A lot of my friends have adopted a more active lifestyle and started new workout routines of late. When they all do it at once like that I\u2019m usually shamed into joining them. This time, I\u2019ve decided to do resistance training. Because nobody resists training like I do.<\/p>\n
People are always talking about how important it is to have a strong core. And even though I\u2019ve heard from all different directions that I should exercise my core, I\u2019m having a hard time getting past the fact that it sounds just plain dangerous. I try not to disturb my core. That\u2019s because under the various layers of fat cells, I\u2019m not altogether sure what I\u2019m really made of. Hey. What if my core is made of molten lava? Anyone ever think of that? Activity is one thing. But volcanic activity? That\u2019s a whole different ball of magma.<\/p>\n
Of course, I do realize the volcanic activity \u2013 or lack thereof \u2013 is not so much a problem with the earth\u2019s crust. Likely more of a problem with pie crust.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there\u2019s a paraphrase of 1 Pet. 1:13 that really gets me. It tells me to \u201cexercise self-control.\u201d Seriously, no one wants a flabby, molten center. We need self-control \u2013 a strong core spiritually. If we want to know what it is to be victorious and fruitful, we simply must continually exercise that self-control. The verse in 1 Peter in whole says, \u201cTherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ\u201d (1 Pet. 1:13).<\/p>\n
To gird up the loins was to gather up the cumbersome robes so that a person could stay active, unhindered. In another version we\u2019re told to have \u201cminds ready for action\u201d (1 Pet. 1:13). We\u2019re not called to be spiritual couch spuds. Action begins in the core of our minds \u2013 that place where a thought sparks an act. Good thinking doesn\u2019t simply erupt from our minds. We\u2019re called to work at what goes on in our head-space, to exercise self-control in every thought and not give place to the cumbersome wickedness of sin.<\/p>\n
A ready mind stays aware of what\u2019s going on thought-wise. Not rationalizing or excusing. Reining it in. We are, essentially, to roll up the sleeves of our thoughts and put them to use for the Kingdom. Paul charges us to \u201ctake every thought captive to obey Christ\u201d (2 Cor. 10:5).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s good to remember that we\u2019re not without a weapon in the battle to capture those thoughts and ready our minds for action. We \u201cgird up\u201d by filling our minds with the truth of God. \u201cStand therefore, having girded your waist with truth\u201d (Eph. 6:14).<\/p>\n
Girding up with the truth of God\u2019s Word puts our minds in a place of victorious living and successful service. Thoughts aren\u2019t meant to freely roam about willy-nilly in any fleshly direction they want. As we exercise self-control and gather our thinking in truth, we find ourselves loving, serving and sharing Christ with other people like never before \u2013 even giving like never before.<\/p>\n
I might ordinarily call that being magnanimous. But in this particular spot I think I\u2019ll call it being magma-nanimous. Because what\u2019s hotter than a lava joke?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A lot of my friends have adopted a more active lifestyle and started new workout routines of late. When they all do it at once like that I\u2019m usually shamed into joining them. This time, I\u2019ve decided to do resistance training. Because nobody resists training like I do. People are always talking about how important […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[38,5,8,29],"tags":[106],"yoast_head":"\n