August Newsletter
Well, here we are rolling into
August and
the dog days, so they say. Who
is “they”
by the way and why are we always
quoting
them? It can be tough working
in the heat
and for those who don’t train
in an air-conditioned
gym tougher still. Remember to
drink plenty
of water! The heat can wear you
down both
physically and mentally. It is
during those
times, when the heat is at its
worst, that
we can lose focus on what we
are doing. That
goes for everything: our weight
training,
work and most importantly, our
walk with
God.
I don’t know about you, but when
it comes
time to train something happens
to me as
I approach the door to the gym.
My whole
mindset shifts into a different
gear. It
is a silent transition that my
mind and body
make as they prepare themselves
to do battle
with the iron. I guess you could
call it
getting your “game face” on.
I become focused
on the task at hand: pumping
iron. Often
you will see people in the gym
just going
through the motions, looking
around as they
curl their dumbbells, not really
paying attention
to what they are doing. If we
are honest,
we will admit that we have all
been there
at one time or another. We have
lost focus
on the task at hand. This can
be dangerous
especially when we are positioned
under a
heavily loaded bar doing bench
presses, or
worse yet, we are the spotter
of someone
doing those heavy bench presses.
We must
remain focused to achieve the
goal to finish
the rep, finish the set, finish
the body
part and then call it a day knowing
we gave
it everything we had. When we
are blasting
through a set it is also important
to focus
on the muscle itself. Feel the
contraction
as the weight is moved, don’t
just move the
weight, but feel the muscles
working to move
the weight. If you have never
tried this
before, give it a shot. I believe
Weider
calls it muscle visualization
or something
like that. You’ll be amazed at
the extra
intensity it adds to the movement!
Just remember
the key word: FOCUS! When you
are lifting
those weights be focused, stay
focused and
up that intensity!
The devil is always trying to
distract us
from our walk with God, make
no mistake about
it. That is his job: to win souls
- for his
side! He will try anything he
can to misdirect
our focus on the Lord, he will
use it all:
sex, drugs, alcohol, music, complaining,
gossip, covetousness, pride,
deceitfulness
just to name a few of the things
the devil
will throw up as roadblocks.
However, if
we remain focused on God and
the Word, asking
for forgiveness when we falter,
we will surely
receive His grace (And He said to me, And He said to me, “My
grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength
is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most
gladly I will rather boast in
my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may
rest upon me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9). I have fallen into the trap of complaining
many, many times when having
a rough day
at work. But what does that get
me? A spirit
of bitterness, anxiety, and worry
just to
count off a couple of things,
not to mention
that it misdirects my focus!
I then become
a terrible example of a Christian
for others
who may be watching me! As it
says in Scripture,
I should do all things without
complaining,
(Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless
and harmless,
children of God without fault
in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation,
among
whom you shine as lights in the
world. -
Philippians 2:14-15). Listen my friends, when the devil is hitting
you with everything, including
the kitchen
sink, you are knee deep in poop
and there
doesn’t seem to be an end in
sight, hang
tough, stay with it, pray hard
and when you
are exhausted from praying, pray
harder!
God has given you armor to do
battle! Keep
focused! (For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities,
against
powers, against the rulers of
the darkness
of this age, against spiritual
hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places. Therefore
take up
the whole armor of God, that
you may be able
to withstand in the evil day,
and having
done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having
girded your waist with truth,
having put
on the breastplate of righteousness,
and
having shod your feet with the
preparation
of the gospel of peace; above
all, taking
the shield of faith with which
you will be
able to quench all the fiery
darts of the
wicked one. And take the helmet
of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the
word of God; praying always with
all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful
to this end with all perseverance
and supplication
for all the saints. - Ephesians
6:12-13). And you know what? That poop you were in,
God will take that poop, and
make it fertilizer
to help you grow even stronger!
("For we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God."
--Rom.
8:28)
Just remember, never lose sight
of the prize,
stay focused!(Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting
those things
which are behind and reaching
forward to
those things which are ahead,
I press toward
the goal for the prize of the
upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians
3:12-14)
And now our prayer. Dear Lord
please be with
us when we lose focus, help us
to keep our
eyes fixed on You and Your purpose
and not
on those things happening around
us. Help
us stand firm and be our strength
and shield
in our weakness. ThankYou for
Your grace
and forgiveness when we do lose
focus. Amen
Until next time all! Go with
God and Lift
that iron!
|
|
