Want versus Need

I read an article in which only 20 percent of those who purchased gym memberships in January will stay and continue their goal to lose weight and exercise.  Where did all the others go?  The 80 percent began their journey with a want and not a need.  As I was travelling in the rain, tired, and questioning my absence from home, God spoke to my heart about this article.  “You either want this for surface reasons that fade away quickly when it gets really hard, or you need this.”  We need water for hydration.  We need food for energy and work.  We need exercise to keep muscles, bones, and organs working properly.

We are a funny people.  We complain and fuss about the things that bring us the greatest benefit.  A wonderful Christian speaker shared that once she saw the need in her life to take care of her physical health it became part of her day.  She refused to lament and complain, she just went without attaching feelings and emotions.

Change your mindset.  Make taking care of your temple a need, not a want.  I’ve purposefully incorporated worship within my exercise.  The Spirit and I commune and pray as I work each muscle in my body.  I thank God for my temple, and worship Him with hands raised, legs lifted, heart beat pounding, and sweat pouring forth.  I am not my own, and I thank God for the temple He has created to bring Him glory.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.  I Corinthians 6:19

God I will trust you in _____________________.

Our church is reading a book entitled “The Story”.  Last Sunday we studied chapter two–Abraham. One of my favorite people.  I can’t wait to see him in heaven and do lunch! Abraham modeled incredible faith and trust.  He trusted God for direction when direction was not given.  He trusted God for a child, when the barren years haunted them.  He trusted God for provision when he was asked to commit the ultimate sacrifice.  Because of his trust, a nation was built, and we are part of his work, his legacy.

I guess you had to be at the sermon, but the word “trust” has become so meaningful to me.  I’m the type of person who can fret over a stressful meeting.  How can God challenge me to do bigger things, if I whimper like Piglet to Pooh… “IIIIIIIIIIIIII’m afraid, PPPPPPPPPPooooh!”  There were times that Abraham cried out to God, but he moved, acted, and did with his fear, mistakes and all.  We do it afraid.  We trust.  We believe.

Defining Trust:

 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.  Galatians 3:9