And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
I think our Father God has a sense of humor. Why, because I started to "diet" last week. How many of us begin to "lose weight" with every good intention??? Too many, I'm sure. It isn't easy to plod along, denying ourselves such pleasures as cookies, ice cream, chocolate candy bars...add your favorite tempting delight.
With that in mind, when I began to look into the scriptures on this topic, I found a wonderful commentary--The Life Application Bible: "The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run with endurance, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight."
I know that unless you were born recently and/or with a very fast burning metabolism, you may have reached a time that you to wanted to "lose weight." I have not only wanted to reach a weight loss goal for appearance's sake, but for the sake of my "aching" back. In that endeavor, I "weigh" daily, something my husband said to do only weekly! But, if I don't have a fresh reminder of the distance to go toward my goal, then I "forget" what my desire is and how much farther away it is.
Well, as you may have realized by now, this applies so appropriately to our Christian GROWTH as well as our physical bodies. We have to do something...anything and everything to rid ourselves of "weights" of the evil kind when we apply this principle to spiritual matters.
Although I had resisted "sweets" for an entire week, we attended a church gathering where, in their desire to be hospitable, there was a sugar cookie on a plate right in front of me, along with chocolate kisses...hmmm. Guess what! I succumbed to the temptation by not just eating one, but TWO!!! Please think with me that if the simple urge to taste a sugar cookie could take over in a moment my higher desire to drop some pounds, then we get the idea that spiritually, we better stay as far from "temptation" of a more sinister sort, as we possibly can.
You may have heard that "Satan goes about as a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." He doesn't show up all "scary," but can appear as "an angel of light." He is a "deceiver" and wants to trick us in our Christian walk...in so many dubious ways.
We may delight in the things of this world or get side-tracked off the path of holiness or give in to those "lusts" named flesh, eyes or "other" things. Regardless of his tactics, we must be like good soldiers and wear the spiritual armor provided. It is adequate, but just like any soldier, if it isn't on...it doesn't help!!! I know some folks pray it on daily by faith, however, it is my personal belief that armor represents "lifestyle." It becomes "who we are"...not just what we add. It reveals our heart and mind, as fruit reveals the type of tree it falls from. I don't wish to discourage anyone from the practice of praying it on, but as prophets were told to "eat" the word....we should also, and then it becomes who we are...no longer identifiable except through the strength and health it provides.
Please look into what the Bible says to see if you are "advancing" or "retreating" or "regressing" in regard to your spiritual pursuit! I could quote a number of scriptures, but how much better if you look for it as you would "gold" or silver and the accompanying thrill of hearing from God for YOURSELF! Just simply make a resolution and stick with it! I have and I'm so glad I have, because the time is drawing nearer every day for either the Rapture or if not, my own departure. There is no fear of death when you KNOW where you are going.
GO WITH ME! It's a wonderful journey:>)
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