SPIRITUALLY FLABBY

Are you a spiritual 'girly man' and by this I mean do you just give lip service to the word and walking with Christ or are you serious about getting closer to God and knowing him better? People can say that they want to get in shape and lose weight but talking about it will not make it happen. They have to get serious and get committed to making it part of their daily life in order to tone their muscles and lose flab. Thinking about it will not make them in shape. 2 Peter 3:18 says "But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be all the glory and splendid honor both now and forever more." To grow in Christ we do not just lay the Bible down on a table and let it gather dust or maybe put it on our pillow at night and sleep on it as maybe some of it will soak into our brain. It takes desire, discipline and commitment just like when you work your physical body to get it in better shape.

Where do you spend your time? Those who need to lose weight and tone up should make it a daily point to spend time on a treadmill or sidewalk outside or at a gym. For those wanting to be closer to God they need to spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. Do you spend time ever reading the Bible or if you have a choice between a Christian book or a secular book do you always lean towards the secular book? Does 'People' magazine excite you more than reading the Bible and learning how to be more like Jesus? Why does it matter what actor Charlie Sheen is doing this week? Or teen idol Justin Bieber, I am sure he is  nice, but do you think more of him every day than you do things of the spirit?You get the point. 'Oprah' may be your thing or 'soap operas' and for sure neither of these will help you grow closer to the Lord and more than likely will pull you the opposite direction and become major time wasters in your day. Maybe turn off the morning shows which have just wasted two hours of your day and have added nothing of value to your life.

Just like we have muscles in our body that if we neglect them over time they become weak, unattractive and flabby so to we need to exercise our 'spiritual muscle' to we do not become weak ineffective Christians. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."

You have to develop good habits to get physically in shape and it has to be a priority if you expect to tone up. If it is not important then you stay flabby. If you are serious about having a closer walk with the Lord then you will do what it takes to get closer. Get up earlier to read a devotion. Tune in a Christian station on your radio to get some uplifting praise music instead of always listening to pop music or talk radio or find some good Christian teaching. The things of the world are not bad  in and of themselves, but your life as a Christian has to be different and set apart and you have to discipline yourself to doing things that give you a desire for the Lord and less desire for the world. This world is not our home. We are temporarily here.1 Peter 2:11 tells us "Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls." This does not mean you can never go to a regular movie like 'Toy Story III' or '127 Hours' or go do something like enjoy a play or an 'open mike night' at a local coffee house. It simply means to 'order' your day to make you think of the 'things of the spirit' more. If you are trying to lose weight and get in shape you need to discipline yourself to stay away from pasta houses, fried chicken joints, donut shops, ice cream stores,  and yes places with whipped iced coffee drinks.

So in order to not be spiritually flabby you need to make it a daily priority to spend time in his word. Start today and each morning to get started since there are 31 days in a normal month, whatever day this is pick the corresponding chapter in say the book of Proverbs since it has 31 chapters and before reading stop and pray and say "Lord open my eyes to the truth you would have me to learn today from your word." The enemy, Satan , does not want you to grow closer to Christ so he will throw distractions at you. You need to resist him. James 4:7 says "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

PRAYER: I want to strengthen my 'spiritaul muscles' each day Lord. Forgive me for when I put you last in my day and sometimes forget you all together. Give me the ability to say no to things in my day that take me away from you and help me find a quiet place each day I can go be with you and hear your voice. In Jesus Name. Amen.


(NOTE: I include an appropriate praise and worship song with some of my devotions. Some of you have not realized this and have not been blessed by this music. I urge you to go where you can turn up speakers and perhaps for some you have to wait til you are home from work and do it on your own computer but do not miss the blessing of the attached song of praise which will lift your spirit.)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXGxtYxjyg