Day 239

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (AMP) …Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit]. For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

Everyone knows that physical exercise is important… Mickey Mouse has already taught my two year old that “mouse-kersizeing” is good for you and lots of fun, the first lady has taken it upon herself to end obesity with the “Let’s Move” initiative, and it seems like everyone I know is into running, biking, Insanity, cross fit, or some other type of exercise.  In 1 Timothy 4 the Greek word for “train” is gumnadzo and it puts our idea of “training” to shame.  It was WAY more insane than Insanity.

Gumnadzo was used to describe the way the professional combat athletes trained… think MMA but with no option to “tap out.”  These fighters fought to the death, so they took training very seriously.  They would exercise completely naked because they didn’t want clothing to hinder their muscles.  They would train in extremely hot temperatures to get themselves ready to fight in the brutal months of summer.  They would have other athletes severely beat them so they could build up their pain tolerance.  They were very serious athletes who devoted their lives to exercise.

When Paul wrote to Timothy he let him know that physical exercise was great and all, but training himself toward godliness, like a combat athlete trains for a fight, was really where it’s at.

He wanted to see Timothy strip off any thing that would hinder him on his was toward godliness.  He wanted him to embrace the fiery trials, and build up his tolerance to pain by enduring hardships instead of giving up.  He wanted to get him in fighting shape, because he knew that he would need to be strong in the spirit to fulfill all that God had called him to do.

Those words are for us too.  God wants us to be more devoted to spiritual training than physical training.  He wants us to spend more time in His Word than at the gym.  He wants us to be more concerned with how we look on the inside than how we look on the outside.  He wants us to remove any hindrances that are holding us back.  He wants us to turn up the heat while we study so when it’s time for battle we will be ready.  He wants us to realize that if we go through trials the right way He will use them make us stronger.

We should be as devoted to being in tip-top spiritual shape as the Greek fighters were devoted to being in tip-top physical shape.  So I’m here to remind you today to get moving!  The Message says it this way,Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.

I don’t know about you, but fit forever sounds great to me!

1. We can train to get ourselves in spiritual shape.
2. Exercising daily in God benefits us now and forever.
3. People don’t exercise naked anymore.
4. The power behind one word – Gumnadzo.  God’s word is alive and I love it!
5. Sent some precious cargo to Tulsa with Nana & Papa this morning and they were so excited!
6. They made it to Tulsa safely.
7. They did great on the drive up.
8. Took a nice, hot bath this morning.
9. Had some powerful praise and worship while I was blow drying and straightening my hair.
10. Was planning on getting a manicure and pedicure today, but when I went to get dressed and couldn’t find anything cute to wear I decided to go shopping instead
11. The ability to spontaneous!
12. Enjoyed my Chic-Fil-A chicken salad sandwich for lunch.
13. Found two shirts at J Crew
14. Found four shirts at H&M
15. Had time to finally clean and organize my closet.
16. My sweet friend Elisa is celebrating her birthday today!
17. 39,513 attended Gateway this weekend!
18. 5,963 watched the services online!
19. 585 salvations across the campuses in Amazing Kids and Mix56!
20. I miss my kids when they aren’t around.  Quiet is nice, but loud is better.
21. Got to go to Equip tonight and hear my husband teach on parenting.
22. He knocked it out of the park!  I love watching him be used by God.
23. Josh let me steal about half of his fries on the way home.
24. Beautiful spring day!
25. We get to sleep in tomorrow!
26. Got an extra bonus from KBM this month!
27. Gus’ cute little face was in the church bulletin and on the church website.  He was so little when they took this picture.

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