Happy Monday. I Timothy 4:7 says, …exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Today as I returned from my walk (in the mall to escape the heat), my mind drifted back to memorizes from five years ago. After being diagnosed with stage I breast cancer and having undergone several procedures including a lumpectomy, I was informed by my doctor that I would need six weeks of radiation. He informed me of possible side effects with the most frequent one being fatigue. Boy, was he right! He had said the best thing to counteract lack of energy was to take daily walks. I argued (under my breath), “Why would I want to expend energy when I have none?” However, he was right. I discovered that my walks energized me.
I thought about the times I have been spiritually lethargic or just indifferent. Yes, I am just like everyone else. I ask myself this question, “How’s my walk?” Is my time spent in the Bible a so-called “duty,” or do I really meet with the God of the universe and hear Him speak? It is not the number of verses or length of time that count, but a matter of feeling His presence and my heart being touched. Is my prayer life stagnant and lazy? Am I praying in generalities instead of naming specific needs and believing by faith that I have been heard?
When these things are in their proper places in my life, I am ready to walk away from my “comfort zone” into a world of hurting people who need encouragement. It has been said, “The greatest exercise for the heart is to reach down and lift someone up.”
Most doctors emphasize the need for exercise, and nearly all conclude that walking briskly is an excellent way of keeping fit. If we are to “finish strong” in our race of life, we must stay fit. Only as we schedule the time and keep to our schedules for “spiritual” exercise will we complete our courses successfully.
About walking, I loved hearing Dr. Wendell Evans say, “Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”
by Beverly Hyles
From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.