I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this fresh new - full of hope, promise & opportunity - day!
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Have you ever uttered those words Friends? I have said them several times, in different situations and circumstances, in my life. Yesterday I had a profound experience with those words.
Work out time for me is prayer time, my daily time to have a conversation with, to seek, God. As I was getting towards the back end of a long cardio session my lungs & legs were burning, my back ached...everything in me said to quit. Then I said it, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." I uttered it another time or two and then it was like God Himself said, "Yo Kev, you know this isn't exactly what this means."
I would like to share with you first this verse and the three that proceed it:
"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at least you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4: 10 - 13
I am not, nor do I claim to be, a Bible scholar...I am simply a man choosing to pursue God, to have a relationship with Him, on a daily basis. Having some knowledge of the Bible, I knew that when the Apostle Paul wrote Philippians he was saying that he can be "content whatever the circumstances" and "content in any and every situation", that he was testifying that "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Paul wasn't on some piece of cardio equipment sweating away. He was talking about real life; the pain, the struggles of living life day to day and being content (content is defined as "in a state of peaceful happiness") regardless of the situation or circumstance through Him who gives Paul strength. The key isn't Paul, his strength & resolve, but rather it is the strength of Christ working in Paul that allows him to be content regardless of the situation or circumstance.
Thinking through this as I am still huffing & puffing away - no longer thinking about my burning legs & lungs, aching back...see, God just distracted me! :) - my Spirit now really got ahold of me. What started out as thoughts, turned into declarations:
- I can believe and accept that God loves me unconditionally...through Him who gives me strength.
- I can love unconditionally...through Him who gives me strength.
- I am forgiven and I can forgive...through Him who gives me strength.
- I can be the man, husband & father that I was created to become...through Him who gives me strength.
- I can pursue my goals & dreams...through Him who gives me strength.
- I can serve others...through Him who gives me strength.
There was then this funny transition in my declarations from "can"...
- I believe and accept that God loves me unconditionally...through Him who gives me strength.
- I love unconditionally...through Him who gives me strength.
- I forgive...through Him who gives me strength.
- I am the man, husband & father that I was created to become...through Him who gives me strength.
- I am pursing my goals & dreams...through Him who gives me strength.
- I serve others...through Him who gives me strength.
So to answer the question, can you do all things? Maybe you can however I know that I can't - not in my knowledge, wisdom, strength & courage. I also believe to the depths of my soul that I can be content in any situation or circumstance, that I can accept that God loves me unconditionally, that I can love unconditionally, that I can forgive, that I can be all that He created me to become...through God's knowledge, wisdom & strength imparted on me in the Holy Spirit.
I also feel I must touch on something real quick. Let's not judge and condemn others. When Paul wrote those words he wasn't thinking of Kev working out or anyone else striving to accomplish something - whatever their challenge or struggle at the moment - however is it really a bad thing that I, that they, look to God for strength? I understand it might not be "in the proper context" but is that really for you and I to decide? Isn't that really between them and God? I think that it is just super cool that they acknowledge that there is a God and they know that He can do things that they can't do.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious family.
Kev
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