I absolutely hate working out. The thought of getting up and going to the gym gives me a mini-anxiety attack every day. As a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, I am not using that term loosely, I am being honest- I have anxiety attacks before going to the gym. I couldn’t tell you why, but in the hours leading up to a gym visit, my heart starts racing and I picture myself anywhere but at the gym. The sheer thought of putting on a sports bra, pulling up those spandex pants, and lacing up those Filas sends me into a spell of rapid breathing, wandering thoughts, and slight nausea. I really do hate working out, but apparently it is one of two ways to get to improved health (with the other being a change in diet)… and that is my motivation. That is my WHY; that is my push to go forward.
I am single and not a parent (yet… both will change in due time) and one of my greatest desires is to be able to physically run around and play with my children. I do not desire to be a couch-parent, sending my child for the remote that is two feet in front of me. No, I want to be an active parent who fully engages in activities with my child(ren). I want to be able to chase them around the playground, withstand whichever sport(s) catches their attention, and be around for as long as God gives me strength. I want my time with my children to be meaningful and memorable; I do not want them to remember mommy being too sick and/or tired to engage with them. (I have seen that within my own family and I do not want that for my kids… it is too heartbreaking.) I always want my actions to match my words and for my children to know that their biggest cheerleader and first/favorite athletic trainer is dear ol’ mommy.
I also want to defeat every genetic disease that flows through the blood of my family. Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney issues, etc. all stop with the generation before me. I refuse to claim any of that for myself or the generations to come after me. I speak health and wellness over my life and the lives of those after me. Preventable conditions will not take another member of my family; sickness will bow to the mighty name of Jesus.
Complete- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual- wellness is the desire of my heart. And with that, I know that until God sends me my husband and our future babies, I must work for the things that I desire.
That’s what God is calling this season of my life- The Workout.
This is the time where I diligently prepare for the overflow and increase that God promised for my life.
This is the time where I train and condition my heart for what is yet to come.
Care to join me for a spiritual workout?
Alrighty; let’s go!
When we think of the promises of God, instinctively our minds run to Jeremiah 29:11 and 2 Corinthians 2:9. We recall the words of God where He says that He has plans for our lives and that they are greater than we can even comprehend. We all think of those scriptures… hello, even I know them by heart… yet we seldom think about the fact that there is a waiting period on the promises of God. God is all-knowing (omniscient) and can see the past, the present, and the future simultaneously. So when He says that He has greatness for us, it’s because He can see all moments in time and knows that it will come to pass. However we must remember that what is but a brief moment for God translates to a waiting period for us.
So what do we do while we wait?
We train and prepare for what’s coming next.
In the months and weeks leading up to any big competition, athletes all over the world increase their training time. They work on defeating their greatest competition (the person in the mirror) and learn new ways to be better than the day before. They train extensively because on the day of the competition, they want to be ready.
Beloved, are you ready for game/competition day? Are you- spiritually, mentally, and emotionally- ready for that day when God changes your whole life? For some that change can be a good thing- marriage, the birth of a child, a new home, or even a new job. Yet for others, that change could be the worst thing ever- loss of a job, loss of a relationship, or even the loss of a loved one. But considering that the only constant in life is change, I can confidently tell you that change is coming… and I can strongly urge you to be ready for it when it comes.
When I think of being spiritually ready or a spiritual workout, I think of Ephesians 6:12-18. That was the scripture passage that God gave me for 2019. He told me that this year I would have to F.I.G.H.T. and that I needed to stay ready for battle. On January 1st, I had no clue what that meant, but on October 21st, my heart fully understands. As I wait (with expectation, anticipation, and worship) for God to fulfill His word in my life, I continue to ready myself in every way possible. Whether “readying” means going to the gym to prepare for joyful runs with my children, or “running” to my bible to prepare for spiritual battle, I am doing what I must in order to prepare for what lies ahead.
Quick question: Are you ready to workout? I mean, are you really ready to put in some spiritual, emotional, and mental work so that God can prepare you for the plans He has for your life?
If you are, lace up your shoes and meet me at the track of life ‘cause we’ve got some training to do!
Be blessed!
*Funny sidenote: my new workout plan involves Monday-Friday workouts… and I was definitely at the gym this morning, after my anxiety attack, thinking about this #MondayMessage. Whew… and I praise God for the workout! *
God Happened To ME Ministries, LLC 