I read this article that has challenged me. It was an article on physical fitness and training, but I have transferred those concepts to my life spiritually.
Here are some quotes:
“Changing your body is just mechanics; it’s changing your mind that presents the real challenge. If the mind is not first trained to enjoy hard work, to relish suffering, to address the unknown, then no program, no amount of training can be effective.” (by Mark Twight from an article in Outside Magazine)
There is a new undercurrent in the physical fitness world that is fighting against the common wisdom when it comes to training and exercise. It is an anti-big-box-gym-centered mentality. The big-box mentality is based on successful mediocrity. It is more interested in the end results. The gyms are filled with wall to wall mirrors, sell a plethora of sports drinks, and encourages conversation among its participants.
The new shift focuses not on the end result but the process. The effort is elevated. It’s not about looking good, it’s about reaching a real goal. If you can sip a sports drink and have a conversation then you are not really working out.
It is the mentality that is under assault by these new denizens of fitness. It begins with the mind. Are you willing to “change your mind”. Are you willing to push through the pain and suffering? Most people stop the exercise just at the point that they are starting to make any real gains. “No pain, no gain” is true and is where most people are not willing to go mentally.
So how does this cross over to anything spiritually?
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is not a walk through the daisies. A life of true faith and radical obedience is no cup cake. The Bible often speaks of perseverance. I don’t hear much out there in modern Christendom about persevering. We want the starbucks gospel. Give me a cup of coffee with Jesus.
What is true of physical fitness is also true of following Jesus. You have to train your mind to “enjoy hard work, relish suffering, address the unknown.” Here is what I mean by hard work. It is hard work to “train yourself to be godly”(1 Timothy 4:7) . To be diligent in seeking the Lord, to be consistent in studying His word, to be radical enough to follow the Lord into situations and places in which we are not comfortable. That is hard work.
I am not talking about hard “works”. Doing stuff just for the sake of doing stuff. I am not talking about doing stuff in order to earn any type of favor from the Lord. And of course I am not talking about doing works in order to be saved.
What I am talking about is the hard work that is inherent in a true faith in the Lord Jesus. One of my favorite quotes from Dietrich Bonheoffer is, “When the Lord bids a man to come, He bids him to come and die.” That is hard work.
And, that hard work begins with training that takes place between the ears. We have to train the brain. Romans 12:1-2. Transformation is linked with the renewal of the mind. This is the Lord’s work in our hearts, lives, and minds. We open ourselves to have our thought process changed. It changes from successful mediocrity to radical obedience.
Most people know what it takes to loose weight and get healthy. Eat right and exercise more. That is not rocket science. But it is not easy. And the major hurdle for people involves the mind/will.
I don’t have this down pat. Not physically and not spiritually. There are way too many moments in my life of mediocrity. When I am looking in the mirror to check myself out instead of looking to the Lord. There are too many times that I do just enough to get by instead of selling out to the Lord Jesus.
God, please forgive me, help me to not be satisfied with just enough. Change my thought process to relish the life of radical obedience. To be with You in that process is life.
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God," (2 Timothy 1:8, ESV)
"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:3, ESV)
"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;" (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV)
Here are some quotes:
“Changing your body is just mechanics; it’s changing your mind that presents the real challenge. If the mind is not first trained to enjoy hard work, to relish suffering, to address the unknown, then no program, no amount of training can be effective.” (by Mark Twight from an article in Outside Magazine)
There is a new undercurrent in the physical fitness world that is fighting against the common wisdom when it comes to training and exercise. It is an anti-big-box-gym-centered mentality. The big-box mentality is based on successful mediocrity. It is more interested in the end results. The gyms are filled with wall to wall mirrors, sell a plethora of sports drinks, and encourages conversation among its participants.
The new shift focuses not on the end result but the process. The effort is elevated. It’s not about looking good, it’s about reaching a real goal. If you can sip a sports drink and have a conversation then you are not really working out.
It is the mentality that is under assault by these new denizens of fitness. It begins with the mind. Are you willing to “change your mind”. Are you willing to push through the pain and suffering? Most people stop the exercise just at the point that they are starting to make any real gains. “No pain, no gain” is true and is where most people are not willing to go mentally.
So how does this cross over to anything spiritually?
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is not a walk through the daisies. A life of true faith and radical obedience is no cup cake. The Bible often speaks of perseverance. I don’t hear much out there in modern Christendom about persevering. We want the starbucks gospel. Give me a cup of coffee with Jesus.
What is true of physical fitness is also true of following Jesus. You have to train your mind to “enjoy hard work, relish suffering, address the unknown.” Here is what I mean by hard work. It is hard work to “train yourself to be godly”(1 Timothy 4:7) . To be diligent in seeking the Lord, to be consistent in studying His word, to be radical enough to follow the Lord into situations and places in which we are not comfortable. That is hard work.
I am not talking about hard “works”. Doing stuff just for the sake of doing stuff. I am not talking about doing stuff in order to earn any type of favor from the Lord. And of course I am not talking about doing works in order to be saved.
What I am talking about is the hard work that is inherent in a true faith in the Lord Jesus. One of my favorite quotes from Dietrich Bonheoffer is, “When the Lord bids a man to come, He bids him to come and die.” That is hard work.
And, that hard work begins with training that takes place between the ears. We have to train the brain. Romans 12:1-2. Transformation is linked with the renewal of the mind. This is the Lord’s work in our hearts, lives, and minds. We open ourselves to have our thought process changed. It changes from successful mediocrity to radical obedience.
Most people know what it takes to loose weight and get healthy. Eat right and exercise more. That is not rocket science. But it is not easy. And the major hurdle for people involves the mind/will.
I don’t have this down pat. Not physically and not spiritually. There are way too many moments in my life of mediocrity. When I am looking in the mirror to check myself out instead of looking to the Lord. There are too many times that I do just enough to get by instead of selling out to the Lord Jesus.
God, please forgive me, help me to not be satisfied with just enough. Change my thought process to relish the life of radical obedience. To be with You in that process is life.
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God," (2 Timothy 1:8, ESV)
"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:3, ESV)
"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;" (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV)
1 comment:
You've been reading Bonhoeffer ?!!
Does the seminary know about this?
; )
The doctrinal divorcement of "radical obedience" from its intrinsic partner, "faith", is one of the great tragedies of "securist" theology.
What must I "do" to inherit eternal life? Jesus' reply to the rich young ruler is exactly the same to you and me and to every generation. To paraphrase: "Give up what is most precious to you and come follow Me."
(All the way to the Cross and beyond.)
I got saved, with much difficulty, in a spiritual "Boot Camp."
I think it's time for me to re-enlist!
Great comments. Thanks!
Bryan
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