Get Back In The Groove

Have you ever thought about how you got here? I mean you look around at you circumstances in your life  and you think how in the world did I get here. I left the gym this morning after a workout that was rough and I began to think about when my daddy and I used to run. We ran 5-10 miles everyday. I couldn't wait for the opportunity each day. About every other month we would get all crazy and run 15-20 miles. When I was doing that I never stopped, i was wide ope twenty four seven. I would teach all day, coach all evening come home and there was always a project going on in the house. I never stopped. When I did, I slept like a baby for the few hours I closed my eyes. That lifestyle led me to eating right and pretty much taking care of myself all around.  What in the world happened? Slowly but surely the joy of running began to fade and a life of sitting took over. It didn't happen over night, but it happened. One day turned into two days and two days turned into a way of life. Then the ultimate in crazyville took place and I said, well since I am not exercising, why bother to eat right. The result of all this, a life filled with hauling around a ridiculous amount of extra weight, eating habits that can only be described as stupid, a ton of half finished projects around the house, and sleep, well sleep is just something you day dream about, but it never happens for more than two hours at the time. As I think about this I parallel it to someone who wakes up one day and says how in the world did I get engulfed with sin. we get there one small step, one slow fade at a time! You don't all of a sudden rush up the steps to the high dive and take off running and dive into an empty pool. Instead, you slowly begin to drift. First in your mind, your thoughts begin to carry you to some rough places. You once were quick to allow the authority of God living in you to redirect those thoughts immediately, but when the fade begins you stay there a little longer today. You think about it a little too long today. Tomorrow repeats today until eventually you are full out meditating on that which is impure and not of God. Then sin creeps in maybe through your attitude towards another person, or harsh words spoken in anger to a spouse, a coworker, or a family member. The comes the failure to repent. The conviction has not faded completely, it is still there. Yesterday your response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit was immediate, repentance was immediate to follow. Today, conviction leads to a little slower repentance. Negotiations begin, the flesh rages, and the fall is fast approaching. Then, the walking around in sin, walking in open disregard for what God says. You may play the part in many areas, but the reality is you are fading and fading  fast. The result you are so overweight in sin that what used to be easy is now a chore and a burden. What was once easy and a blessing to your heart is now a ball and chain. What you once did out of love and commitment with joy, you now do with resentment and sometimes even anger. It is only a matter of time until you wake up take at look at your life and ask "What in the world has happened to me, where is my Bible, where is my church family, where is my brothers and sisters in Christ. I must make things right? ....So how? Well repent and do the things you once did. Read and study the Word of God. Pray without ceasing. Go to church. Love God's children and love the Word of God! NEVER, EVER, EVER give up! In essence get back in the gym. Stop whining about what you can't do anymore and start doing what you can do! God may carry you through some baby steps on your return to Him. Take the baby steps. Baby steps are good for us all. Baby steps lead to toddler steps, and the next thing you know you are a grown man! Go to work there is plenty to go around. 

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother Big Daddy

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