Words of Worth

Exhausted by Lesser Things

July 21, 2012

An interesting thing happened on the way to the gym one day….I actually went inside!  I used to joke that exercising was a priority in my life and on my calendar because I faithfully drove by the gym three times a week.  However, once I went inside about six weeks ago, I stopped the drive-by and began a faithful regiment of working out five to six times a week.  And yes, before you ask, as everyone is prone to do, it does feel good and for many reasons.

Working out has many perks such as experiencing more energy, weight loss, better mental acuity, better clothing fit, not to mention a great feeling of accomplishment.  Indeed!  It was quite an accomplishment to conquer the elliptical that at first conquered me within 3 minutes and a handful of revolutions.  Now I get off at 3 miles and when I decide I’m done.  All of that felt good until the day I realized that it wasn’t long until my gym visit lasted longer than my quiet time with the Lord.

And as if it weren’t enough that I recognized that, God had to recognize it too!  One day while I was in my “quiet time that was lesser than my gym time”, I read a prayer from a book that has been part of my daily reading for the last two years.  The author prayed, “Jesus, I need strength even to seek you, and I am embarrassed to confess it.  Lately it’s much easier to watch TV than to read the Scriptures.”  Now wait because here’s the one two punch, “It’s a higher priority to exercise my body for vanity than my heart for godliness….The truth is, I have a lazy heart, exhausted from lesser things.”

Exhausted from lesser things…exercising my body for vanity. I am so thankful that God didn’t let me get too far on the treadmill, before re-directing my energy and focus.  Yes, it’s been several weeks now that I have given up my gym drive-by routine.  It has also been several weeks now that exercising my heart for godliness takes far more time than my gym workout.

And I echo the ending prayer of the author, “Give me strength to return to my first love, Jesus, for you alone are worthy of my heart’s affection, adoration, and allegiance.” (sv)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

 

*All quotes taken from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith