be completely honest, my workouts have been intermittent more recently than they have in the past. I woke up the other morning determined to get one in, get some endorphins moving and have fun. I was a Zumba Instructor, so sometimes I like to do routines I find on YouTube or those used in the past. (Of course some of the movements and songs are modified or omitted altogether LOL) One thing is for certain that when you get back on the grind of working out, you have to build up your resistance and endurance to make it through the regimen. Depending on the intensity, you may have to take breaks or drink more water than usual.
This was the case for me. Now, Zumba workouts include lots of lateral movements and twisting so they have what they call sliders that you can place over your shoes on the ball of your foot. This is specific to working out on carpet to ensure safety and help with these movements. Despite having on the sliders, doing this type of workout on carpet is hard due to more resistance.
Remember I said that I hadn’t worked out in a while?
Well my body did. As I went through the routine that
I know well, it was hard, hard, harrrrd! My breathing
was labored, legs heavy and I was sweating more
than usual for a Zumba workout.
One of my favorite routines is to a song by
Ray Charles called “Hit the Road Jack.” It is a high
intensity, simple and repetitive routine, but you
have to pay attention. With all of the obstacles
I was working with, it would be easy to get hurt.
Somewhere in the song, I noticed how focused I became, watching my foot placement and making sure I wasn’t slouching or dragging my feet. My movements were sharp and calculated....how much more should we do this in our walk with the Lord? This confirms John 14:26 that says:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name,
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
Scripture after scripture tells us that God will be with us when we go through tough times, how we should endure, and be strong and courageous, yet we don’t always remain persistent in the situation. As I worked out, I thought about how this is similar to trials and tribulations in life. Although my workout was only an hour, life’s situations may last longer.
For me, it was something that kicked in that I later recognized I had been doing without thinking about it. Becoming more focused and concentrated in what I was doing was paramount to my safety and the completion of this task. The Holy Ghost is there to kick-in and stir up the word of God in us to cause us to press past how we feel about the trial we may be going through and remember the things that will get us through safely, with concentration and wisdom. Jesus is there to help us in times of need, no matter the storm. He wants us to remember that if we will endure until the end, there will be a reward.
What is this reward you ask? Many will be pushed harder, longer, farther than you ever thought you could go and realize your strength. You may learn a new skill and things about your character. Some may have to grieve over loss and make it through. Romans 8:28 talks about all things working for good. Many people who go through trials that result in an outcome that is not was they expected or desired, get angry with God.
They are thinking of the word “Good” in the context of the word, but I read something that I’ll quote Pastor Tony Evans saying that this word means our benefit. It does not have anything to do with God being good, because He is and always will be. There are some things in the earth realm that he allows – some things that we do not deem as “Good.” This does not change his character.
As with that workout, it was challenging. I dealt with some soreness afterwards. I had to continue to work out so that it could be easier. That same routine with the song that I like (Yeah the difficult one), the resistance of the carpet (Even though I have the sliders), the ups and downs of energy (That gets better the more I work out) and my increased concentration (It automatically kicked in for my help!)
It is the same with us in our spiritual walk with the Lord. The concentration that kicked in is Holy Ghost bringing up the word of God that I know, read, heard and have studied. If the word of God is not in you, there is nothing to pull from. Scripture is the thing that helps us get through trials as it is literally enacting Jesus in our lives. He is the present word and was in the beginning, now and forever more.
If anyone is going through a trial, I don’t mean to oversimplify life’s conditions to a workout. When I was in it, heart beating, and lungs full-panting for air and legs burning, I could see the spiritual parallel or the Kingdom Perspective (wink). The goal here is to encourage you to push past all of the physical distractions and keep your mind on the end goal – to make it through the immediate situation and ultimately to spend eternity with Jesus!
Be encouraged to endure until the end (Matt 24:13) and face every obstacle in your way strong (Acts 20:23-24). Most importantly, as God told Joshua many times – Be strong and very courageous! The lord is with you everywhere you go and in all that you do (Joshua 1:9).
Deuteronomy 31: 6 tells us that God will never leave or forsake you. Forsake means to quit or leave entirely; abandon; desert. This is God talking about you – yes YOU! He will NEVER forsake you.
May the Lord give you comfort and peace through it all. He is a God who knows your name. He knows your situation and be encouraged to get more intimate with Him. He will guide you through.
Lord Jesus, please be with the person reading this right now. They need you or know someone that is going through a not so easy situation. We all need you. As you are the God of all comfort, peace and direction, please provide them with what they need in order to activate their spiritual strength, endurance and concentration and you guide them through. We believe that you are able and will provide all they need and more. Thank you and we know that you are working things out for our benefit.
In Jesus’ Name we pray – Amen.
Be encouraged to work it out today (Physically, spiritually, emotionally, situationally)!
You ARE NOT forsaken.
#LetYourLifeShine ~ Matthew 5:16
#HisWordHisPerspective
ReplyForward
This was the case for me. Now, Zumba workouts include lots of lateral movements and twisting so they have what they call sliders that you can place over your shoes on the ball of your foot. This is specific to working out on carpet to ensure safety and help with these movements. Despite having on the sliders, doing this type of workout on carpet is hard due to more resistance.
Remember I said that I hadn’t worked out in a while?
Well my body did. As I went through the routine that
I know well, it was hard, hard, harrrrd! My breathing
was labored, legs heavy and I was sweating more
than usual for a Zumba workout.
One of my favorite routines is to a song by
Ray Charles called “Hit the Road Jack.” It is a high
intensity, simple and repetitive routine, but you
have to pay attention. With all of the obstacles
I was working with, it would be easy to get hurt.
Somewhere in the song, I noticed how focused I became, watching my foot placement and making sure I wasn’t slouching or dragging my feet. My movements were sharp and calculated....how much more should we do this in our walk with the Lord? This confirms John 14:26 that says:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name,
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
Scripture after scripture tells us that God will be with us when we go through tough times, how we should endure, and be strong and courageous, yet we don’t always remain persistent in the situation. As I worked out, I thought about how this is similar to trials and tribulations in life. Although my workout was only an hour, life’s situations may last longer.
For me, it was something that kicked in that I later recognized I had been doing without thinking about it. Becoming more focused and concentrated in what I was doing was paramount to my safety and the completion of this task. The Holy Ghost is there to kick-in and stir up the word of God in us to cause us to press past how we feel about the trial we may be going through and remember the things that will get us through safely, with concentration and wisdom. Jesus is there to help us in times of need, no matter the storm. He wants us to remember that if we will endure until the end, there will be a reward.
What is this reward you ask? Many will be pushed harder, longer, farther than you ever thought you could go and realize your strength. You may learn a new skill and things about your character. Some may have to grieve over loss and make it through. Romans 8:28 talks about all things working for good. Many people who go through trials that result in an outcome that is not was they expected or desired, get angry with God.
They are thinking of the word “Good” in the context of the word, but I read something that I’ll quote Pastor Tony Evans saying that this word means our benefit. It does not have anything to do with God being good, because He is and always will be. There are some things in the earth realm that he allows – some things that we do not deem as “Good.” This does not change his character.
As with that workout, it was challenging. I dealt with some soreness afterwards. I had to continue to work out so that it could be easier. That same routine with the song that I like (Yeah the difficult one), the resistance of the carpet (Even though I have the sliders), the ups and downs of energy (That gets better the more I work out) and my increased concentration (It automatically kicked in for my help!)
It is the same with us in our spiritual walk with the Lord. The concentration that kicked in is Holy Ghost bringing up the word of God that I know, read, heard and have studied. If the word of God is not in you, there is nothing to pull from. Scripture is the thing that helps us get through trials as it is literally enacting Jesus in our lives. He is the present word and was in the beginning, now and forever more.
If anyone is going through a trial, I don’t mean to oversimplify life’s conditions to a workout. When I was in it, heart beating, and lungs full-panting for air and legs burning, I could see the spiritual parallel or the Kingdom Perspective (wink). The goal here is to encourage you to push past all of the physical distractions and keep your mind on the end goal – to make it through the immediate situation and ultimately to spend eternity with Jesus!
Be encouraged to endure until the end (Matt 24:13) and face every obstacle in your way strong (Acts 20:23-24). Most importantly, as God told Joshua many times – Be strong and very courageous! The lord is with you everywhere you go and in all that you do (Joshua 1:9).
Deuteronomy 31: 6 tells us that God will never leave or forsake you. Forsake means to quit or leave entirely; abandon; desert. This is God talking about you – yes YOU! He will NEVER forsake you.
May the Lord give you comfort and peace through it all. He is a God who knows your name. He knows your situation and be encouraged to get more intimate with Him. He will guide you through.
Lord Jesus, please be with the person reading this right now. They need you or know someone that is going through a not so easy situation. We all need you. As you are the God of all comfort, peace and direction, please provide them with what they need in order to activate their spiritual strength, endurance and concentration and you guide them through. We believe that you are able and will provide all they need and more. Thank you and we know that you are working things out for our benefit.
In Jesus’ Name we pray – Amen.
Be encouraged to work it out today (Physically, spiritually, emotionally, situationally)!
You ARE NOT forsaken.
#LetYourLifeShine ~ Matthew 5:16
#HisWordHisPerspective
ReplyForward
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