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Small Steps Bring Growth
I remember how I first felt when joining the YMCA to begin rebuilding my physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health…I was self-conscious about my state of “fitness”: overweight, out-of-breath, weak and anxious that I might fail like I had before.
It was also a time where I had come to a crossroads in my life, feeling burned out. I knew that if I didn’t do something, I would not recover my life. So I followed my counselor’s advice to start working on my physical fitness which would lead to my recovery in the other areas. I showed up at the “Y” determined to make it work!
The first weeks were humiliating. After a few minutes of jogging, I felt pains in my chest and legs. I had a hard time catching my breath. I made sure to use a treadmill far from the experienced runners so I didn’t look so bad, and I avoided lifting free weights with the “heavily-muscled guys”. Yet, those first weeks were humiliating indeed, but I was determined to find health again, so I persevered!
During that time, four things stood out:
It takes slow, steady, small steps of growth to bring about success. I took a lot of “small steps” before I found my fitness groove. This was difficult for a results-oriented guy like me who likes quick and significant change. I had to reprogram my approach to growth.
Physical fitness had an effect on other parts of my life. When I started exercising, I found that my emotional and mental health improved. I realized that each part affects the other. My physical fitness helped strengthen my emotional and mental parts, which in turn grew and strengthened me spiritually.
If I wanted success, I had to make exercise a high priority. For the first few years, nothing came before my exercise time. I built my life around it.
I found that self-discipline in one area grows discipline in others. At the same time I was building a physical fitness lifestyle and investing time and energy, I made “quiet time” a high priority as well. Daily devotions, prayer, and Bible study grew my spiritual life.
Get Up and GROW!
Our theme this year is “Get Up and Grow: Striving Towards Spiritual Fitness.” As I reflect upon this, I find the four things I mentioned also apply to getting spiritually fit. Let’s consider these points:
Start with small steps. In October, we celebrate the Reformation: a time we remember how Martin Luther studied the Bible and rediscovered the love and forgiveness of God in Jesus as a free gift. This month, why not make small steps by attending the “GraceCountry” Fellowship Fair on October 13 and join a short-term small group with the people you meet. Or, sign up for the Adult Bible Survey on Wednesday evenings.
Focus on one of the Seven Habits of Effective Discipleship. Make small steps in one of the seven areas: Regular worship, prayer, studying God’s Word, growing relationships with other Christians, giving financially, sharing my faith with others, serving. This will have an effect on other parts of your spiritual life as well.
Make spiritual fitness a priority in your life. Build enough flextime in your schedule so that you can succeed. For instance, wake up 15 minutes earlier each day and grow your prayer life by praying daily for the people listed in the bulletin.
Make important investments in other areas of your life. Success in one area usually brings success in another.
Just as I learned that physical health doesn’t happen by desire alone, I’ve got to “get up” and take action. This is also true in growing our spiritual fitness. I invite you to join me as we step forward this year towards spiritual fitness and wonder what positive changes God has in store for us.
So, let’s get up and GROW!
In Him,
Pastor Mark
P.S. Do you remember the prayer challenge on Rally Weekend? I asked if each of us would pray for our SONday School students and teachers as we walk from our cars to worship. Just imagine what God can do with 400-plus prayers to grow the faith in the hearts of our youth and children. Imagine what this can mean to Grace and to our community when the Word of God finds fertile soil and grows? So, why don’t we “get up and grow” our prayers as we take small steps across the parking lot and strive towards spiritual fitness!