Lent 2023 Day 14 ‘The Blessing”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20128;%20Isaiah%2065:17-25;%20Romans%204:6-13&version=NIV

PSALM 128

A song of ascents.

¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.
² You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Blessings

If YOU do right, right will follow YOU. If YOU do wrong, wrong will overtake YOU. These words were spoken to me by one of my senior members during an early pastorate and they have stuck with me. Often times while seeking to live right we encounter challenges and setbacks. During these times it helps to remember that our lives are in response to a GOD that loves us and is fully capable of providing double for all our trouble.

The Psalmist shares a reminder for all who may listen. YOU may be working hard in efforts to make it all come together in this life. YOUR preparations may be impeccable and YOUR drive is undeniable.  Still, after all that YOU have done, it is not quite coming together like YOU think it should. The Psalmist reminds us that the blessing is not just a result of our efforts but a response from our heart. Blessed is the person who fears or reverences the LORD. In other words, they have their order of operations right. The put the will of YHWH over their will and then allow THY will to be done. When we are intentional about being led by YHWH we open the door to all YHWH has for us. And that is a lot. The Psalmist says We will eat the fruit of our labors and blessings and prosperity will be ours. As we broaden our understanding of prosperity we can cherish the blessings of presence more than presents. As our Lenten journey continues my prayer for YOU is that

The Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Points to Ponder: In what ways do YOU reverence GOD daily? How have YOU experienced the blessings of GOD? How can YOU be a blessing for someone else?

Lent 2022 Day 35 “Intercession”

Psalm 20

¹ May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.^[b]
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

⁶ Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
⁹ Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call!

Intercession

Today we are continuing our spiritual journey on day 35. During our Lenten experience much of our attention has been on our own individual growth and development. This is natural and yet it need not be exclusive. Today our focus is on praying for others. In the world we live in many people are so wrapped into themselves that they overlook the lives of others. Their basic interactions are transactional. They connect with others based on what they can get from the interaction. They will want you to do well only if you doing well positively impacts them. Think about how haters are unable to celebrate authentically the achievements of others. They then plot and plan to throw shade or create obstacles to make life more difficult. What we miss when we can’t celebrate others is the same CREATOR who blesses them is the same CREATOR who can bless us. YHWH does not runout of blessings, and if YHWH did, YHWH could just create more.

Our text from Psalm 20 sings a prayer of blessing for the king. The first blessing sought is DIVINE attention when in distress. No matter how great one is, how much money, power, respect one has, they cannot always escape times of distress. Tough times come and tragic things happen to the best and the rest of us. In these times it helps to know YHWH is listening. May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. The prayer goes on to include the areas of Help, acceptance of sacrifices, and assistance in fulfilling plans. Then the writer speaks of shouting for joy for the victory of the king. At its core this is a model prayer of intercession because it focuses on the blessing of another but also looks to give praise to YHWH for bringing victory. For us today the call to intercede is an avenue for our growth. Life is not only about us. No person makes it on their own without some assistance. We have all eaten fruit from trees we did not plant.

Friends there are a lot of things going on in this world and many are suffering from a myriad of maladies. Prayer is in order and any jealousy or petty self-righteousness needs to cease. take joy in the success of others because it takes nothing from you. In due season you too will reap a harvest of blessings if you do not give up.

Points to Ponder: Who are you actively praying for? Do you secretly want someone to get whats coming to them? wHo have you genuinely celebrated for their success?

Lent 2020 Day 37 “Deliver Us”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%201%20Samuel%2016:11-13;%20Philippians%201:1-11

Psalm 31:9-16

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief. ¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. ¹² I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. ¹³ For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. ¹⁴ But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” ¹⁵ My times are in your hands;   deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. ¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

                                                                   Deliver Us

Have you ever been Under Attack? Have you ever lived life and Everything seemed “complicated”? Your best intentions and efforts are met with a snicker or a sneer. YOU smile and the response is a stare. YOU work overtime for underpay and everybody acts like that is what YOU were supposed to do. Life is filled with a constant barrage of Being under attack and that is frustrating. Covid19 is the most recent addition to our collective stress. People are “going through” and looking for answers. We need a deliver to deliver us from this turmoil we are in.

The writer in Psalm 31 is under attack. The whole Psalm is pointing to getting help from GOD. The writer speaks of rescue, refuge, and resilience. The writer, like us, is experiencing challenges and simply wants it to be over soon. feeling unjustly attacked,  the writer calls on GOD to come quickly and rescue him from the shenanigans of shame. The writer exclaims, ^{9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.}  The writer is in turmoil. The pain is evident and those who read this text can read and identify. During this pandemic, we are dealing with an onslaught of overwhelming scenarios. People dying alone without family or faith leader. Fearful faces as people defy shelter at home orders. Civil liberties being forfeited for a sense of security LORD have mercy is sometimes the only cry we have. Like the Psalmist many of us are crying out to YHWH for relief. Whereas there are those who are playing the blame game I encourage you to know blame never fixed anything in the moment. Deal with the situation. Deal with YOUR feelings. As long as we can blame somebody else and ask GOD for help to defeat an enemy, we can easily overlook the enemy and the friend of me in the inner me.

Lent provides us an opportunity to be introspective and identify how we may be complicit in our own struggles and also take back our power by being honest with ourselves. YHWH already knows all there is to know about us so the only deception is of ourselves. Take the time today to look deep and ask GOD to deliver us from evil and shine down the light of endless love upon us. Friends we need mercy, grace, and love.

Point to Ponder: How are you feeling. How are you dealing? What did you do today that you can celebrate?  What can we do to identify our traps and blind spots in our faith?

Lent 2020 Day 35 “Before and After Grace”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143;%202%20Kings%204:18-37;%20Ephesians%202:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10 

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Before and After Grace

Scanning through social media I came across a picture labeled before and after. The picture showed the contrast between the persons size before and after their decision to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. As you can imagine the contrast was startling. The person had lost almost 60 pounds. Quite an achievement. The question that could be asked is what was the turning point? What made them stick to the plan and eat and exercise even when sleep and slumber would have been easier. That same contrast can be observed in the life of a person who walks with Jesus. In the believers’ life there should be a before and after picture that shows the contrast between before and after grace.

The writer of Ephesians either Paul or his protege directs our attention to life before grace. Before grace, the writer say we were dead people walking in our transgressions and sins. In other words, we were caught up in an unproductive deathstyle. We were not alone. Living to satisfy our natural desires like misery loves company. When we walked that path we grew a crowd. Before grace, we were destined for wrath and destruction. We were self-consumed and selfish. We clung to a life of me first and fulfill every thirst. And then came grace. Grace, the writer says was initiated by the love of GOD and transforms us from a “deathstyle” to a lifestyle. We were once dead in sin and we became alive in Christ. Grace comes on the scene and is given to us before we started walking with GOD. Grace was the invitation to come alive. Grace sees the best in the midst of the mess in us. Grace is given not earned because if we thought we could earn it we might also think we could deserve it. There was nothing the reader could do to validate the opportunity to come alive and thrive. Grace was given without merit so that we could not boast but so that we could believe and be better for ourselves and others.

Nearing the end of the Lenten season the question is what will our before and after picture look like? Will there be any evidence of the residence of GOD in our life? Will we be more loving or patient or playful? Will our light shine brighter and our load be lighter? I encourage you today to walk with GOD and make sure we leave this experience with GOD refreshed, renewed, and restored.

Points to Ponder: Reflect on life just 35 days ago. When we began the Lenten season there was no shelter in place, no quarantine in America, no stimulus package, and no schools shut down. Now we are in another world it appears. How will you be better when the Covid19 runs its course? Will you be more loving, caring, or compassionate? What will be your before and after?

Lent 2020 Day 34 “Crying Out”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143;%201%20Kings%2017:17-24;%20Acts%2020:7-12

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, hear my prayer,  listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. ² Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous before you. ³ The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. ⁴ So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. ⁵ I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. ⁶ I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.^{[a] 7} Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. ⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.¹⁰ Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. ¹¹ For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;

    in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. ¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Crying Out

Moment by moment, day after day, life can start to wear us down. The constant barrage of obstacles and missed opportunities start to pile up. We realize we need help because we are experiencing more life than we think we can handle. Trapped in this vortex we cry out to the GOD of the Universe, “Hear my prayer oh LORD, and listen to my cry for mercy. This cry is not from our head but from a place deep within our heart. Listen LORD, Listen LORD we cry like a child calling their parent when they want their way We cry out ultimately because there is no other help we know.

This cry is the core of this Psalm. The writer is going through. He is feeling chased, crushed and on the verge of passing out under the pressure. The situation is urgent and the writer acknowledges pleads for mercy and asks not to be brought into judgment. In other words, “I know I have messed up, but please give me another chance.” I can relate to the Psalmist here and especially in vs 7 where it is written, Answer quickly LORD. When we are in a tumultuous situation we want immediate action. We desire the fastest way to pain-free stress-free living. It is frustrating to feel that YHWH must not be taking this seriously or else it would be dealt with by now. From the frustration, the writer asks for deliverance from enemies and guidance to life on level terrain.

Many people experience challenges and all they want is for things to go back to normal. What we may miss is the blessing that comes from stretching. In order to receive all that YHWH has for us, we have to make room. To do this we throw out junk and expand our space. Stretching can be unpleasant because it pushes us outside our comfort zone. The current pandemic is such a scenario. It is unexpected and quite intrusive. It is scary and nightmarish and most can’t wait for normalcy to return. Even so, I encourage us to be honest about how we are feeling and be open to how we can experience growth despite the grind. As the season of Lent and consecration ends in 6 days, let us cry, confess, and commit our lives to serve YHWH with our total being.

Points to Ponder: In what ways do you feel YHWH has been eerily silent? What is your most urgent prayer? Are you blocking your blessing? Who will you lift as you climb?

Lent 2020 Day 22 “Worthless Idols”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2081;%20Jeremiah%202:4-13;%20John%207:14-31,%2037-39

Jeremiah 2:4-13

⁴ Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.

⁵ This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. ⁶ They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ ⁷ I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. ⁸ The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. ⁹ “Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “And I will bring charges against your children’s children. ¹⁰ Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar[a] and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this: ¹¹ Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. ¹² Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. ¹³ “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Worthless Idols

There’s nothing like adversity to help us put things into perspective. Money rolls, cars, and clothes are signs of success and status in our world. Many of us work tirelessly to acquire money and the materials it can purchase. When we finally make the big purchase we have a tendency to be protective of it. I have seen fights break out over somebody accidentally stepping on someone’s new gym shoes. We cherish our things and at times we forget to remember who gave us the strength to work and the ability to get the job done. Our possessions begin to possess us. In short, we become worthless protectors of worthless idols. This will go on forever if we don’t pause and pay attention to YHWH. Adversity can help us to pause.

The Word of the LORD comes through Jeremiah for the people of Israel and we can draw meaning from it for us today. YHWH instructs Jeremiah to ask the people what faults did your ancestors find in me that they strayed so far from me? As they strayed they forfeited their value because they forgot to remember who was the ultimate provider. For us today, the question is do YOU have stuff or does stuff have YOU? What is really most important in YOUR life. Often times abundance can be just as distracting as adversity. We can become so smug in who we are and what we have that we forget to remember our CREATOR. The prophet Jeremiah says they exchanged their glorious GOD for worthless idols.

Let us be clear that not all idols are made of materials. Some of us may have made an idol of our health and others idolize their skillsets. An idol is anything that can distract us from the DIVINE. YWHW is ever-present yet we must be careful to keep our lives in a proper perspective. Scripture teaches seek first the Kingdom and all other things will be added. Lent gives us an opportunity to regulate ourselves and reclaim our joy. Lent is like a massage for the soul. We work out tensions, address problem areas, and prayerfully exit our forty days stronger and more faithful. Let’s do this.

Point to Ponder: What idols have YOU had to deal with. Is there anything between YOUR soul and YOUR savior? In what ways have YOU forsaken GOD and how will you respond?

Lent 2020 Day 20 “Wide Open”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2081;%20Genesis%2024:1-27;%202%20John%201:1-13

Psalm 81:7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,
    I answered you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[c]
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
⁹ You shall have no foreign god among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
¹⁰ I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

¹³ “If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

 

Wide Open

“You don’t hear me”. “You are not listening”. “I never said that.” “If YOU opened YOUR ears as wide as YOUR mouth YOU might learn something”. These or similar words have been uttered time and time again by people frustrated by how what they are saying is being ignored. The art of communication requires two active parties both engaged in the process. How frustrating it is when YOU are saying one thing and the person you are speaking to hears another. Think of a situation where YOU were not fully present as a listener. Think about how YOUR mind may have drifted or how YOU fixated on one thing and didn’t hear anything else. As these thoughts enter YOUR mind recognize how closed off YOU were to possibilities because YOUR mind was already made up. Instead of being open, YOU were tight as a drum.

The Israelite community is being referenced in the text from Psalm 81 as a hard-headed stubborn hearted people.  YHWH has heard their cry and responded with deliverance. When they had cried out in despair YHWH heard them. Now its time for them to listen and suddenly they act like they can’t hear. The Psalmist says, ⁸ Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel! 

If only they would listen they would learn how to sustain the blessings they had received. If only they would listen they would know to open their mouth and let YHWH fill it. This is key. A mouth has to be open to speak but it also has to be open to eat. Metaphorically an open life is able to experience abundance when it is silent enough to chew. We learned as children not to talk with food in our mouths. The people of Israel had a habit of speaking out of turn.

Halfway through Lent 2020, we have a chance to listen or to talk. Communication with YHWH is best when we don’t do all the talking. If we will but listen and follow the path YHWH has for us, we may find out that YHWH  has already worked it out. Whatever YOUR situation, actively listening to YHWH is a step in the right direction.

Point to Ponder: Have YOU talked to YHWH today? Did YOU listen or do all the talking? Who have YOU been too quick to speak and slow to listen with? Go and remember We have two eyes and ears and one mouth. We are best when we look and listen twice as much as we talk.

Lent 2020 Day 14 “Blessings”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20128;%20Isaiah%2065:17-25;%20Romans%204:6-13&version=NIV

 

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.
² You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Blessings

If YOU do right, right will follow YOU. If YOU do wrong, wrong will overtake YOU. These words were spoken to me by one of my senior members during an early pastorate and they have stuck with me. Often times while seeking to live right we encounter challenges and setbacks. During these times it helps to remember that our lives are in response to a GOD that loves us and is fully capable of providing double for all our trouble.

The Psalmist shares a reminder for all who may listen. YOU may be working hard in efforts to make it all come together in this life. YOUR preparations may be impeccable and YOUR drive is undeniable.  Still, after all that YOU have done, it is not quite coming together like YOU think it should. The Psalmist reminds us that the blessing is not just a result of our efforts but a response from our heart. Blessed is the person who fears or reverences the LORD. In other words, they have their order of operations right. The put the will of YHWH over their will and then allow THY will to be done. When we are intentional about being led by YHWH we open the door to all YHWH has for us. And that is a lot. The Psalmist says We will eat the fruit of our labors and blessings and prosperity will be ours. As we broaden our understanding of prosperity we can cherish the blessings of presence more than presents. As our Lenten journey continues my prayer for YOU is that

The Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

 

Points to Ponder: In what ways do YOU reverence GOD daily? How have YOU experienced the blessings of GOD? How can YOU be a blessing for someone else?

 

Lent 2019 Day 28 “Naughty By Nature”

Tue Apr 2

Psalm 94, 95, 97, 99, 100

Jeremiah 17:19-27

Romans 7:13-25

John 6:16-27

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+94%2C+Psalm+95%2C+Psalm+97%2C+Psalm+99%2C+Psalm+100%2C+Jeremiah+17%3A19-27%2C+Romans+7%3A13-25%2CJohn+6%3A16-27&version=NIV

^{Romans 7:15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Naughty By Nature

The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. This line written by John Steinbeck effectively captures how many feel when they start the day with good intentions and end the day in a self made hell. What comes over us? We have such good plans. We are going to love evrybody, lift as we climb, and ultimately make a positive impact on those around us. Then all of a sudden the good that we intend to do goes out of the window. Something rises up within us and we take a detour to devilment. We know better but the temptation overrides our best efforts. We sit at the end of the day with our head in our hands and futily have to acknowledge, we are “Naughty by nature”.

Paul, the writer of Romans is having a crisis. His crisis is familiar to most of us. We develop a case of the “can’t help its”. It is confusing on so many levels. Reading and relating to this text, my mind paused at the word want to do. Want is passive while work is active. All the things we want will remain wants unless or until we put in the work. The more time we spend wanting, the more time we lose working. My children will often say “I want this”, or “I want that”. My response is I want a million dollars but if I don’t work for it, it wont fall from a tree.

The Lenten season challenges us to do more than want to do good. We consecrate ourselves daily and put in the work to actually do good. Because we are wired for comfort we realize wanting without working leads to the paralysis of analysis. More than make resolutions and wishes we prepare to confront the “inner me” enemy. Yes may have a sin nature and we may fall daily, but that does not define us. Its not our falls that  make us who we are but our getting ups. We are not just naughty by nature we are also saved by grace.

Point to Ponder: How do you deal with transforming wants into works? In what ways are you naughty by nature? Can you forgive yourself and others for their best laid plans that go astray?

Lent 2019 Day 19 “Working or Wishing?”

 

Sun 3 Mar 24

Psalm 93, 96, 34

Jeremiah 6:9-15

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Mark 5:1-20

^{1 Corinthians 6:19-20} Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Have you ever looked at a bodybuilder and said wow! I can remember a time when that was the body I desired. I wanted to be ripped. All the time I spent wanting I could have spent working, After a while, I began to realize that wishing and wanting never got anything done. In order to get the body, I wanted I was going to have to work. I can remember when I would spend days and weeks thinking about running and lifting and working out. All the while I sat in front of a television and ate till my heart was content. Like many people, this led to extra weight, less mobility, and overall decreased health. I wanted something that the cruel joke of genetics and inertia kept me from. The more I wanted and didn’t work the less I was able to work,

As it is in the body so it is in the spirit realm. We are called to honor GOD with our bodies. This equates to doing more than talking about what we want to do for GOD or with our life. To honor GOD with our bodies is to be intentional about spiritually working out. When I say spiritually working out I mean daily walking more and more by faith and not by sight. To walk by faith is to pray with boldness, “not my will but thy will be done”. I am living witness of how a workout plan can transform a body. 5 years ago I weighed 50 more pounds and was essentially inactive. Today I completed 3 triathlons, a half marathon, and countless of 5K’s, all after the age of 50. What changed? I am not sure, except the more I did the more i was able to do.

A Lenten discipline can be a lot like training. There will be days we feel strong and there will be days we are worn out and don’t feel like doing anything. I encourage you today to keep at it. Don’t quit or give up. When it comes to working out I have found a little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing. Trust GOD with your life and you can look at training as providing GOD with a healthier vessel through which to work.

Point to Ponder: What have you been wishing for and not working for? How do you intend to honor GOD with YOUR body? Who can you encourage today with the life you have left?

Prayer: LORD, thank you for the price you paid to redeem me. Forgive me for all the times I acted like it was my life to do with what I wanted. From this day forward, teach me to honor you with my body more and more day by day. Have your way, you are the potter and I am the clay. AMEN

Life Application: Today move a little bit more than yesterday. Repeat this for a week, and see how you feel.