When thinking about a fingerprint what comes to mind is mine is one of a kind. No one else in the entire world has the same fingerprint as myself. Even twins have different fingerprints. This identification system is quite intricate.
When I look around I see fingerprints all over. Who's fingerprints? The finger prints of God. Upon reflecting on my life I see where God has worked and when looking at my situations now I can see where God is working. I was once blind but now I can see.
In His word he tells me that Truth. John9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
I can see that the Lord has been good to me. I've experienced abuse, feeling of abandonment, hopelessness and feeling lost in the past. I couldn't see Jesus in any of the bad circumstances but I know now that those experiences are a stepping stone to reaching the lost and hopeless. I know the same pain and can reach out to them. Through the people he placed in my life in my past has given me a passion to reach Japan. I can see his fingerprints in my life, in the bad and good times.
I thank the Lord for the blessings he has poured out on me. The body of Christ he has made me a part of in San Diego is so amazing and is more than I could ever have imagined. The people he has placed in my life are a testament to when he calls himself Jehova Jireh, The Lord will provide. Everywhere I look I see his fingerprints. He has surely provided for me and I thank him for his loving kindness. I am so grateful for all he is doing and I'm excited at the works he is preparing me to do.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Spiritual Fitness
"Oh no...they said fitness. This is not going to be fun."
I remember in the past that I dreaded the word fitness. It meant that I'm going to have to do something that I don't like doing. In physical education in school they made me run, work out and feel tired. I was not a happy camper when it came to P.E. It was probably my least favorite class next to mathematics. I always thought it was pointless, "after all I can run if I want too, I can play sports just fine, etc." What happened to me was that I conditioned myself to think negatively about keeping myself healthy.
Now that's a word I liked better, health, I thought to myself, "I'm healthy, I don't need to do this at all."
I'm 22 now and the Lord has changed my attitude towards fitness. Physical fitness isn't so bad anymore, but there is one type of fitness that is even more important. And that's spiritual fitness. Being spiritually healthy. Living life to the fullest in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Lord has promised us so much, but if we are dying spiritually, that is, our relationship with God is being put off to the side, then we cannot enjoy the rest for our soul the Lord has promised.
Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Along with this in scripture there are a few verses talking about walking and running. First I want to pose this questions, "If you are not physically fit are you able to run well?" In my experience it kills me to run when I'm not in shape.
I do believe this applies to spiritual health as well. If you try running the race without being equipped by God and putting Him first you're setting yourself up to fall down.
Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 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 hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
To run the race marked out for us, we need to be spiritual fit which is fixing our eyes on Jesus. This is seeking first the kingdom of God. Our relationship with God comes first.
Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So we're to seek Him first. It then tells us not to worry about tomorrow. I think this is key to finding rest for your soul in the Lord. To be fit is to persevere under trials, such as running a marathon. You cannot run a marathon if you are not fit to do so. Therefor you cannot run the race marked out if you are not spiritually fit. Walking the race is not what we've been called to do.
My prayer is that we would come to desire to know the Lord more, that we would grow in our relationship with the Lord and become spiritually fit. Spiritually fit so when God speaks us into motion we can run and not be weary. The power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that is in us. May we trust in the Lord and take life lived for him to the next level. I love you Lord and thank you for being El Shaddai to me.
I remember in the past that I dreaded the word fitness. It meant that I'm going to have to do something that I don't like doing. In physical education in school they made me run, work out and feel tired. I was not a happy camper when it came to P.E. It was probably my least favorite class next to mathematics. I always thought it was pointless, "after all I can run if I want too, I can play sports just fine, etc." What happened to me was that I conditioned myself to think negatively about keeping myself healthy.
Now that's a word I liked better, health, I thought to myself, "I'm healthy, I don't need to do this at all."
I'm 22 now and the Lord has changed my attitude towards fitness. Physical fitness isn't so bad anymore, but there is one type of fitness that is even more important. And that's spiritual fitness. Being spiritually healthy. Living life to the fullest in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Lord has promised us so much, but if we are dying spiritually, that is, our relationship with God is being put off to the side, then we cannot enjoy the rest for our soul the Lord has promised.
Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Along with this in scripture there are a few verses talking about walking and running. First I want to pose this questions, "If you are not physically fit are you able to run well?" In my experience it kills me to run when I'm not in shape.
I do believe this applies to spiritual health as well. If you try running the race without being equipped by God and putting Him first you're setting yourself up to fall down.
Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 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 hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
To run the race marked out for us, we need to be spiritual fit which is fixing our eyes on Jesus. This is seeking first the kingdom of God. Our relationship with God comes first.
Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So we're to seek Him first. It then tells us not to worry about tomorrow. I think this is key to finding rest for your soul in the Lord. To be fit is to persevere under trials, such as running a marathon. You cannot run a marathon if you are not fit to do so. Therefor you cannot run the race marked out if you are not spiritually fit. Walking the race is not what we've been called to do.
My prayer is that we would come to desire to know the Lord more, that we would grow in our relationship with the Lord and become spiritually fit. Spiritually fit so when God speaks us into motion we can run and not be weary. The power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that is in us. May we trust in the Lord and take life lived for him to the next level. I love you Lord and thank you for being El Shaddai to me.
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