Eat less, move more. That’s the key to getting in shape – right?

Well no, not really.

I have been endeavoring to ‘get in shape’ over the last 6 months. I recognized that I needed to lose some weight – at least 20 pounds.

The plan was to move more and eat less. A central component to my new lifestyle plan was frequent prayer walks down the mountainside to the lake then back up again.

On one of my earlier prayer walks I sensed the Lord ask me a rhetorical question,

“You know that getting in shape is more than simply losing weight?!”

I began to think back to my university years. One of the few elements of my education I remembered was the 5 aspects of physical fitness:

1. Body composition
2. Cardiovascular capacity
3. Muscular strength
4. Muscular endurance
5. Flexibility

My attempts to lose weight were addressing 2 of the 5 aspects of physical fitness: body composition and cardiovascular capacity. My percent body fat was reducing, and the vigorous and rigorous prayer walks were also increasing my cardiovascular capacity. However, if I really wanted to get in shape I needed to address my muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.

I began to realize this is an interesting glimpse into what it means to get in shape spiritually…

I would like to suggest these are 5 corresponding components to getting in shape spiritually:

Body Composition is the amount of body fat you have, versus the amount of lean muscles, bones and organs. Carrying excess weight is considered one of the most significant contributors to shortening your life span.

Likewise, we need to rid ourselves of “spiritual fat”: sinful habits, wrong beliefs, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, unforgiveness, etc. Carrying this “excess weight” around in our hearts will limit the life we experience in Christ.

“…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…” Hebrews 12:1b

Cardiovascular capacity is the ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen-rich blood to the working muscle tissues and the ability of the muscles to use oxygen to produce energy for movement.

Our spiritual ‘cardiovascular capacity’ represents the depth of our relationship with Christ. Our capacity to commune with Jesus so it is His life in us, not simply our own: His strength, His love, His Spirit, His heart, His life in and through us.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Muscular strength is the amount of force a muscle can exert in a single effort.

Spiritual strength represents the depth of faith we have in Jesus; our capacity to believe the Truth.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle to perform a continuous effort without fatiguing.

Spiritual endurance represents our ability to continue in faith; to persevere when the going gets tough.

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4

Flexibility is the ability of each joint to express its full range of motion. Range of motion is significantly limited by muscles that are unable to ‘be at peace’ and stretch.

Spiritual flexibility is our ability to be stretched and not break; to remain in grace and peace when outside of our comfort zone.

“This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training… At the time, discipline isn’t much fun…Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” Hebrews 12:7, 11 (The Message)

If we really want to increase our spiritual fitness we must grow the depth of our relationship with Jesus; reduce our ‘spiritual fat’; increase our faith in God and His Word; persevere in our faith; and remain in grace and peace when stretched by the trials of life.

It’s time to get in shape – in Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:8 (The Message)

“Exercise daily in God – no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.”

Is there something in your life you want to change? Something about you, you want to be different? Maybe there is something you have wanted to change for a very long time and you just can’t seem to get on top of it – yes?

The question is: how badly do we want to change? What are we willing to do to create the change?

I have certainly had my fair share of issues I wanted to change over the course of my 50+ years. I have learned a little something about change I want to share with you now, but let me begin with a story…

Have you ever tried to lose weight? Simple, right? Eat less, move more. A while back I bumped into a man I knew many years ago – way back then he was a very large man. When I bumped into him I almost didn’t recognize him because he had lost so much weight. I asked him how he did it:

“I eat less and move more.”

Simple, but not easy.

I was always naturally slim. As ‘soma-types” go I was a “meso-ectomorph” – a muscular slim guy. However, too much travel and ‘the good life’ had turned me into an “endo-ectomorph” – a fat slim guy. If there is such a thing.

Anne and my sons had been on me to do something about my weight and to start exercising, but I just wasn’t that interested. At least, not until I hit 205. I was 165 when we first got married. I realized something needed to be done…

So, I contacted my brother, who is my pastor, and asked him if I could be accountable to him for my eating and moving objectives. I put together a daily spreadsheet of the extra ‘moving’ I wanted to do, my weight objective, and some other behaviors I wanted to stay committed to.

This was what I would call “accountability”. I was ‘initiating’ accountability with Ron to help me stay on track. Here is the key to accountability working well to create change:

It must be self-initiated, not imposed by another.

Here is what I mean by that: the accountability must be something you are initiating. It must be something you are committing to follow through on. It must be something you will be checking in with a trusted friend on. The accountability must be your responsibility.

If accountability is imposed, if it is something you are expecting someone else to provide or to take the responsibility for, it will not be the catalyst for change that self-initiated accountability is. When we create self-initiated accountability with those we trust it is because we want to create change, we realize we need help to create that change, and we are willing to humble ourselves to do so.

When we humble ourselves the Lord pours out His grace. When we are working from within the Lord’s grace, a change in behaviour becomes far easier because He changes our hearts. He actually changes our desires.

In regard to my move more/eat less accountability, I saw something remarkable: the Lord actually changed my desires. His grace enabled me to want to move more, and I began to want to eat differently. All the foods I formerly loved and in which I would over indulge, were not as attractive as they once were. The exercise I formerly did not relish became something I actually want to do.

My program simply involves vigorous, rigorous prayer walks down the mountainside from our house to the lake and back up again. I eat the same breakfast shake every day comprised of water, fruit, nuts, grains and protein powder. And, I do some supplemental exercises and other activities. I have lost 15 pounds over the last 6 months and have 5-10 more to go.

And, I love it.

However, the point is, self-initiated accountability is the key to creating change. When we humble ourselves and willingly submit to someone who can monitor the behavior we want to engage in, the grace of God is evident to change our desires and enable us to become who we desire to be.

So, what do you want to change? To whom will you be accountable?

1 Peter 5:5,6

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Philippians 2:13

“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

The Sleeping Giant rises over 1,000 feet from sea level. Looking west from Kapaa on the Island of Kauai this majestic mountain looms over the community as an iconic symbol of the island’s storied past.

The trail up is demanding. Over the course of 2 miles hikers switch back and forth up the mountainside until they weave their way from the feet of the giant, across his chest and up to his neck. The views afforded on the journey up are fabulous. The picnic site located at the giant’s neck provides a satisfying end point for the majority of travelers.

However, the truly adventurous make the “off trail” climb up to his chin.

The chin of the giant is where the money shot is. This rocky precipice affords the courageous climber a 360 degree view of the east coast of Kauai: both the Mauka (mountainside) and the Makai (ocean side).  Surrounded by life-ending cliffs on 3 sides the final scramble up the chin certainly tests your courage.

It is truly adrenalizing.

Anyone who climbs to the top of the chin of the Sleeping Giant has to get a picture to prove their conquest, and to capture the incredible grandeur of this spectacular corner of the globe.

It was on the approach to the Giant’s chin that our encounter happened. In 1985 young and spry Dave and Anne MacLean climbed the Sleeping Giant on their honeymoon. Thirty years later we were back with our sons to relive the experience. The chin was a little crowded this day.

We were third in line to get up on the chin for our photo shoot. There was a group of young people who had monopolized the chin for a lengthy period of time when we arrived. The group of 3 plus a dog had been waiting patiently for their turn, but had not said anything to the young people.  They were just waiting there.

I came up behind them and asked if they were waiting to climb up to the chin. They indicated they were, but the young people had been there quite a long time.

“Hey, could you please make some room for these people who want to get up there for a photo.” I called up to the young people.

“No problem.”, they replied and began to climb down for the group in front of us.

I asked the group of 3 if they wanted me to take a photo of them. They said they would appreciate that. I pointed out where they could stand to get the best scenic shot behind them with the sun still on their faces. I also told them I would put them in the left side of the frame so the photo would display the spectacularly expansive ocean view.

After I handed them back their camera so they could see the photo and give me a thumbs up or thumbs down, one to them said something I have never heard before,

“I love how assertive you are man!”

What he said really got me thinking. He was basically thanking me for being assertive – it helped them get what they were looking for.

I began to think of what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

We are not meant to be timid. We are created to be bold and assertive in life and leadership. To be assertive is to be confident, assured, decisive and bold.

Timidity is diametrically opposed to who we are meant to be in Jesus. We are created, crafted and called to be bold as lions, to be confident and assured in Christ.

Two things will keep us from being assertive and confident in Christ: Sin and Ignorance. The enemy will always leverage our sin to keep us in guilt and shame and out of faith and courage. Ignorance of the Truth of who we are in Christ will always keep us living a small timid life.

Men, we are meant to be assertive and confident in Christ in every aspect of our lives. Let’s be committed to walk in awareness of and obedience to the Truth. May our assertiveness serve others to help them find the life God has for them

Proverbs 28:1

“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

2 Corinthians 2:12

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”

Psalm 27:3

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

Who do you turn to for validation – man or God? Who do you look to for affirmation and encouragement – man or God?   Who do you draw your life and strength from – man or God? Who do you fear more – man or God?

We all have a choice in regard to where we go for life. Will we go to God for life, or the things of this world? What holds greater sway in our life – the fear of God, or the fear of man? Is Jesus enough for us, or do we need what this world has to offer?

Many years ago the Lord took me on a journey into increasing dependence on Him. He helped me to see how much I drew life from other people and the things of this world. He opened my eyes to see that I was more concerned about what people thought and said about me than what the Lord thought and said about me.

I began to realize the fear of man was greater in me than the fear of God. I sought the approval of men more than the approval of God.

In the midst of this journey I wrote a song:

“Man or God, who do I love?

Praises from men or my Father above?

Vanity will it be my delight?

Can God’s love be my song in the night?

Man or God, who is my hope?

Who is my anchor, my pillar, my rope?

Looking forward what can I see?

Simply today or all eternity?

Man or God, who will I serve?

Which way will I walk and from it not swerve?

Follow the wide or the narrow way?

Will I choose life or death this day?

Man or God, who is my trust?

In worldly treasures that decay and rust?

Will I dwell near the waters or life?

Or in a dry land of sorrow and strife?

Man or God, where is my life?

Sometimes this world can cut like a knife.

Who will heal and care for my wounds?

Man or the power that emptied the tomb?

Man or God, where will I turn?

For love and freedom I desperately yearn.

Fill the void, let the rains fall.

Quench my thirst, quench it all.

God or man, spirit or soul?

To whom will I yield my control?

Keep my life, or count it as loss?

Will I chose life through death at the cross?

I choose God my Father, my Friend

My all in all, my beginning and end

In you God and in You alone

I put my hope and I now bow at your throne

Love everlasting, mercy and grace

Help this weak man to seek your face

Sometimes I falter I doubt and I fear

Please my Father won’t You draw me near”

We have a choice to make: will we go to the spring of living water for life, or try to dig our own wells to find life outside of God? If you find yourself in the midst of a difficult situation considering walking away from the Lord, it means that you still think you can find life apart from God.

I love Peter’s answer when Jesus asked him and the other disciples if they were going to leave:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Peter knew he had no other option but Jesus. It was Jesus or nothing, so Peter was all in.

So, are you considering your options, or are you all in? There is no life apart from Jesus – He is The Life. Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly, but we often try to find life apart from Him.

Man or God – where do you go? We must choose to find our life in Christ; to reject the seduction of life apart from Him. We are made to be grafted into Christ and draw our life from Him. Apart from Him we wither and die.

Like Keith Green said, “He is Divine and we are de branch.”

We are made for life in Christ. We’re made to be all in!

Jeremiah 2:13

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 2:24

“But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.”

John 14:6

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”