Leg day
I finally have an outstanding in-home PT person who understands my situation and needs.
After only two visits, I have a better grasp about which muscles need more strength training, less stretch.
Having said that, my quads are killing me. Leg 🦵day, amirite?
Do you ever equate muscle training with faith training? Or do you expect the Lord (in His strength) to just drop some knowledge on you when you need it?
I lived my spiritual life that way until mid-life, but didn't really immerse myself in the Bible until my Golden Age started.
After a few years of practice, my faith muscle has benefited from the consistent and sometimes rigorous training.
The ability to recall Scripture verses has also gotten stronger — even if remembering their Scripture addresses (book-chapter-verse) — has not.
Here are a few Scriptures (that I had to look up) regarding the benefits of consistent study of God's Word:
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
Notice it said "...meditate in it" not "on" it? We must get into God's Word, and let it get into us. Superficial reading is not sacrificial reading. Set aside time every day to let the Bible soak into your spirit, heart and brain.
II Timothy 2:15 NKJV
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Let go of what your friends or family might think if you start dropping Scripture on them. Sprinkle what you learn in conversation. Eventually, it becomes a part of you and you start living your life accordingly. They'll begin noticing the alignment between word and action in your life. But this is for God's approval, not their's. You might lose friends — and even be labeled a Bible thumper — but you gain eternity by God's side in exchange.
Acts 17:11 NKJV
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Ultimately, your daily Bible reading leads to discernment of truth (knowing if a statement or situation aligns with the Bible). We have a lack of truth-tellers in the world today.
Become one.
Colossians 3:16 NKJV
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
The more you study, the more you will recognize like-minded believers in their mannerisms and speech.
Psalms 119:11 NKJV
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."
Learn God's Word now. This helps you recognize and avoid sin in your life. Also, there might come a time when your own heart is the only biblical reference guide left in the world.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
"Transform your mind" isn't some hippie-dippy, New Age-speak for psychological wellness. It is a process of attaining wholeness and righteousness in God's eyes through exposure to His will for your life found in Scripture.
II Peter 1:19 NKJV
"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts..."
Every word in the Bible points to Jesus (yes, even the OT). Get to know Him before it's too late. A world (and heart) without Jesus is a dark place indeed.
Mush
TRUSTING GOD'S PLAN IN THE WAITING: LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
A 22-Day Devotional
GOD INTENDED IT FOR GOOD
We begin today’s reading with the death of Jacob. Due to Joseph’s favor with Pharaoh, his father Jacob is embalmed in the Egyptian traditions and given the funeral fan-fare of a king. All of Pharaoh's court and dignitaries accompany Jacob’s family from Egypt to his homeland in Canaan to bury him with his forefathers.
Once the family returns from the funeral, the brothers start convincing themselves Joseph still has a grudge against them. They haven’t truly forgiven themselves for what they did to Joseph, so they think he’s out to get them now that their father is dead. They send word to Joseph saying their dad told him to forgive them all. When Joseph hears this, it breaks his heart and he weeps.
Have you ever forgiven someone only to sense they haven’t forgiven themselves? Maybe they act differently around you now. Maybe they avoid you. It’s an awful position to be in because it means you haven’t been truly heard or understood. If the brothers really believed Joseph, they would have never sent forth those instructions on forgiveness.
The brothers come and throw themselves down before Joseph, again the image of the prophetic dream on repeat! They go so far as to say, “We are your slaves.” (v18) What a change of heart from the guys who actually made him a slave in the past.
Let’s learn from Joseph by how he handles such a delicate situation. He points them to God. “But Joseph said to them, 'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (v19 -21)
Joseph spoke the truth in love. Yes, he understood they intended to kill him, but God gave him a greater perspective. Joseph could now see the big picture. God took their awful act and used it for His good.
In the middle of your wait, you may only be seeing one small puzzle piece of a much greater puzzle. Your puzzle piece or situation may literally make you feel puzzled, wondering how this will ever fit or be fixed. But if you step back, take your hands off, and trust God with your situation, He will bring good out of the darkest problems.
Questions:
Do you identify with the brothers being fearful of Joseph’s intentions?
What did you learn from Joseph’s perspective on the harm intended for him?
Do you feel like God can bring something good out of your situation?
TODAY'S ASSIGNED SCRIPTURE:
Genesis 50:1-21 NKJV
"[1] Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. [2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. [3] Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. [4] Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, [5] ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’ ” [6] And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.” [7] So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, [8] as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. [9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering. [10] Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. [11] And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. [12] So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. [13] For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. [14] And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
JOSEPH REASSURES HIS BROTHERS
[15] When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” [16] So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, [17] ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. [18] Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” [19] Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? [20] But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. [21] Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."
Romans 8:28 NKJV
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
We come ti You today to strengthen our faith. Let us become hearers of The Word, readers of The Word, knowers of The Word, and sowers of The Word. All according to Your will and power in our lives. In Your holy name, Amen.