New Approach: The Uphill Climb

{journey continued from new approach: ugh oh!}

When I was in Germany a couple of years ago, we went on a bike ride.  It started out lovely: a beautiful spring day, some where in the 70's, flowers in bloom and rolling green fields for miles. Our downhill decline became sharper and momentum naturally picked up. Shortly after we set out, my mom flies by yelling out “peddle faster!” Now experience has taught me that any piece of sports equipment that I’m on combined with a downhill incline of any sort, never ends good for me.  Someone inevitably has to clean me up or take me to the hospital.

Armed with experience and the advice of my mom, I picked up the pace with hesitation.  As I veer around the corner, I see my first hill. Now, this may seem odd, but I love a good incline. Why? Because I have yet to get hurt going uphill and two, there is always an end in sight.  Passing my parents, I get to the top of the hill and enjoy the straightaway until I encounter the next hill.

As you know, with every change you make in life, there is the adjustment period which can be likened to that of my bike ride experience.  With every resolution, with every goal, with every plan, you will without a doubt, be met with an uphill climb.  We can’t ignore it, hide from it or find a way around it. It’s there, waiting for us with reason and purpose. Whether you ride it out, get off and push the bike up the hill or stop to take a breath, you will have to get up the hill at some point.

With all the changes I was ready to make, I realized rather quickly that I was going to need help. First things first, I got a counselor.  After a couple months passed, I had adjusted to the routine of consistently meeting, doing the homework and seeing results of my commitment. I was now ready for the next change: my morning routine.

While I love the Lord with my whole heart, my actions were starting to speak louder than my confession. I hadn’t settled on time with prayer, reading and studying the Word.  I had tried at night but kept falling asleep. I tried the afternoon, but kept getting bombarded with requests.  The morning seemed to be the least desirable because, quite honestly, I’m not a morning person. However the morning was the most logical.

Here is what I found that worked for me: I set my alarm for 6:30 am and head out the door by 7:00 am. For the next two miles, the Lord and I meet. Here is how I look at this time and why my perspective changed: it’s my appointment time to meet with the Lord.  Think about it for a moment: how often do we make time with God only to forget about it, arrive late, fall asleep or push it aside for someone else?

Would I make an appointment with you and treat it like a casual get together? Heck no! I love getting together with my girlfriends.  It’s a coveted time for me. So why would I treat my time with the Lord any different.  

IN THE MORNING

While I was walking and talking with the Lord, I made a resolve in my heart to not let my circumstances determine or sway my faith and trust in God. As I head out in the morning, I start off with praise and praying the Word.  It looks something like this:

“Thank you that you alone are God. Thank you that your Word is true, you are right when you speak and just when you judge. Thank you for being my provider and protector. Thank you that I am in full view of you, you examine my paths, order my steps, number the hairs on my head, see when I sit and when I stand, know my thoughts before I speak them and am the apple of your eye. Thank you for truth, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the Word of God. Thank you for your Word that is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

I believe your word to be truth; sharper than a double edged sword able to cut between the soul and the spirit, the bone and the marrow. I believe you gave me the desires of my heart. I believe you know the plans for me full of prosperity, hope and a future. I believe you are my righteousness, my hope and my help. I believe you are my strength, my shield…”

I ask the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart and share the truth about the each situation in my heart and on my thoughts. I talk about each anxious thought, worry and doubt. I ask the Lord to help me in my unbelief and help me to better understand his Word. I ask also for the help to see the situations and circumstances before me with through the eyes of Lord. 

Something that is super important, next to putting on the armor of God, is asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with the Spirit of truth, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear of God, revelation, insight and interpretation.

Often when we are walking and talking, there will be a scripture that comes to mind. 

IN THE WORD
Here are some scriptures for you to take a look at (bold and italicized for emphasis):

Hebrews 12.1-3, NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Proverbs 14.12, NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Phillipians 4:8, NIV
… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2 Timothy 3:5, NIV

…having a form of godliness but denying its power

Psalm 23:1-3, NIV

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Ephesians 1:1-11, MSG

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.  

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

The story of this journey, "New Approach: God, Please Make Me Skinny" continues next Friday.

Until then, be blessed. Know that you’re an incredible woman of God. You have so much purpose and significance that can't be measured by the weights and values of this world. What is in you to give is so powerful, life giving and ignites a passion. No one is ever the same after they encounter you because of Jesus in you!