I have worked out all my adult life. It is something I enjoy and I love the results. I feel better, have more energy and even now I am more flexible than ever. Working out builds muscles. There were days I could spend two hours in the gym and not give it a second thought.
Today, I am retired and you would think I could spend two hours at the gym...but I can't. So I ran a little and worked out a little and that was the extent of my fitness. I found that I really enjoy running and the challenge of increasing my distance each week. It was fun, exciting and challenging. But don't you know that just like God, when you "get comfortable" He'll move you.
During a spontaneous run I strained tendons in my knee and ankle...that's not the story. The story is in "getting around." First of all, we don't like being taken out of our comfort zone...no, no, no! I like my route, I like my pace, I like it my way! After the doctor put me in the air cast and said don't walk on the ankle, I really regretted having a two story house.
I learned that the best way to get up the stairs was to lay the crutches down, sit on the steps and with my arms (much like a push up) pull myself up until I got to the top. After four days of doing that, I realized that I am going to have the best triceps ever!! I have never liked working upper body and have never kept my focus on it either. I always gave up and went back to running or the eliptical.
After church today, I had lunch with my family. I told my dad "Dad, it's like our spiritual life. We want to build up as long as it's comfortable but when it's uncomfortable or God takes us to another place, we don't like it." God is building me up in a completely different way. Now since I can't just "get up and go" I spend more time preparing lessons, reading my bible and engaging in private worship. I am "building spiritual muscles" and God made that possible.
Perhaps I was going outside the boundary, or maybe I had gotten laxed or weak. I believe God took me to this place to build me up so that when I come out on the other side, I will be stronger and have more endurance. Just like my upper body is getting a workout, so is my spiritual walk.
Yes I am restricted in the use of my leg but the things I have learned by going back to the Word have been awesome and you know I would have never done that on my own. There will always be distractions or interferences to being in the Word.
Today, I am already feeling the soreness of "building those muscles" but I am thankful that God is building my spiritual muscles because the end result will be awesome and worth the work. Keep working out!
Now I commit you to God and the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32
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