Monday, July 25, 2011

Revelations at the gym of God and Life

If you are like me, you get your best ideas and revelation when you are just doing ordinary, every day things like driving or going to the gym. I want to share a couple of revelations that really lifted my spirits today as I was working out at the gym.

1. Jesus loves us. Although this concept is as old as the world, it hit me fresh as I heard “Oh How He Loves Us” on my iPod at the gym. I love how God gives fresh revelation in the most unlikely times. As I looked at each one of God’s precious children, I fought back tears lest the other gym goers think that I need medical assistance. We are each so precious to Him and He loves us just as we are--flaws, messy life, bad habits and all. God loves us. God. Loves. Us. He loves us. This is really all that I need to get in this life to be free. As John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Thank you God for elucidating those tried, yet true Words.

2. In order to focus, I have to be doing the thing. This one is also another mountain for me but it hit me as I was thinking about how I hate the gym. I hate it…until I finish, of course. But it isn’t until I actually put on my tennis shoes and do the thing that I need to do before I start to enjoy it and I can focus on doing it. I lament all of the time: I need to have a more regular quiet time, I need to pick up more, I need to do this... or whatever. But I am not doing it. If I could only DO IT, then I could focus! This Scripture came to mind: “…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). The feeling and the focus will come, but for now I just need to DO IT and forget about the rest!