Everyone knows that getting into physical shape takes determination, will power, exercise and diet; but do you know that getting into spiritual shape requires the same tools? Yes, if you want to get yourself into shape spiritually, you will need all of these:
Determination - fixing or setting a purpose; act of discovering something
Will Power - control of one's actions or impulses; self-control
Exercise - the act of carrying out the terms of an agreement
Diet - habitual nourishment
Determination:
The act of discovering something...yes, the path to spiritual health is a journey that will take you down the path of self discovery; you will discover how God, the Creator of All things, sees you; you will discover the authority you have in Him; you will discover the promises of blessings that He offers; you will discover who you are in Christ! That is the "something" you will discover if you have the determination to follow through and not give up.
Will Power:
It will take great control over your impulses to continue on the path of spiritual growth but as you go, you will learn that you are never alone :) When you feel like you cannot take another step, stop and simply ask the Father to help you; you cannot do it on your own. You will need to take the power over you will to quit...because you will feel like giving up, trust me. The enemy of your soul does not want you to grow closer and stronger in the Lord so he will test you....he will push you to your limit and then push a little harder. You will want to stop but do not give up or give it! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
Exercise:
What agreement is there you ask? Well, the agreement between you and God. He did not send His Son to suffer in the flesh and die a horrible death just so that you can "skate by"...no my friend...God sent His Son so that you could have life and have it to the fullest...so you could be made whole! The journey of spiritual health includes you carrying out your portion of the agreement...you must grow in your faith. His Word says...faith without deeds is dead and to those that know what to do, and do not do it, it is sin.
Diet:
A habit of nourishing your mind with God's Word...He does say that we should renew our mind and we do this daily. Reading His Word and praying should become our habit. We feed off of the life giving words found in the Bible and He sustains us with His words as we pray.
Prayer is not complicated nor does it need to be mysterious. Prayer is simply a conversation with a friend, that friend being God. You reveal what is in your heart by being honest and He will speak to you...remember, a conversation is not one sided :) He speaks to each of us differently but He still speaks to each of us.
So this journey of spiritual wellness requires the same tools as does physical wellness....are you ready to take the first step of your journey?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Living within the boundries of The Status Quo....
The Status Quo... the condition or state of affairs that currently exists; The American Heritage New Dictionary defines it as the existing order of things; present customs, practices, and power relations: This is what we have come to know as the meaning of status quo....basically, it is what is is. My question to you is this....Is that all that it is?
If you are anything like me then you have been in situations where it just seems that things will never change; times where that phrase becomes a haunting repetition in your mind - over and over it seems to play in your head.... It is what it is, and it will never change. That is living in a place of hopelessness! That is living in the boundaries of the "status quo" and those boundaries become prison walls if not questioned and challenged and moved!
STATUS is a condition that is subject to change
Hmmm...a condition that is 'subject to change' is one that is not meant to remain the same...it is subject to change. The term subject in this context has an interesting definition; open or exposed. Therefore, 'subject to change' then becomes 'open or exposed to change'.
Subject also means being under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a sovereign or some governing power; owing allegiance or obedience.
This phrase...this mantra that has hissed at me in times past is slowly taking on a new meaning :)
Subject to change....being under dominion to change; being under authority to change...owing obedience to change....This status or the condition that currently exists owes its obedience to change!
QUO is latin for "to which place" "to what place".
Thus, the 'status quo' is rightfully defined as being a condition or situation that owes its obedience to change; change to which and/or to what place.....Yes, that is THE question. To which place are you going to allow your current situation to change? By definition change has dominion over your situation but you have authority over "what place" change will take you. That's right...you have the authority.
The Bible tells us in Luke 10:19-20 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice , because your names are written in heaven. " That is a wonderful promise from our Father in Heaven! You have the authority because the Creator has given it to you...this is the authority with which you direct the path this change has on your situation. It is NOT hopeless anymore :)
I believe that God is dissatisfied with the "status quo" in our country and in our lives. We have swallowed the pill that tells us that "it is what it is" or that "it will never change"....and this is a dangerous place to set up camp!
God is all about changing us; if we would allow Him, He would be continually changing our hearts. 2 Corinthians even tells us that we are being transformed...from glory to glory. God says our situation is subject to change...He says He sets before us each day a choice...blessings or cursing; life or death...it is a choice that we must make. Ever wonder why sometimes it feels like all hell as broken loose in your life? Dear one, if you decide not to choose than you have just subjected yourself to the dominion of change that the enemy will bring.
Accepting "the status quo" is rejecting the blessing of authority that God Himself has given to you! I say challenge the status quo...get mad enough in your current situation that you feel like flipping things upside down just like Jesus did when he flipped the tables of the money changers in the temple.
The church has become too comfortable with the way things currently exist...we have been lulled into believing that change is not a good thing and we have become comfortable with how our lives are functioning. After all, it does not take any real work to maintain and be "steady as she goes"...we simply sit in a pew, listen to the service and walk out the door...what work is there is that? No the real work is in standing up and walking in the authority you have been given by the Father....now that takes work! That is a daily decision to make a difference, to initiate change, to take authority and be responsible for the direction of our life.
My hope is that the body of Christ will soon realize that we need to change....we are each responsible to walk out our faith in such a way that the world takes notice...not of us, but of our God! It's time to take God out of our neatly decorated boxes and allow the Creator to....well, to be creative :)
We need to become dissatisfied with the status quo and challenge what we accept as "normal" and step out of our comfort zone...you just might be surprised where your feet land ;)
If you are anything like me then you have been in situations where it just seems that things will never change; times where that phrase becomes a haunting repetition in your mind - over and over it seems to play in your head.... It is what it is, and it will never change. That is living in a place of hopelessness! That is living in the boundaries of the "status quo" and those boundaries become prison walls if not questioned and challenged and moved!
STATUS is a condition that is subject to change
Hmmm...a condition that is 'subject to change' is one that is not meant to remain the same...it is subject to change. The term subject in this context has an interesting definition; open or exposed. Therefore, 'subject to change' then becomes 'open or exposed to change'.
Subject also means being under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a sovereign or some governing power; owing allegiance or obedience.
This phrase...this mantra that has hissed at me in times past is slowly taking on a new meaning :)
Subject to change....being under dominion to change; being under authority to change...owing obedience to change....This status or the condition that currently exists owes its obedience to change!
QUO is latin for "to which place" "to what place".
Thus, the 'status quo' is rightfully defined as being a condition or situation that owes its obedience to change; change to which and/or to what place.....Yes, that is THE question. To which place are you going to allow your current situation to change? By definition change has dominion over your situation but you have authority over "what place" change will take you. That's right...you have the authority.
The Bible tells us in Luke 10:19-20 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice , because your names are written in heaven. " That is a wonderful promise from our Father in Heaven! You have the authority because the Creator has given it to you...this is the authority with which you direct the path this change has on your situation. It is NOT hopeless anymore :)
I believe that God is dissatisfied with the "status quo" in our country and in our lives. We have swallowed the pill that tells us that "it is what it is" or that "it will never change"....and this is a dangerous place to set up camp!
God is all about changing us; if we would allow Him, He would be continually changing our hearts. 2 Corinthians even tells us that we are being transformed...from glory to glory. God says our situation is subject to change...He says He sets before us each day a choice...blessings or cursing; life or death...it is a choice that we must make. Ever wonder why sometimes it feels like all hell as broken loose in your life? Dear one, if you decide not to choose than you have just subjected yourself to the dominion of change that the enemy will bring.
Accepting "the status quo" is rejecting the blessing of authority that God Himself has given to you! I say challenge the status quo...get mad enough in your current situation that you feel like flipping things upside down just like Jesus did when he flipped the tables of the money changers in the temple.
The church has become too comfortable with the way things currently exist...we have been lulled into believing that change is not a good thing and we have become comfortable with how our lives are functioning. After all, it does not take any real work to maintain and be "steady as she goes"...we simply sit in a pew, listen to the service and walk out the door...what work is there is that? No the real work is in standing up and walking in the authority you have been given by the Father....now that takes work! That is a daily decision to make a difference, to initiate change, to take authority and be responsible for the direction of our life.
My hope is that the body of Christ will soon realize that we need to change....we are each responsible to walk out our faith in such a way that the world takes notice...not of us, but of our God! It's time to take God out of our neatly decorated boxes and allow the Creator to....well, to be creative :)
We need to become dissatisfied with the status quo and challenge what we accept as "normal" and step out of our comfort zone...you just might be surprised where your feet land ;)
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