Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I go through spurts of being physically active, but after a while, I usually give up on the whole exercise thing. There are always plenty of excuses to keep me from engaging in physical activity, but more often than not, I give up on exercise because of pain or discomfort.
Whether it be sore muscles, a pulled tendon, or a plantar fasciitis flare up, as soon as pain enters the picture, I grow discouraged and give up. I want to be physically fit but am unwilling to do the work it takes to achieve the desired result.
When it comes to one’s spiritual health, it’s easy to adopt a similar attitude. Some start out really motivated in their pursuit of God, but then something happens, and they drift away from where they need to be.
And what’s the reason for this change?
Pain or discomfort gets in the way. Perhaps a schedule change makes it more difficult to make time to spend with God. Sometimes the only way to even get devotion time in is to get up forty-five minutes earlier in the morning. It’s easy to be committed those first few mornings, but exhaustion quickly sets in, and the snooze button gets hit again and again.
Eventually, morning devotions stop altogether. Promises to do it later in the day are proffered, but “later” comes and goes with none of the promises fulfilled.
Can you relate?
Believe me, I’m not condemning you. I was this way too, though now I go to great lengths to protect my morning time with the Lord. It is, without a doubt, my favorite time of day. I eagerly look forward to spending time alone with God.
“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” (Isaiah 26:9a)
Spending time with God is like receiving daily bread that fills me completely. I can’t live without it!
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12)
I admit that it has taken me a long time to get to the place of spending every single morning with God, but now I can’t imagine how I ever got along without it.
When I first tried to implement a time of devotions, I allowed little things to get in the way and made excuses. But after I began feeling very convicted about the importance of spending daily time with God, I eventually made morning devotions a priority in my life.
Sometimes I even get up at 4:00 a.m. just so I can pray and read my Bible before I do anything else. It’s that important to me!
How did I get here?
Probably the same way a person makes exercise part of their daily routine – I pushed through the pain! Over time I began seeing results. I noticed a difference in my attitude and realized I had more patience, peace, and joy in my life. Not only did I notice a difference, but my family noticed it too.
Bottom line… I saw results when I made my spiritual health a priority.
What about you? Would you like to be more spiritually fit? Make time alone with God a priority in your life. Push through the discomfort, discouragement, and exhaustion and you too will see great results.
You know what they say…. no pain – no gain!
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
Now, if I can just apply this same principle to my physical health, I’ll be doing great.
