"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NIV
I think this chapter was probably my favorite so far. I'm not going to write about everything I underlined because I would be here all night. I don't know, maybe all the chapters have been this great but I'm just now starting to grow in this area so my eyes were opened to more of the truths held within the chapter--which are contained in the Scriptures. A lot of this chapters focus was on exercise--yep, I said the dreaded word! The author actually tries to convince everyone that exercise really IS good for us...hmmm who would've known! lol.
The first point I wanted to highlight from the chapter was when the author states, "because our bodies are a valuable gift, to care for them is an act of love and respect--to God, to others, and to ourselves." The author, Jocelyn Hamsher has us take a good look at what self-care really looks like! Exercise. Balanced nutrition. Massage therapy. A good night sleep. Doing something that we really enjoy doing. All these things are just some of the ways that self-care looks like. Hamsher gives the example of how it would be if she borrowed her best friends car and then recklessly banged up the car and trashed the inside? Of course anyone that did that would feel awful! How is not taking care of our bodies any different than trashing our friends car? Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit! Jesus Christ dwells within us and so we are we to make our bodies become master! But really, why shouldn't I want to take care of myself? Why wouldn't I take care of something far more precious given to me by someone far more important who loves me far greater?
A very good question was later asked in the chapter that really causes me to think. "What or who is controlling your body?" Wow! I had never thought of that. I didn't really know how to answer that question when I first read it. But when it comes down to it, I found several things to be controlling my body rather than allowing God to have control of this area. Food with the lack of exercise was a big thing. I spent a lot of time complaining about how I look, yet I always eat more food and do less exercise if any at all! So now, who's fault really is it if I don't look "good". Yeah well as much as I hate to admit it, it's mine. I've been better recently with this than I used to be. Trying to get into the habit of daily exercise and eating less. Another very big thing that I have let control my body (probably actually the key thing) is society. I was letting society and their standard for perfection to guide and control how I thought I needed to look. I was allowing society to determine my worth rather than letting God determine my worth.
Probably my favorite statement in this book so far was in context with speaking on the importance of exercise and how we see our bodies. "The focus has turned from losing weight to the bigger picture of better health. The focus has turned from being approved of by others to the bigger picture of being responsible for taking care of God's dwelling place. The focus has changed from seeing my body as master to the bigger picture of seeing my body as a servant." I have never ever been able to think of my body that way...but I want to! My body has certainly been the master of my life! But the author goes on to point out that our bodies were a gift to us by God to be a servant for us to use to bless God and others. To love and to appreciate. And for me to accomplish what God has called and purposed me to do. I pray that I will soon learn to view my body in this way! I no longer want my body and how I look to control my life!
The author wraps up the chapter by telling us how we can accomplish all this. First, we need to be intentional. We need to do something about it! It's making the decision ahead of time and then doing it. We need to be intentional in both our physical and spiritual lives! Intentionally make time for exercising and taking care of yourself physically. And then intentionally make time to be in God's Word and prayer daily to take care of yourself spiritually. Second, we must stay focused! Where our eyes are fixed is so vital, because everything else in us will just follow. Once we have set up a plan we must strive to stay focused in accomplishing it. The author states that proper focus builds endurance! Finally, we must make our bodies servants. Training means we choose to look and treat our bodies as servants and no longer as our masters. Ways we see this accomplished is through exercising. Through self-restraint. By not giving into every want and craving that we may have. And in time, it will become easier for us. "Then when we give God all of us, we can trust in Him to lead us to a new place of health and life--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--in His time and in His way."
"Life is more than just getting through a workout, it's getting through trials, times of waiting, disappointments, frustrations, and heartbreak. But these times aren't spent in vain when we bring them before Jesus. He can turn tragedy into tenderness, pain into patience, failure into faith, struggle into surrender, trial into tenacity, temptation into triumph. So, how do we train physically and spiritually? Be intentional, stay focused, and make our bodies servants."
~Jocelyn Hamsher
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