I read somewhere that the strength of the human body peaks at the age of 20, followed by a slow decline up to the age of 60. From 60 onward, the strength will decline sharply!
With 60 approaching fast, I can testify to the above statement. Whilst maintaining a disciplined life helps, it will not alter the trend.
Before I travelled to Asia 2 weeks ago, I was suffering from hay fever. The long flight to Hong Kong did not help. The change of weather in Hong Kong added to the battle. It took me almost a week to get to some kind of normality. But before I settle down to the warm climate in Hong Kong & Malaysia (where we had our Leaders Conference), I was on my way back to London!
Landing at Heathrow yesterday in the early hours, I was determined to re-adjust my body clock back to GMT. By sheer will power, I managed to stay awake till 10pm. Bedtime was extra sweet. This morning, I went for my 4.2k run. I was happy with the very modest time of 29 min., and I found the soak in a hot bath afterwards quite heavenly.:o)
I learn so much about my spiritual condition through my body. Whilst the condition of the body is controllable, I cannot say the same about the spirit. It is a battle of the mind, which is much harder!
I often ponder about what is pleasing to God as a witnessing Christian. The answer is in [Rom 12:2 NIV] "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will." However, I find "the renewing of the mind" bit easier said than done. I guess it will remain "work in progress" until the Day of the Lord. But I am willing to give it a go and press on. With God's help, I will get there one day. :o)
Spiritual warfare or "battle of the mind" will continue to be a big part of the life of every Christian who seriously live for God. We will need to continually cry out to God for help in this fight. 'O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you......Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed......all who swear by God's name will praise him.....'. [Ps 63:1-11 NIV]
For us to be victorious, we need to be constantly mindful of God's goodness in our lives, just like God's reminder to the Israelites. 'The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."' [Num 15:37-41 NIV] God's blessing is a circle. When we rememember God's goodness, it will in turn remind us to obey His commands. When we do obey God's commands, we end up with more of God's blessings. Its an amazing circle of truth! But are we buying into it?
Apostle Paul understood the battle of the mind very well. He adminished the Ephesians with these strong words from God. 'So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.......do not give the devil a foothold.....'. [Eph 4:17-28 NIV] But how many of us are heeding the Word of God?
Do not be a fool.'A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.' [Prov 18:2,6-7 NIV] Let us pay attention to God's opinions and heed them instead.
Amen!
With 60 approaching fast, I can testify to the above statement. Whilst maintaining a disciplined life helps, it will not alter the trend.
Before I travelled to Asia 2 weeks ago, I was suffering from hay fever. The long flight to Hong Kong did not help. The change of weather in Hong Kong added to the battle. It took me almost a week to get to some kind of normality. But before I settle down to the warm climate in Hong Kong & Malaysia (where we had our Leaders Conference), I was on my way back to London!
Landing at Heathrow yesterday in the early hours, I was determined to re-adjust my body clock back to GMT. By sheer will power, I managed to stay awake till 10pm. Bedtime was extra sweet. This morning, I went for my 4.2k run. I was happy with the very modest time of 29 min., and I found the soak in a hot bath afterwards quite heavenly.:o)
I learn so much about my spiritual condition through my body. Whilst the condition of the body is controllable, I cannot say the same about the spirit. It is a battle of the mind, which is much harder!
I often ponder about what is pleasing to God as a witnessing Christian. The answer is in [Rom 12:2 NIV] "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will." However, I find "the renewing of the mind" bit easier said than done. I guess it will remain "work in progress" until the Day of the Lord. But I am willing to give it a go and press on. With God's help, I will get there one day. :o)
Spiritual warfare or "battle of the mind" will continue to be a big part of the life of every Christian who seriously live for God. We will need to continually cry out to God for help in this fight. 'O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you......Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed......all who swear by God's name will praise him.....'. [Ps 63:1-11 NIV]
For us to be victorious, we need to be constantly mindful of God's goodness in our lives, just like God's reminder to the Israelites. 'The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."' [Num 15:37-41 NIV] God's blessing is a circle. When we rememember God's goodness, it will in turn remind us to obey His commands. When we do obey God's commands, we end up with more of God's blessings. Its an amazing circle of truth! But are we buying into it?
Apostle Paul understood the battle of the mind very well. He adminished the Ephesians with these strong words from God. 'So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.......do not give the devil a foothold.....'. [Eph 4:17-28 NIV] But how many of us are heeding the Word of God?
Do not be a fool.'A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.' [Prov 18:2,6-7 NIV] Let us pay attention to God's opinions and heed them instead.
Amen!
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