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Lost and Found – Fitness?

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The New York Times: At its core, the secret to a healthy fitness routine is simple: Find ways to move. There are limitless options these days, but the best exercise is whatever you enjoy enough to keep doing it.…Exercise to ease pain. Take a walk. Get your butt in shape. Find the right balance. Exercise to help boost your mood. Improve your sleep.

PBS NewsHour: It’s been well known for many decades that exercise provides many benefits to our health. But a new scientific consortium is revealing new insights into just how profound exercise can be for the human body.

Covenant Health: A new year is a chance for a fresh start and a great time to set goals for healthier habits. 2025 can be the year your fitness resolutions last a lifetime.…Here are a few pointers: 1. Reframe Fitness Resolutions as Intentions. 2. Embrace “Micro-Habits”. 3. Focus on Attitude Rather Than Outcomes. 4. Choose Self-Compassion Over Self-Criticism. 5. Anchor Resolutions in Gratitude.

When it comes to a new year resolution involving fitness many people groan, and moan rolling over to hit the snooze button. It has been said that we shouldn’t go on a diet. Instead we should choose to make the way we eat a new lifestyle. Truth be known physical truth often points to greater spiritual truth. Interestingly the language used for physical fitness can also apply to spiritual fitness. The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Tim. 4:8 For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come. AMPC

Notice that he says physical training is of some value. How you are physically can often affect how you are spiritually. Jude, a half-brother, of Jesus provides us with a few things we can utilize to improve our spiritual fitness. What are some ways we can begin?

Evaluation and Assessment: Jude 1:19 It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions—merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. Evaluate how you have grown spiritually (NOT how you have failed). Can you recognize the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life? Ask yourself have you achieved a higher spiritual life? Sunday before last I handed out a checklist to recognize some of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life. (If you need me to send you a copy email me)

Build Yourself Up Spiritually: Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;…Jude and the Apostle Paul both had private, regular, committed times to praying in the Spirit. (1 Cor. 14:18) Have you been baptized in the Spirit? Have you received a prayer language? (1 Cor. 14:14-15) If you have prayed for it without a manifestation simply begin thanking Him that it is already there (and keep thanking Him).

Commit to Loving Like Jesus: Jude 1:21 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God;…Let’s all make a fresh commitment to guard everything we say and do in Jesus’ Love. Ask yourself, Am I seeing others the way Jesus sees them? Have I asked? Have you thanked Him for the difficult people in your life that are helping you to become more like Jesus? Are you utilizing those times to lean into the difficulties and become more like Jesus?

Commit to Sharing Your Faith in Public: Jude 1:3 Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and exhort [you] to contend for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith which is that sum of Christian belief which was delivered verbally to the holy people of God]. Commend for the faith by simply being available to share the good news with everyone you meet. Jude adds, Jude 1:23 [Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity…

Let us be those who look for what’s lost and find it. Pray the Lord will reveal to you those who are lost and need to be found by Jesus. Pray He will make you sensitive to those who are lost without knowing Jesus and those who have simply fallen away from following Him. Let us make Revelation 7:9 our vision: After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. AMPC

Double Down!

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When I woke up this morning I was dreading hearing the news regarding our country’s election results. (I did not stay up late to watch the election returns for each state). But then I read Brad McClendon’s facebook post. It was titled the “Season of America Today.” Brad quoted Luke 13:6-9 And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any].7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]. 9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.

Brad went on to say, “We have been given a chance to turn back to the Lord, and to bring forth His righteousness in our lives through the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, we must allow the Spirit of Truth to dig deep within our souls, to bring forth fruit of repentance to walk the path of Jesus, and completely leaving what our carnal desires want. We have been given time to turn, even in this era of great conflict with our country. I pray that the Holy Spirit be poured out again to allow America to turn back to Jesus Christ. It starts with us individually. Let’s walk with Jesus, not ourselves. God bless America.”

After reading his devotional the phrase double down crossed my mind. I knew this phrase was from the Lord because I don’t use this terminology. Not being exactly sure of what the term meant I “googled” it discovering two dictionary articles: to double one’s original stake after having looked at one’s cards and before receiving an additional card (Cambridge Dictionary); to make a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action, especially one that may be dangerous, or risky(Oxford Learner’s Dictionary). God has given true followers of Jesus a narrow window of time to repent (be transformed in your thinking and living) and pursue Him to make Him known. Our country is in the condition it’s in because the Church, and its attenders, have chosen to be passive, judgmental, and critical of governmental policies and practices we do not agree with while remaining luke warm in our obedience to and pursuit of Jesus. The question is, Have you taken as much time in prayer for the very things you have criticized and judged? Have you taken as much time in submitting to Jesus – His Word, and Spirit – as you have in avoiding what Jesus has clearly commanded? For example, Jesus has clearly commanded that our relationship with Him should be shared with the world. What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to share their walk with Jesus – in some way, every day? Doubling down would mean, making a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action which may be dangerous or risky. What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to pray for our governmental leaders – in some way, every day? What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to pray for the lost and “prodigals” you know to become true followers of Jesus? Doubling down would mean, making a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action which may be costly. (Can you name the lost and prodigals you have tried to share Jesus with?)