You Belong!

Strength training is one of the new life changes I have made.  It has taken a while to build the habit of going.  I’ve always been a lazy person.  It's one of the reasons why I am in need of this exercise in the first place.  But as I have been going I have developed an enjoyment in going.  I feel strong and accomplished.  I just feel good.  I would encourage others to try it.  It definitely stinks at first! But after the initial shock to the body, it becomes fun! 

Since I have been getting into more of the discipline of strength training, I have been trying to narrow down some of the specific exercises that I need in order to mold my body to what I want it to be.  At this time I try to do what are called compound lifts.  These exercises train multiple muscles at a time to give a better overall workout in a smaller amount of time.  I don’t have all the time in the world to go to the gym so I try to maximize effort and minimize time.  One of the key exercises that I have been missing in my routine though is squats.  I haven’t been able to implement these because of a recent knee injury.  But now my knee is feeling a bit better.  I think I can maybe (by God’s grace) handle this stress now. So I started trying to do them the other day.  I can only do the bar though. The reason for this is first because of the stress on my knee.  Second is because I want to ensure I have correct form so I do not injure myself.  But third because I’m just weak (haha)!  I haven’t done this exercise!  Doing just the bar though kinda makes me a little embarrassed.  I see all these people around me putting two plates on and then squatting deep.  I feel like that meme of Anakin telling Padmé that line about “not just the men, but the women and children too” are stronger than me. Those feelings almost made me not even attempt to do the exercise even though I know it's going to be a benefit in my training. 

I go to Planet Fitness to strength train.  The reason is because there are so many around the country and I can go to any of them on my travels in the van. At each of these PFs they have signs that say “no critics” or “you belong.”  Their purpose is to remind the people that attend their gyms that wherever you are on your fitness journey you can come here. It may seem cliché or dumb but it works.  When I felt those feelings and emotions about doing squats with just the bar, those signs reminded me that it's okay. It reminded me that everybody starts somewhere.  So I just did it. And I’m glad I did.

Thinking about the need for reminders in my fitness journey coordinates well for us in our spiritual lives.  We constantly need reminding of the gospel.  I think sometimes we believe the gospel is for the lost.  But it’s not.  The gospel is for everybody, to those who haven’t trusted Jesus yet so that they can, and for those who have so that we can trust him more in every aspect of our lives.  We need reminding that we are loved. We need reminding that we are forgiven.  We need reminding that we have purpose.  We need reminding that we have a hope for a world that is broken around us.  We need reminding that we are part of a royal kingdom.  We need reminding that we have a God that can change lives.  When we feel lost or broken, when we feel tired and weak, let the gospel remind us that it will be better. 

How do we keep the thought of the gospel in the forefront of our minds?  First know the gospel. Be able to break it down and share it with others.  The more we understand the gospel and are able to express it, the more it becomes a part of who we are and how we live. Second pray.  Go to God with all these things that entangle us.  Keep conversation constant with the one who loves us.  Third stay in his word.  Study and memorize what he has to say to us.  Let those words be present in our thoughts constantly.  Specifically scriptures that concern themselves with the things we struggle with the most (whatever that may be for you).  Finally, be with the people of God.  We should surround ourselves with those who will encourage us to depend on Jesus and exhort us to live in his presence.  

I hope this encourages you to know Christ more because the more we know him the more we trust him and find that peace that passes all comprehension.