Do the Thing

The past few months have been awash in newness. Almost all of that newness has been incredible. But even in that newness, the my past still came after me. Insecurities that had been buried or forgotten showed themselves to be quite alive. Those spiritual, personal, mental, emotional un-dead had been hurt and cast aside but never quite finished off a lá Rick Grimes and company. One Sunday at the end of service, we were given time to pray, and I prayed for the same things that I’ve prayed about for as long as I’ve been aware of the things I need in my life - boldness, wisdom, strength. And then I was led deeper, to examine the underlying issues that prevent me from experiencing those things. At the center of it all is my weight. This is not to say that anyone has judged or denied me anything because of my size. I’m talking solely about me. I have missed out on many things because I can’t see past myself (literally and figuratively). At that point, I asked God, like I have a thousand times before, for help. “Help me to lose weight, so I can see myself properly as you have made me.”

And God said to me, quite directly, “Ok. Go and do it.”

You can imagine how irritating this answer is. If not, let me break it down for you: I asked God for help. AKA - I wanted him to do it. I don’t know how - like make me wake up much thinner, I guess. I know God doesn’t work like that BUT WHAT IF HE DID. No, ok, but I was wanting this supernatural urge to just get out and run or whatever it is that skinny people do, and to suddenly have a revulsion to sweet tea and bacon. But nooooooooooo, God wants ME to do it. I mean, how? How am I going to lose weight? When am I going to work out? I already get up early and am exhausted! What if people make fun of me? What if I can’t afford anything!?!?!? I am really good at asking God questions that I think he won’t be able to answer and in so doing just give me what I want.

Then I remembered that a Planet Fitness recently opened about 10 minutes from my home. Planet Fitness’ thing is that they are a “Judgement Free Zone.” They have a “lunk” alarm that goes off if someone is being an idiot with the weights and tank tops and grunting. Oh, it’s affordable. Oh, it’s open 24 hours. Oh and you can sit in a massage chair after you’re done.

So the next day, I told Lisa that I need to join a gym. That evening, I picked up my membership card. I got up at 4am the next morning to workout. And I’ve done that 6 days a week for the last 3 weeks. I’ve lost a few pounds, but my confidence is slowly increasing. Do I wake up with that supernatural urge to follow the directions of the Lord? No. Not at all. Most mornings I fight back all the reasons it’ll be ok to skip a workout “just this once.” But I think that’s the point. Every day I get to the gym is a victory. Heeding the alarm clock, for me, is heeding the Voice of God.

Let me encourage those of you who may be like me: the doubters, the weary, the worn out, the skeptics, the ones that have asked for years and have nothing to show for it. Go to Jesus with your complaint. He’s a big God, and he can take it. Let all that anger, the rage, the sadness, the disappointment, let it all out. Let it out, and then let it go. But here’s the part that I knew for years, but never really understood… be prepared for the Answer.

Remember Job: He lost everything even though he was faithful to God’s commands, and then his wife and friends all called him stupid, or sinful, or a stupid sinful sinner who just HAS to be getting what he deserves. Even Job wished he’d never been born. But a funny thing happens after Job pours out his wrath at God and his friends… God shows up. God has not only heard Job’s complaints, but he has come down to answer. And God’s response is not all sunshine and roses. He pretty bluntly tells Job that He’s God and God’s gonna do what God’s going to do - yet in all that, God proclaims Job without sin. He even tells Job’s friends that they better beg Job to pray for them for being such idiots (I am not making this up!).

Have that conversation with God. Open yourself. Prepare yourself for the answer. It may not be what you’re expecting. But from that answer you can expect God to move for you.

Do the thing.

#devotions #jesus #spiritual #WalkingDead #WorkOut