Daily Exercise

Psalm 96: ¹ Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.

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On top of the hotel was a tiny track. I was only a few years out of college and felt I was still in decent shape. Remembering my days on the high school track team, I warmed up then jumped on the track. To my surprise I was sluggish and slow.

• The longer I skip exercising the harder it is for me.
• The more time I spend not exercising the more my muscles forget.
• The greater period I spend away from exercising the harder it is mentally and physically to get back into it.

One day the SPIRIT moved me to speak about CHRIST to someone. I hadn’t spoken a word about HIM or HIS salvation in years! “Should I talk about me? Should I argue with this stranger on their stance? How should I even mention GOD?” were the flood of thoughts that scared me away from speaking about GOD. I said a couple of words and walked away disappointed. I was SPIRITUALLY out of shape.

• GOD wants me to stop using church cliché’s and start speaking about HIM with my mouth.
• GOD wants me to sing a new song about HIM meaning I need a new adventure rather than looking back at the old.
• GOD wants me to declare HIS glory among all peoples, not just the ones I feel comfortable with.

I heard a church term “Always speak about GOD and sometimes use words” but I can’t seem to find that phrase in the Bible. GOD wants me to boldly declare HIS name and praise HIM for everything HE has done, is doing and will do! He doesn’t want me to sing a song about HIM and sometimes use words or praise HIM and sometimes use words. HE wants me to use the words that flood from a heart of gratitude!

GOD wants me to exercise daily by telling people about HIM and HIS greatness. My heart needs to be focused on what HE has done versus looking at the next complaint I can lay at HIS feet. I praise GOD from whom all blessings flow. I praise HIM as a creature here below. I Praise HIM above ye heavenly host. I praise FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST! amen

• Are you afraid to speak about GOD?
• Do you shrink back when speaking about HIS graciousness?
• Are you too busy condemning someone about their sin to tell them about GOD’s mercy on you?
• Will you stop using church terms and open your mouth by giving ‘your’ testimony about how great GOD is?

Trade Mad into Glad - Quickly!

Psalm 95: ⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
⁷ for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
⁸ “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
    as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

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Uttering the words “I will not serve YOU” were probably the worse things I have said to GOD. I have no idea what I wanted at the time because it was so many years ago, or was it?

• When I get too tired of my situation that I cannot even pray, then I may be trying too hard.
• When I get too tired to go and assemble with others to worship, then I may be trying too hard.
• When I get too tired or problems that I cannot praise GOD any longer, then I may be trying too hard.

GOD recognizes my motives from their deepest beginnings. HE sees my inner most thoughts and knows exactly what I can handle and what I cannot. GOD wants me to see HIM very differently.

• GOD wants me to bow down and worship HIM every chance I can.
• GOD wants me to recognize that I am HIS first, this means HE has the right to do with my life as HE pleases.
• GOD wants me to hear HIS voice without a hard heart, this means through calamity or blessings I will praise HIM.

GOD is absolutely amazing! HE speaks to me daily and it is up to me to hear HIM and not stir up HIS anger. Forgiven is what I am, but I carefully tread around GOD in fear of HIM. GOD is not common and should not be treated as such. HE is GOD before HE is a pal. I praise GOD!

• Are you mad at GOD for placing you in the situation you are in?
• Can you assess where your heart is in relation to where HE wants your heart to be?
• Will you not harden your heart to GOD’s plan today and learn to truthfully praise HIM in the middle of calamity?

Fully Supported

Psalm 94: ¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.

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When I got home from church, I felt worse than before I went this particular day. One may call it conviction, but I felt as if I had received more rules that I wasn’t following. I sat in my apartment thinking I will never measure up so what is the use in going to church?

• Sometimes my thinking is faulty when it comes to church.
• Sometimes my thinning is faulty when it comes to spiritual growth.
• Sometimes my thinking is faulty when it comes to trusting GOD.

I will admit, church is sometimes a firehose of information and the humans delivering the message are not impervious to sin. BUT GOD wanted me to open my eyes.

• GOD wants me to look at every situation as an opportunity to get closer to HIM.
• GOD wants me to know HE loves me before, during and after my sin.
• GOD wants me to understand I can call out to HIM any time and HE will be there to lift me up.

As I grew up a little more I understood that I could cry out to GOD for even the tiniest of matters. I know HE is concerned about the daily details because HE numbers the hairs on my head. GOD knows when I am at peace and when I am troubled. HE sent HIS COMFORTER to dwell inside me and to take me on the journey of life.

When I need support, GOD is only a cry away!

• Are you in need?
• Do you feel your feet slipping into something that may take you away from GOD?
• Can you cry out to HIM and let HIM support you?

Recognizing True Power

Psalm 93: ¹ The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
    indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
² Your throne was established long ago;
    you are from all eternity.

³ The seas have lifted up, Lord,
    the seas have lifted up their voice;
    the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea—
    the Lord on high is mighty.

⁵ Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
    holiness adorns your house
    for endless days.

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Nervously awaiting the verdict, all I could think about is “what if they don’t accept me?” This happened as I attempted to get on the track team, or into college, or into a fraternity or into many companies. I was later taught “It’s not what you know but who you know.” I tried meeting people and soon found I had to identify the person with “power” and cater to their whims, no matter how crazy they seemed.

• There are times where I did not like the person with “power.”
• There are times where I did not like the person in charge.
• There are times where I did not like the person who made the decisions.

Folding my arms and pouting didn’t work, nor did slandering behind their back. I had to humble myself and face the situation that someone was actually “higher” than me in the pecking order of many things and I had to treat them with a level of respect. Then I noticed something different. What if I treated everyone with the same respect? Then I noticed something even more enlightening, what if I treated GOD with the level of respect HE needs?

• Humans need respect from me and GOD should get even more.
• Humans need special attention from me and GOD should get even more.
• Humans need immediate response, from me and GOD should get even more.

Recognizing “power” makes me successful, but human success can only last as long as their reign. GOD’s reign is everlasting. HIS “throne was established long ago” and HIS “holiness adorns HIS house for endless days.” The more I can recognize GOD’s power, without constantly pointing at my situation or my sins, the better.

• Are you focused on telling GOD about you?
• Do you find that most of your prayers are about you?
• Can you take a moment to recognize GOD’s power daily?
• Can you fight the temptation to be tired of praising GOD and truly honor HIM?

Enjoy the Ride

Psalm 92: ¹¹ My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³ planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵ proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

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“May I be successful” was my prayer and I was thrust into a whirlwind of huge successes. But then life became very distracting and soon I had little time for GOD. I had too many worries I had to attend to and the pressures of life didn’t seem to afford quality time to spend with GOD.

• Sometimes my trials are caused by my expectations.
• Sometimes my trials are caused by my desires.
• Sometimes my trials are caused by something I asked for.

Finally I decided to put my trust in GOD for a change. I mean I decided to go out and “street-witness” for the first time in my life. This was met with trials as well but I asked GOD to remove the barriers and people responded to our message. I realized that GOD will defeat my adversaries when I sincerely focus on HIS kingdom.

• GOD wants me to be wildly successful while spreading HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants me to understand what true success looks like.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom first and all ‘these” things will be added.

When I seek my kingdom first it seems to be a road that quickly forgets GOD but when I seek HIS kingdom first I have to depend on HIM and HIS sovereignty. I become weak and HE is made strong in my life. I can then watch HIS power unfold before me for HE is my ROCK.

• Are you waiting for the trial to end?
• Do you think you have the answer to your trial so you constantly pray for “your” answer?
• Can you ask GOD “What do YOU want me to do in the middle of this trial?”
• Will you let GOD go before you, defeating enemies and allow HIM to raise you up in HIS time?
• Can you let go and enjoy the ride?

Wonderful Promises

Psalm 91: ⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

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“Believe” is what people told me, so I did. I walked down the aisle of the church professing my belief in CHRIST. One month later I was baptized in front of the whole church. I was now part of something great! I went to school with a new outlook. When I arrived, the same bullies picked on me. “No big deal, I am graduating soon anyway”, I thought to myself.

When I arrived in high school, I was faced with a new set of trials, new thugs, this time armed and dangerous on my route to and from school. The years crept by, but I made it! “Whew” that’s behind me, smooth sailing from here on out. I faced financial, spiritual and growing challenges in college. Wait a minute, I thought that when I “believed” I wouldn’t have any problems! They seem to be getting bigger!

• My immature view of GOD thought there would be no challenges when I sided with HIM.
• My immature view of GOD thought I instantly would get what I wanted when I believed in HIM.
• My immature view of GOD thought all my troubles would go away and I would now be able to sit and do nothing while food was placed in my mouth.

I wanted to “fit in” and I thought it was cool that JESUS would accept me just as I was. I did get a little discouraged when HE could simply speak my troubles away, yet HE wouldn’t. Then I read these words “I will be with him in trouble” meaning I will have trouble and GOD will be there. My view of GOD had to change.

• GOD said to me “I will be with you always” meaning HE feels my troubles even more than I do.
• GOD said to me “I will be with you in trouble” meaning I have to go through problems in order to grow.
• GOD said to me “I will rescue you and honor you and satisfy you and save you” meaning just that.

When GOD cursed the earth because humans sinned, it wasn’t taken lightly by HIM. HE died when humans died and HE had to do something about it. HE chose to die in my place and take the blame for my sins. This act saved me, but I still have to live on a cursed planet. GOD’s redemption reaches beyond the curse and HIS love for me shines brightly each day!

• Are you growing?
• Do you think you should never have problems?
• Can you understand that GOD loves you in the middle of your problems?

Precious Time

Psalm 90: ¹¹ If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
¹² Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

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“Take care of my buddy” were the words spoken of the spouse of a dying friend. Soon after I heard these words from one of GOD’s servants, “Live your life as if you only had two weeks to live” were the words I remember. I wondered how I should act if I only had two weeks left.

• If I knew I were going to stand before GOD two weeks from now I would tell everyone I met about the grace GOD has given me through JESUS.
• If I knew I were going to stand before GOD two weeks from now I would reconcile with people as best as “I” could and not worry that I met their reconciliation standards.
• If I knew I were going to stand before GOD two weeks from now I would remember what HE has done for me and prepare myself for eternal praise.

It’s amazing how much time I spend on “me.” I mean I pray about me, worry about me and scream at GOD about me. It seems so fruitless. BUT GOD has given me yet another chance.

• GOD says to me “I care about your day to day activities.”
• GOD says to me “I made you for a special purpose that only you can fulfill so spend your days wisely.”
• GOD says to me “I stand at the door and knock, if anyone will open the door, I will come in and sup with them.”

GOD wants me. The problem is sometimes, okay most times, I don’t want HIM. I take HIS love for “granted” and I think about me and the next situation. Fortunately GOD knew this and HE loves when I take a moment to turn around and thank HIM. HE even told a parable about ten blind people being healed and only one came back to thank HIM.

My days are numbered, contrary to what fitness and health advocates think. GOD knows exactly the day and hour of the end of my life. HE wants me to act as if it were tomorrow or two weeks from now. Money, time and arguments are not cares when I live life to its fullest and include GOD first.

• Are you so focused on you that you are not living for GOD?
• What is your last story of victory with GOD’s help?
• Can you get up off the ground and stop spitting out poison and speak of GOD’s wonderful blessings?
• Will you change your words of death into words of life?