Training Ground...

I recently started excercising...

Not only did I start water aerobics with a friend, but I've also been exercising my thoughts.

Well, more like training...I recently started training.

My appetites are out-of-control: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

It recently dawned on me that as long as I continue to do the same things over and over, I will continue to have the same results over and over. Now, this is rather obvious to the person who isn't very "hard-headed"; however, I tend to be very "stuck" in my ways...or should I say "have been stuck in my ways in the past" (as my words are another area of training ground for me).

My flesh totally has to be reigned in because I'm allowing it to reign over me! As a daughter of the King, I am allowing myself to be enslaved by all of these things that have no authority over me, yet I lay captive like a dead dog with no position or power.

I get very overwhelmed by the "big picture" of life, so I have to have it broken down in steps in order for the "big picture" to work in my life. It's just the way (at least for now) that my mind operates. I actually see the "big picture" and immediately declare defeat over the situation because there's "TOO much to do to "get there"...

So in reality, it's not the way my mind works, but rather the way the enemy plays on my emotions so I will "play dead" before the "game" even begins.

Physically, I am a 350+ lb. woman who is usually too tired to enjoy life. Over the years, I put on the weight as protection, to keep people away. Recently, I realized "I really, really LIKE people, and I want to be around people!" And truth be told, I really hide behind this computer screen TOO much because readers see my heart, not my weight. I am tired of being afraid to live! I am tired of not being able to run and play with my kids! I am tired of wearing overly huge clothes to try to hide the layers of fat rolls protruding from my body!

So, I started water aerobics, and started keeping a food diary of what I am eating. The big picture is that I want to be physically healthy. I am simply taking two steps toward that goal right now. THAT I can do! The big picture, no, but two steps, YES!

Emotionally, I choose depression and isolation as my "choice feelings". Not necessarily because I like them, but they are comfortable "clothes" to wear. They are the "shoes that have been broken in" and the "puzzle that has been put together a million times blindfolded". Do you have any clue how easily it is to keep people away when you are depressed??? NO ONE enjoys being around depressed people, not because they don't care, but because most of the time, they have NO idea what to do or say to make the depression go away!

And golly gee, have you ever tried to get through a "wall" an isolated person puts up? NOT very easy at all! But see, there seems to be a problem with these emotions because remember what I just said, "I realized I really, really like people, and I want to be around people!" Emotionally, there needs to be exercising of my mind and therefore, the training begins because I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE MIND OF CHRIST AND CHRIST LOVES PEOPLE...

Don't even get me going on my spiritual life!!! Golly gee willikers (spell checker went wild over that one!)...

Being a Christian should NOT involve turning back or giving up! (in the fight of life anyway). The armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6, includes:

1) Helmet of Salvation
2) Sword of the Spirit
3) Breastplate of righteousness
4) Belt of Truth
5) Feet fitted with the gospel of peace
6) Shield of faith

NO WHERE in that passage does Paul explain a piece of armor for our backside! There's no "butt cushion" for when we don't feel like fighting anymore. There's also not a shield for our back to protect arrows from piercing our heart from behind.

If we were meant to turn back or give up in battle, there would have been spiritual armor analogies for those body parts, because when we are called into battle, we are given all the artillery and armor that we need to encounter the enemy.

So, let me ask you this question from Galations 5:7-8...

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!"

And remind you of this from Ephesians 6:13...

"Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, TO STAND!"

Let me take you to Joshua 1:2...

"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them , to the Israelites. I will give you EVERY place you set your foot, as I promised Moses."

...And Joshua 5:14-15

"...Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'what message does my Lord have for his servant?' The commander of the Lord's army replied, 'take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so."

These are the verses God has taken me to lately in my "training manual", His Holy Word, the Bible, as I train for this chapter of my life. I am also reminded of the "if/then" themes throughout the Bible.

If you do your part, then God will do His. God doesn't NEED our help in order to do His part. He ALONE is God! But I believe there are times where He challenges us to LIVE out those things we say we believe in.

He says, "If you give me your false pretences about how YOU think I should handle this situation, THEN, and only then, can I TRULY show you exactly what I can do!"

And we know that God says...

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts!" Isaiah 55:8-9

So, let me ask you one more question...How can you move one step closer to God today and to step into the calling He's laid before you???

IF you "go there", THEN God will totally blow your socks off and show you HIS power in your situation!

One final thought from God as told to Joshua...

"...Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified, Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with your wherever you go!" Joshua 1:9