A Light Bulb Moment

For physical training is of some value; but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. I Timothy 4:8

Fast. Reverse. Squat. Slow. Fast. Pull arms. Push arms. Reverse.

What the heck? The elliptical is kicking my behind. I can't keep up, I'm huffing, I'm puffing, I'm crying for my mama, and I've only been on it for five minutes. I feel the sweat drip down my face, my legs start to shake and I look around to see who might catch me when I start to tumble.

I've been coming to the YMCA for three months now- three times a week. I've climbed aboard the elliptical, opened my book, pushed the quick start button, and gone up and down for 30 minutes each and every time.

Today however, I decided to program the machine and let It tell Me what to do.

Midway through the 30 minutes, as I was hanging on for dear life, I had what might be called a light bulb moment. This is a bit like the way I live my Christian life. I signed up, so to speak, when I asked Jesus into my heart. After that, I meandered my way along- staying with the program but never seeing great results.

Giving God control of my life would likely be the same as programming this machine. I might find myself hanging on for dear life, I might be told abruptly to reverse or to squat, to push or to pull, to use some muscles that I didn't know I had- but I'm betting that the results would be significantly better than what I see as I wander along my own path.

Five minutes after climbing off the machine, weary and sore, I realized I would never go back to the way I had exercised before. I might be sore, I might be tired, but I knew that I had actually worked out. I'm thinking of asking God to take over, to do for my spirit what that machine can do for my body. I have a feeling it will be quite a ride.

Father God, I thank you for the bodies you have made in which our spirits dwell. I pray that we might remember to give You control of all things.

Sally Conkle