The lyrics to the song, His Strength is Perfect is one of my favorite songs. Since I have been focusing on “the Biggest Loser” in my last blog postings, I began focusing more and more on the song. When we watch NBC’s Biggest Loser, I notice that the trainers really focus on strength training. Build Muscle and lose fat. That is key to reaching their long-term goals.
Personally, I hate strength training. One, I have to be honest about how weak I am. Secondly, it makes me sore. I am more of a cardio girl. I like to run, I love aerobics and I seem to get quicker results. Strength training, on the other hand, takes time. It also demands that you lift weights properly and effectively to reduce the risk of injury. It also requires balance; you don’t want to overdo and you don’t want to under achieve. Strength training requires one to be intentional.
John the Baptist stated in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease”. What does that have to do with strength training? Everything! As I choose to be strengthened in Christ, by Christ and through Christ; I will lose myself. As I am strengthened, I begin to desire the things that will continue me to be strong and I will lose the desire to sabotage my growth in Christ. In other words, my appetite begins to change.
Near the end of the Biggest Loser season, it is wonderful to watch the interviews. I notice that in the beginning of the season, the focus was on themselves and at the end they have their focus on their families and friends. They are motivated to motivate others.
We are set up the same way spiritually. When we begin to live out John 3:30 through applying Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, we are motivated to be an example to the body of Christ and our appetites are different. Through focusing on Christ and His strength we become focused on others and are made available to minister to those around us.
There are three areas that build spiritual strength that guarantees a godly outcome. First, time spent in His Word will strengthen our soul. Living out God’s principles is most affective when we have the right motive and not a judgmental attitude. Last, when God strengthens us; it is done with balance. God desires that we are strong in Him with our heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants strength in all those areas.
As long as we focus on our weakness or we try to make ourselves stronger our way; we are keeping the focus on ourselves and we cannot live our John 3:30. It is not I must decrease so He can increase. Instead, when we let Him increase; we will decrease.
His Strength is Perfect Lyrics
I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .
CHORUS
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again
I mentioned in the last blog that The Last Chance Workout is brutal. Watching these men and women do “whatever it takes” to shed one more pounds is inspiring. I often think that at this point in the week it becomes mind over matter. They find the strength and motivation to push harder, do more and give it all they have. Why? Stepping on that scale will be the moment of truth. Whatever number of pounds they have lost or gained will tell everything.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23). Everyday is our last chance workout! Not because it could be our last day to live. We should approach everyday for what it really is. I have today to live for the Lord. I have today to grow in my faith. I have today to… For some, a new day still means facing the hurts and problems of yesterday. A new day does not mean the past problems fade. It does mean that I can choose to face each day knowing that whatever is lingering from yesterday or whatever today holds can be faced with hope because His mercies are new today.
This promise in Lamentations encourages me and motivates me. I can give 100% today. I do not have to let yesterday hold me back. I also cannot totally depend that what I accomplished or what occurred in the last 24 hours to carry me through or hold me back. I must live today for what it really is.
His strength is perfect 2 Corinthians 12:9 states that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. What is your weakness? I relate to the contestants that are living at the Biggest Loser Ranch. They are weak. We are all weak. So many times we try to strengthen ourselves our way and the only outcome is we burden ourselves with un-needed weight. Just as the Biggest Loser participants will only see results when they follow the diet of the trainers and the exercise regiments of those trainers will they see significant results. It is no different for our spiritual health. God has a specific strategy for spiritual health: His burden is light, we must connect to the True Vine, walk in the light, and then experience Phil 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
Are you determined to do things your way and carry weights that burden you? Are you willing to follow the strategies for success laid out in God’s Word? Following His principles will mean you will have to lose to win.
My husband and I watch NBC’s The Biggest Loser faithfully! I usually find inspiration as I watch the story of the participants lives unfold. Before the season is over, I have become a fan of one of them. I want that person to succeed. Recently, as we were watching the program, I said to my husband, “I don’t understand how someone could allow themselves to be that overweight… what happens to them?” His response made me think. He said to me that somewhere in their life they more than likely quit caring.
Most people I know, including myself, would never want to be crowned the “Biggest Loser”. Yet, on this program that is their only goal… the only way to win is to lose. Hebrews 12:1 states …“let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Basically, we are to take the same approach with a similar discipline in our spiritual life. We should strive to lose so we can win.
The word “weight” in this verse is anything that is a burden/encumbrance in our life. In other words, whatever it is that is useless, or anything that is a hindrance. There are false belief systems and attitudes that will weigh us down spiritually. Bitterness, resentment, anger, stubbornness, or an unhealthy relationship or other strongholds that entangle can keep us from the Truth that will make us free. Weights can be put on and weights can be taken off. It is our choice!
On the television program, I have two favorite segments: the Challenge and Last Chance Workout. For some of us, everyday is a challenge. Whether you have lost a child and the grief is unbearable and you know that getting out of bed to face another day is your challenge, or you are fighting a disease that you are determined to beat, or you are trying to overcome the bitterness and grief of a divorce. Those are life altering challenges. Other daily challenges may not be as difficult yet they present different types of struggles. The Challenge on the TV show will usually challenge at least one person’s fear and maybe another person’s endurance, but it challenges all the contestants in the area of strength.
Last Chance Workout is brutal! It is amazing that after a week of strenuous exercise the participants have the energy and motivation to work off more calories. Why? They fear the scale. They know that they will walk up the stairs and stand before the trainers, other contestants and all of America. The only thing that truly tells what they have done will be the number on the scale. Everything they do is for a number.
I want to encourage you to ponder what you have read. What is weighing you down? What “weight” do you need to lose? What is the challenge you are facing and do you need a last chance workout spiritually? What do you strive for?
My husband and I watch NBC’s The Biggest Loser faithfully! I usually find inspiration as I watch the story of the participants lives unfold. Before the season is over, I have become a fan of one of them. I want that person to succeed. Recently, as we were watching the program, I said to my husband, “I don’t understand how someone could allow themselves to be that overweight… what happens to them?” His response made me think. He said to me that somewhere in their life they more than likely quit caring.
Most people I know, including myself, would never want to be crowned the “Biggest Loser”. Yet, on this program that is their only goal… the only way to win is to lose. Hebrews 12:1 states …“let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Basically, we are to take the same approach with a similar discipline in our spiritual life. We should strive to lose so we can win.
The word “weight” in this verse is anything that is a burden/encumbrance in our life. In other words, whatever it is that is useless, or anything that is a hindrance. There are false belief systems and attitudes that will weigh us down spiritually. Bitterness, resentment, anger, stubbornness, or an unhealthy relationship or other strongholds that entangle can keep us from the Truth that will make us free. Weights can be put on and weights can be taken off. It is our choice!
On the television program, I have two favorite segments: the Challenge and Last Chance Workout. For some of us, everyday is a challenge. Whether you have lost a child and the grief is unbearable and you know that getting out of bed to face another day is your challenge, or you are fighting a disease that you are determined to beat, or you are trying to overcome the bitterness and grief of a divorce. Those are life altering challenges. Other daily challenges may not be as difficult yet they present different types of struggles. The Challenge on the TV show will usually challenge at least one person’s fear and maybe another person’s endurance, but it challenges all the contestants in the area of strength.
Last Chance Workout is brutal! It is amazing that after a week of strenuous exercise the participants have the energy and motivation to work off more calories. Why? They fear the scale. They know that they will walk up the stairs and stand before the trainers, other contestants and all of America. The only thing that truly tells what they have done will be the number on the scale. Everything they do is for a number.
I want to encourage you to ponder what you have read. What is weighing you down? What “weight” do you need to lose? What is the challenge you are facing and do you need a last chance workout spiritually? What do you strive for?
We love those moments in life when we know we finally broke “the habit”. There is excitement when we finally lose that ten pounds or the cravings finally stop and we realize we can live without that particular food. There is something exhilarating when we realize we are having banner moments! In Exodus 17:15, Moses built an altar and called it the Lord is my Banner. The Israelites had fought a difficult fight and they won because the Lord had given the victory. Some translations call it “the alter of Jehovahnissi”, which means Jehovah is my banner.
Many of us ring in a new year looking back at the past year. I admit that I enjoy watching the “Year in Review” type television specials. Whether it is the most fascinating people or greatest sports moments, I like to look back and remember. I realized that I haven’t ever faced a new year in preview. This thought crossed my mind the other day when I saw a preview of an upcoming movie. I thought to myself what if I and others went into a new year already knowing the highlights, not the outcome, but some simple highlights of how our year would go. Well, that is impossible or is it?
We can not only have a glimpse of what 2010 will be like, we can have a year in preview! How?
The Lord is my Banner” is the common thread for my life. There will be spiritual battles fought. There will be victory. There will be trial. There will be temptation. There will be weariness. There will be joy. There will be heartache. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. The Israelites had left Egypt where they were slaves and lived in bondage. The journey through the wilderness would lead them to the Promised Land. God revealed himself to them daily through a cloud by day, fire by night and Manna every morning. He was present. Battles were fought and God defeated their enemies. Jesus Christ came to us to make us free. We no longer have to live as slaves. He conquered the grave! We are set free from the stronghold of sin.
Life will be ups and there will be downs. Just as the Israelites did not have an easy journey in the wilderness and God never abandoned them. We too have that promise and more.
Hebrews 13:5, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
2 Corinthians My grace is sufficient for you; My strength is made perfect in weakness…
Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more
Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Psalm 94:18 If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You and I will not know the details and we may not always know the “why’s” of what 2010 will hold for us… but we can have a glimpse of what will sustain the story that God will write in our lives this year. Our year in preview will be filled with hope, grace that is sufficient, peace, mercy and His amazing love. Enjoy the preview and trust Him in the details.
