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May
Jell-O Legs
A bit advice for husbands: when your wife asks you to do a RPM spin class at the gym, politely say no. If not you’ll find yourself in the same awkward predicament I experienced a few days ago. In a room full of stationary bikes, ladies surrounded me with not another guy in sight. Jenn failed to inform me that those who tend to do spin class are of the female variety.
Feeling completely out of place, I plopped down on a bike against the back wall and slowly began to pedal. The instructor began barking out directions, and the class began.
Ten minutes in, I was feeling quite manly. I had hardly broken a sweat, and everyone else was grabbing towels and guzzling water. This confidence crumbled the moment we were told to stand up for an approaching hill.
I attempted to pop up on my feet, but my pedals wouldn’t hold my weight. The woman beside me, sensing she had a spin class rookie on her hands – and an uncoordinated one to boot – took pity on me and helpfully turned the resistance knob on my bike up numerous notches.
The weight sent shockwaves to my knees, calves, thighs and every other muscle in my legs. By the time we hit the top of what was the steepest and longest hill known to man, my legs felt like complete Jell-O.
I learned a hard lesson that day. Facing resistance is the only way for one to build true strength. Until my helpful classmate cranked up my resistance, I was enjoying a nice cruise. Even if I suddenly became a spin class junkie and went every single day, I’d have seen no results until something changed. That resistance shocked my muscles and forced them to work in ways they never had before.
In resistance, growth happens. Only when we remember and trust this statement will we be willing to embrace struggle. Rather than orchestrating your world to avoid struggle, place yourself in environments where your One Word will be tested and met with resistance. In order to truly pursue your word and have it formed in your character, a struggle must take place.
Your One Word will test, challenge and push you to extremes. Sometimes the view from the top of the hill where transformation resides will appear too steep and daunting. Everything in you will want to seek the refuge of comfort that conformity provides. But instead of stopping there, keep pushing. Keep driving your burning legs. Fight for your growth.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What is your normal reaction when you meet resistance in an area of your life where you are trying to grow?
May
Dancing With The Stars
Based on the ratings, it is safe to guess that one of America’s guilty pleasures is wasting time watching Dancing with the Stars. There is something oddly fascinating about borderline celebrities performing completely out of their element.
The first few weeks are the most painful to watch as contestants struggle to learn the tango, waltz or salsa. Their movements are stiff and they always seem to be a step behind their partner. Words like “spastic” and “convulsive” could be used to describe what happens once their feet hit the dance floor. Fatigue and frustration set in as they attempt to master something that is so unnatural to them.
Maybe it is because I have two left feet, but I admire their ability to embrace and endure the struggle of becoming fleet footed. For the most part, I’ve come to grips with not knowing how to dance, but this hasn’t always been the case. On numerous occasions, my wife suggested we take a dance class together. My initial reaction was, “No way.” I’d make excuses, like that lessons would be another expense for our shoestring budget or yet another activity to fit into our busy schedule, but that wasn’t the true source of my hesitation. My reluctance stemmed from knowing I might trip over my own feet or that my clumsiness might make it necessary for my wife to ice her feet after every class.
Sadly, my initial reluctance in learning how to two-step is a direct result of my tendency to throw in the towel when things get challenging. Like everyone else, I naturally choose comfort and routine over struggle.
Yet struggle needs to take place for me to grow and learn. Change will always be met with resistance. Maturity is found in those moments when we embrace the struggle by facing it head on.
You’re a few months into your My One Word experience, and chances are good you’ve hit a wall, met resistance or are in the midst of a struggle right now. Your word may have very well awoken in you a deeper struggle than you initially expected. Maybe more than you prepared for. Maybe the reasons to quit seem to outweigh your willingness to endure. Maybe part of you wants to wave the white flag in surrender and go back to your old routine. It might not be an ideal situation or one you even like, but it is, at the very least, comfortable.
Many of us see our struggle as wrong. Somehow, though we understand that every other life change is hard, we believe that spiritual change should be easy. Likewise, we are puzzled when destructive thought patterns keep popping up, or when bad habits are hard to break, or when we feel like we’re spending more time stumbling then actually walking with God. The truth is, you can’t become like Christ in 3 or 4 easy steps. Our transformation is a process in which struggle is inevitable and resistance is expected. This struggle, this resistance, builds strength, but only when we surrender to God.
James 1:4 reminds us that “perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This verse should give you hope: it gives you permission to struggle. When we are tempted to give in is not the time to quit. This is the moment in which we look to God to see what he is teaching us. My One Word is about learning and embracing something new.
Our One Word should serve as a lens through which we see not only how we should respond to things that we encounter, but also to help us see why we don’t respond the way we should. We use our One Word to posture us to learn. This makes room for our struggle. Keeping our eyes focused on God is the key to being formed into the image of God, because what you see determines the direction you go.
Change cannot and does not come without struggle. The encouraging thing is that God wants to meet us in the midst of our struggle. That is exactly where he wants us to be: Where we have exhausted all our human strength, patience and will, and have nothing else to rely on but him.
- How quickly did you experience ‘hitting the wall’? How did you respond? When things got difficult were you tempted to lower your standard?
- Read James 1:2-4. What do you believe God might be trying to teach you in the midst of the struggles you are currently facing? What would it look like for you to persevere and embrace these struggles?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!
May
Fixed Eyes
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 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. 2 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.
Running our own race requires a couple of things- both require us to see well! We see people who have gone before us and paved the way for us to run. We see the people around us who affirm and stand with us and help us in our walks with God. And in light of what we see, we prepare ourselves.
We are instructed to cast off everything that keeps us from running the race- from walking with God. Everything that hinders. What hinders you from walking?
Are there issues in your character that hinder your walk? Are there areas of your life that are undisciplined that hinder your walk? Are the areas where you need faith? Forgiveness? Whatever hinders needs to be addressed so it does not hinder you any longer.
We deal with these by changing our course of action. Stopping something or starting something. This puts these things aside!
We are also instructed to cast off the sin that keeps us entangled. Sin that gets its tentacles deep into our lives and pulls us off the course. Sin entangles us by confusing our desires. We are conflicted and lured away by the deceptiveness that sin will satisfy the longing of our soul. But the desire is really a deep desire for God and the life He has- and this life is found only when we run the race He’s established for us.
We deal with sin by repentance! We confess our sin, repent and receive His forgiveness for us.
The second thing we are told is to fix our eyes on Christ. Look to Him, learn from Him, and follow Him. We talked about the fact that we must discipline ourselves to see Him, and humble ourselves to follow! Not bargaining or justifying, simply obeying!
And it is when we fix our eyes on Jesus that we discover what keeps us from running well. We discover the distractions, but most importantly, we discover our sin. For when we open ourselves to the fullness of His Light- the darkness that keeps us trapped is exposed. And so this morning, we want to simply fix our eyes on Him. Let Him fix His eyes on You to probe your heart and soul- to expose and bring healing. And let us fix our eyes on Him- and follow. Where ever He leads. Whatever He asks… because the race He is calling you to run is the race He’s marked out for you… that you might have life and have it to the fullest!
- Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What is keeping you from running your race well? Where do you find yourself entangled and how is this influencing the way you are living out your One Word?
- What is currently hindering your walk with God and pursuit of Him?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!