mean the exercise isn't benefiting me. In today's society we are "instant people"! Uncle Ben's INSTANT rice, we have stores with INSTANT credit, we all want INSTANT internet access, and the list is infinitely long, isn't it?! So, often times we quit right before we see the benefit that we were looking for, praying for, reading for, etc. Have you ever been there?! I know I have, and if I'm not careful when I don't lose 60 pounds during my second week of eating healthy and working out I may be there again. Growth, in every arena, is a process. Solomon spoke of this, didn't he?When he said everything is beautiful in God's time.

2. The things that at the beginning were "sacrifices" to let go... Such as: fatty foods, greasy foods, Dr. Peppers, etc. have now become to "delights". I mean think about it... We were that way about our Bible reading and prayer time when we first started! The sacrifice of an hour for God seemed a HUGE sacrifice, but the longer you spent with your friend the more your sacrifice became a delight. The first couple of days to the gym were tough. Those first few meals of saying no to self were difficult, but as I see and feel the benefits of a healthy lifestyle those things are now delightful to pass on. At first, God asked for your old friends, addictions, music, etc. and it was a sacrifice, but now after seeing the benefits in obedience it is a delight to give to Him!

3. Pain is not always a bad thing! We had a saying in the Marine Corps., "Pain is weakness leaving the body!" and did those Drill Instructors ever believe that statement to be true! Though I didn't buy into the propaganda at the time they were absolutely right! There is also another old adage that says, "If it doesn't kill ya' it makes ya' stronger." Adversity is where we do the majority of our growing. So many people fall out, in every arena of life, because they are not willing to suffer "momentary" pain to reap the reward of faithfulness. No one wants to be overweight (again, in any area of life), but few are willing to endure the present suffering that IS NOT joyous, but later bears the peacable fruits of righteousness. We have a lot of "overweight" Christians, and employees... Though they may not be physically overweight they suffer from laziness and slothfulness in these arenas of their life... Unwilling to pay any real price, or experience any real discomfort to become all that God has called us to become!

Just some thoughts,

-R