That was a few weeks ago and I am reminded today of the over-ambitious attitude that I had. Yesterday I decided to do one of Bob Harper exercise videos that I purchased. Now don’t get me wrong, “I love Bob,” but it has been a while since I have exercised on a regular basis. It was only 15 minutes into the workout and I was lying on the floor, panting, and chugging the water I fortunately grabbed before the workout. It was pathetic. (Esther if you could have seen me you would have laughed!)

The effort was not totally wasted however. There is a nice burn in my legs from the 15 minutes of squats at the beginning of the video. Mostly though, that just shows you how out of shape I am. My goal for the summer is to get in shape and eat healthy. The healthy eating diet has yet to be established… I need to do some research on that. Exercising though seems pretty straight forward: getting on a running plan for non-runners and doing reasonable – but challenging – exercise videos.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” -Anonymous

Disciplined in What? Obedience.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

The Christian life is a call to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow, to be a living sacrifice, to take self off the throne of our hearts and bow down to the King of kings and Lord of lords. How can be possibly do such grandiose things? Not by our own strength or power. Only by crying out to him and saying, “I can’t, but you can,” can we find power to follow and obey.

Christ several times says that obedience is love. How often do we try to put love before obedience? When I feel that I love God then I will obey. How fickle are our feelings! Never are they the same two days in a row. It is by obedience that I learn to walk with my Lord; by waling with my Lord I learn to love the one who gave up his life for mine.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:9-14

True joy is found in obedience and remaining in the Father’s love. We have been called to bear lasting fruit in this world through obedience. We store up our treasure in heaven were if reaps great reward.

Often times I feel like I take one step forward in obedience and three steps backwards. Why can’t I do the things I want to? The grace of God is so great! He loves me just as I am. Whether a saint or a sinner he loves me the same. But, He loves me too much to want me to stay in the filth of my sin. so He beckons me through one step of obedience at a time to follow Him.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” – Anonymous

Dedicated to what? Truth.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. (John 18:37-38a)

What is truth? The ageold question that seems especially prevalent in our culture today. Sadly even Christians seem to be struggling with this question. A Barna study shows that when asked a series of questions about Christian faith only 8% of people in the United States truly have a Bible-based worldview. And when the same questions were asked of only professing evangelical Christians only 9% had a worldview that was aligned with the Bible.

One of the reasons I believe that we have gotten away from the roots of our faith is that we are afraid to proclaim the truth. We are afraid to take sides. God is the author of truth and Satan is the father of lies. Truth vs. Lies is the battle that has been waged from the beginning.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Transformation comes by the renewing of our mind. We expect our hearts to change first or some spiritual awakening to happen suddenly in our lives. First we deal with the mind and the heart will follow. What do we renew our minds with? The truth of God’s word. With renewed minds we can be wary of the subtle – or not so subtle – deceptions Satan attacks us with. And with renewed minds we are also discerning of what God’s will is.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test a approve what God’s will is, his good pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” – Anonymous

Focused on What? Jesus Christ.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right had of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

My life is so often focused on everything but what it should be focused on. Just yesterday I got up on the wrong side of the bed. The hum drums had gotten a hold of me and didn’t want to let go. Why? Because I got so focused on my schoolwork and what wasn’t getting done. When you get focused on what isn’t happening it depresses you and you are even less able to do that thing which got you here in the first place. Oh what a vicious cycle is created!

We can let ourselves get so focused on “good” things that we lose sight of what is really important, our personal relationship with our Savior and renewing our mind through his word. For me schoolwork has been at the forefront of my mind. That has only led to worry about what was not getting done and stress. But, if I hand this over to god he can handle it. This doesn’t mean not doing schoolwork, but placing all my anxiety about it in His hands and focusing on Him instead of it. He knows what is best for me and in his grace can manage my time better than I can.

The other thing that has fallen by the wayside is my quiet time. So I am back at it this morning, getting up at 6 am. I have also decided to turn off the CD player when going to bed. God should be my last though at night and my first thought in the morning.