In an effort to be a healthier me, and I admit that I want to get ready for bathing suit season, I’ve begun working out regularly. For the first time in my life, I’m enjoying it. Forever, as far back as middle school (junior high back in the day) I have hated all forms of exercise. No exceptions. Well, volleyball was tolerable. Since I married a gym rat, an actual person who loves to work out, I have spent more than twenty years watching him enjoy what I hate. All that to say, this is kinda nice, enjoying a good workout.

So the other day I’m working through a leg routine. I’m on a step thing – don’t know what you call it – and I’m doing these lifts. I stand with half of both feet on the edge and lift up. I wasn’t doing that many reps, so one day I thought I would try more. Sure enough, after adding five, I felt this burn in my hiney, so of course I stopped. That’s what any true exercise avoider would do, stop when you feel the burn. The next time I did those same exercises, I did enough to feel the burn and stopped again. A few minutes later, when I was on the treadmill, I thought about the fact that I stopped at the burn and decided the next time to go beyond it. I did, and surprisingly, it didn’t kill me. I was sure it would.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never be a gym rat and will likely only do enough to get by most times. I’ve spent more time today looking for a fan for my little home gym than I have on weights. But I have learned something significant through this. I need to go beyond the burn for the workout to be truly effective. To that end, I’m doing more reps, and for cardio, I’m increasing the incline and speed in practical intervals. I’m feeling the burn daily now.

As I do with most all things, I see a spiritual connection. Sometimes what we read in Scripture burns. It says we shouldn’t do something we love doing, or it may say you should do something you’ve been dragging your feet about for years. I learned years ago, for Christian growth to occur and for me to actually be more like Jesus, I have to go beyond the burn of what’s comfortable. I have had to give up activities I like and attitudes that have served me well over my years of taking care of number one. I have learned to forgive the unforgiveable and love the unlovable. Neither of those things are easy. What I gained from going beyond the burn, however, is always worth the discomfort, worth the pain in my hiney. I can think of no situation ever where God has asked me to do or not to do something and I find myself later regretting it. On the contrary, I can give numerous examples how going beyond the burn in my spiritual life has reaped great reward and produced surprising fruit.

Okay, now you. I’m not trying to talk you into working out. Do it or don’t. What I am encouraging you to do is this: Go beyond the burn in your Christian faith. Even when it feels scary, follow where He leads. If He prompts you to give up a relationship or habit, trust that it’s for your good. If He leads you to have a conversation that’s totally outside of what is comfortable for you, go beyond the burn of embarrassment or shyness and have that conversation. In all areas going beyond the burn will lead to a more effective you.

Not that this applies in any way, but yesterday I saw a sign for a home gym that said, “Sweat is fat crying.” I might get that along with the fan. 🙂

Peace and Joy to you today,

Lisa

I’m introspective, always in my own head. Recently, I’ve had to ask myself and pray about this: Am I all about me, myself, and I? Am I too much in my head and not enough about others? As I pondered on this, I realized that what I write and talk to groups about most are outcomes of these introspections. I teach based on what God has taught me about me and my relationship with Him and others. Ultimately, these introspections are from Him, for His use to ultimately flow to others. Having come to that understanding, I realize I just need to go with it, be who I am, and allow God to use my in-my-headness for His purpose.

Since I’m my own worst critic, it is in my nature to turn His gift (my introspective way of processing life) into something selfish, negative, or sinful. Because I’m crazy, self-defeating me, I assume that something that comes naturally for me can’t be right. I’m not sure why this revelation has come during this season, but it’s as if God has opened my eyes to His plan for my over-active, over-thinking mind. I love that He loves me exactly as I am – even though He still has plans to continue my sanctification and growth with Him. I need to learn this lesson and carry it forward, not just “get it” for the moment. It’s okay to be who I am. I was His idea.

So for you, have you looked within to see how you’re distinctly shaped and what your specific gifts are? Do you belittle your gifts as if they are “lesser” than others who seem to be exceptionally gifted? This may be something to ponder on and work through with your Creator, who intended you to be the uniquely you that you are.

Joy and Peace,

Lisa

Discouragement doesn’t take much for me. It may not last long, but I’m easily persuaded that I’m a big loser. No matter how much I accomplish on any given day, by the end of the day, I find the least little thing can rob me of all the good. Recently, over the past month or so, I’ve learned to call this internal voice After 9:00 Lisa. She’s negative and self-depreciating. I don’t care too much for her and am learning to ignore her once she begins.

If I’m feeling as if I didn’t do enough, write enough, or juggle as many balls in the air as I should have that day, After 9:00 Lisa starts in. She asks me why I can’t I be like other moms and do more with my son or be a better homeschool mom or keep my house cleaner or spend more time with my mom or why I take every short-cut imaginable when cooking dinner because I just don’t love cooking. Actually, I do kinda like to cook when I have plenty of time, but it’s always a last minute mad dash to get food on the table because I’m totally absorbed in work or ministry. Who can like that day after day? What I’m doing is all good stuff, so why do I feel so guilty that I’m not doing enough good stuff?

After 9:00 Lisa totally gets on my nerves.

It may not be hard to figure out why I call her After 9:00 Lisa. It’s almost always after 9:00 p.m. when her voice begins to echo in my head. I’ve become so aware of her and how she intends to deflate me, that when she begins, I glance at the clock and say to myself, “Oh, that’s just After 9:00 Lisa.” I tune her out and go about the business of getting ready for bed or whatever I’m doing.

My point is this: we all have our most vulnerable moments, those times when we are most susceptible to criticism and feel easily defeated. For the longest time, when those accusations would come, I would take them to bed with me and snuggle with them. I would try to figure out how I could squeeze more hours into my next day just to get more accomplished. How self-defeating that was since I didn’t go to sleep with any kind of peace. Typically, if I tossed and turned with After 9:00 Lisa’s voice in my head, then I would wake with far less energy than going to sleep in peace.

All this to say: we have to avoid that internal dialogue that reminds us of all the ways we don’t measure up. I’m doing as much as I can and more. So I’m cutting myself some slack. I pray through what has to be done vs. what the ideal is. I don’t have it all together, especially here lately. I’m cautious of making any decisions or plans after 9:00 p.m. since that girl can’t be trusted. I suggest you do the same. Cut yourself some slack when you’re not on your best game. Prioritize with eternal perspective. Get to know the sound of your discourager and learn to tune her out.