Perseverance

 I have been blessed to train a variety of different types of clients/athletes in my lifetime. Hands down by far my favorite has been the athlete whose goal is to lose a significant amount of weight. I believe every trainer finds their specialty cliental whether that be with the elderly, the body builder, the sports specific, mine definitely is weight loss. Partly because I’ve lived this journey and partly because for some reason the ones I’ve been privileged to serve have been some of the most humble human beings that I have ever encountered. With that being said the formula for weight loss is really very simple. It looks a little something like this:

Calories in<Calories out, or Movement must be > than a Sedentary Lifestyle

 The formula is simple the process is what is the most difficult. What I have found is that whenever one starts out to lose weight the ones who are not the most successful usually experience this pattern:

1.       Self-Awareness and acknowledgement that change needs to occur. They usually then set a goal and tell someone for accountability.

2.       Opposition arises in the midst of their goal.

3.       They then Quit/Backslide and then repeat the cycle

But the ones who are the MOST SUCCESSFUL, their pattern looks a little like this:

        1.    Self-Awareness and acknowledgement that change needs to occur. They usually then set a  goal and tell someone for accountability.

        2.   Opposition arises in the midst of their goal.

        3.   Backsliding may occur but they are determined to GET UP AND PERSEVERE

4.       Perseverance  takes place even through the obstacles

5.       Finally they experience the joy of bearing the Fruit of the weight loss

Notice the fruit doesn’t come until after the Opposition/Perseverance. Losing weight is a simple formula but it is a lot of hard work! Recently I heard a sermon about the same general pattern when it comes to following God. (God is Bigger than My Expectations by: James McDonald). As a Christian I have found this same pattern to be true in my own walk with God. The way to God is really simple:

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” We are all sinners

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Sin separates us from God but God has provided a way to eternal life through His son Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God gave His only Son and if we believe in Him we shall have eternal life.

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus didn’t say “some way” or “One Way” He said THE WAY the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Salvation is a confession and a belief that Jesus is Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”  You cannot earn your way to heaven it is a gift of God through faith in Christ and what He did on the cross for you and for me.

Coming to God is the easy part; living for God is the hard part. Just like in weight loss, you will travel through the same pattern when you make a firm decision that you are going to follow Christ.

1.       You will proclaim your new faith

2.       You will face opposition

3.       You will either choose to backslide, quit, or PERSEVERE

4.       You will then experience Fruit if you PERSEVERE

When I say “fruit” I am referring to anything God does in your life for example, freeing you from an addiction, healing a marriage, restoring a friendship, or answering prayer.

Jesus told us that, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8

 

Loved ones, whether your goal is physical fitness or spiritual fitness, please know that you will face opposition.  Something is bound to occur and you can choose to quit or PERSERVERE through those obstacles. As my friend Crystal used to say, “There are no obstacles only opportunities” and I would add opportunities  are there for us to believe God, know God, and experience God in ways we could never imagine! STAY THE COURSE! You are LOVED!

Fit4Eternity!