Okay, I'm [All] In

Okay, I confess.  I just spent the first hour of my morning reading and linking, and reading some more, from the blogs of ladies who've joined this phenomenon called, "Fitness Fridays."  What I love about this group of gals is the utter humble and transparent way in which they share their commitment with each other and those, like me, who lurk.  

They mean business.  But, not in the way you might think.  It's not the secular agenda, for which I too often fall, that I'm gonna take charge of my life and get my groove back, but the yielding of their hearts to a gracious God, who changes us and upholds us and desires everything good for each one of us.  Even fitness, you say?  Isn't that a selfish flesh-centered

 [pun totally intended] idea?

I don't think so.  I believe that God desires that we yield all of our selves: our wills, our minds, and our bodies.  Are we not commanded time and time again not to give ourselves over to unrighteousness, to sins of the flesh, to immorality committed in the flesh?  Hey, if you don't buy it, just go here and do a simple search for flesh ((no worries, it's an ESV Bible, not some crazy random website)).  God often uses the word flesh to describe our sinful nature, that disgusting part of us we can't weed out no matter how hard we might try.  And sadly, many of us, myself included, are just way too fleshy--flesh here, flesh there, flesh, flesh everywhere.  But, search again, once you can pull yourself from a prostrate place before His throne,...

I can wait.

I know it might be awhile.

Let it all hang out.

He already knows.

...for "body" and find encouragement.  We are to glorify God in our bodies; they are temples to the Living God; our bodies were bought at a [dear] price; our bodies no longer belong to us.  We are His.

Okay, pull out the tambourines and let's now dance before His throne.

We are His!

What a freeing and glorious thing to belong to the only Living God, the Beginning and the End, the Creator, the Sustainer, the SAVIOR!

And what a freeing and glorious thing to house His Spirit, who will empower us to work out our salvation, persevere in His teaching, and bring glory, coupled with the sweet aroma of our worship, to our heavenly Father...in all things.

We take our thoughts captive.

We yield our wills.

And we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.

For HIM.

Let's no longer covet the things of this world, whether it be for or against the body.   But, instead, let's together pursue Christ, by the power of His grace, and lay all things at His alter.

As for me, I'm putting this big pile of messy flesh and bone right here, before the One who loves me.  This is very hard for me--I have huge issues with my body--which is exactly why I need to do this.