I'm Still In The Race

I may not have been updating this blog post but I am still in the race.  What race you asked?  Why the race for life.  Oh, I am still running towards the prize to find the better me that God intended.  I went on the scale last night and saw that there was a plus and not a minus to my weight.  Never the less I am not deterred. 

I am still in the gym, pounding the treadmill runway, lifting the weights and praying through every step.  I feel like God is using this to carve out something more than a better body for me.  He is pulling on self control and discipline that often times I let slip into the back seat of my life. 

I know that this race is not for the swift but for those that will endure to the end.  I know that this will take sweat and maybe a few tears.  However, I will not give up or give in to the temptation to quit.  I am still in the race y'all and that is something to praise God about today!

Ecclesiastes 9:11a

New International Version
"I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong..."

Prayer:

Lord, you know me and my tendency to quit on things, myself in particular.  However I thank you that I don't have to be the fastest runner in this race, I just need to finish it.  So Lord, with you as my coach I am assured of a good finish.  Thanks God for helping me along the way in Jesus' name, Amen.

Lifestyle versus a Task

I was talking to a friend about the journey of weight loss.    He said in my mid-sentence rant, "You and I go over this so often".  He then said it needs to be more than a task to be done. It needs to be a lifestyle.  I see so many people in the gym and for them it appears that this is more than a check from the To-do List.  This is a lifestyle that they are living out.  I see the result of their effort. They get better and better in their body and strength.  This of course has not been my story. 

I have had it as a task to be completed - a task to endure - a task that I collect the seconds and minutes eagerly awaiting the end of my pre-set goal.  I have often found no joy in it - no sense of happiness.  It was more often just a drudgery that I battled with doing daily. 

You can clearly see that I will not get anywhere with such a mindset.  I will not gain much if I am not invested completely.  So what needs to change?  My attitude.  My Mind.  My life.

Paul talks about renewing the mind so as not to conform to this world in Romans 12.  I believe this is a good place for me to start.  Whatever changes I want to see in myself must begin in the mind.  Battles are won and lost in this place no one sees.  So seems like a great starting place for a lifestyle change.

Romans 12:2
English Standard Version
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Father, I know that I need to be transformed in my mind for any changes to come about in my life.  I know that my attitude towards losing weight has been rather poor. I have been lazy and unwilling to put in the effort required. Please God help me to be renewed in my mind so that I will win when tested.  I believe that the fight is about self discipline. It is more than pounds on a scale. The victory in this area of my life is a win in other areas.  It is a win in me. Help me please to be renew daily this mind of mine in Jesus' name, Amen.