21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 21

YOUR PHYSICAL AND

SPIRITUAL FITNESS:

WHO'S IN CHARGE?

But see ye first kingdom of God, and his righteousness

and all these things shall be added unto you.

-

Matthew 6:33

FOCUS FOR TODAY

God deserves first place in your life...

and you deserve the experience of putting Him there.

One of the surest ways to improve your health and your life - and the best way - is to do it with God as your partner. When you put God first in every aspect of your life, you'll be comforted by the knowledge that His wisdom is the ultimate wisdom and that His plans are the right plans for you.

When you put God first, your outlook will change, your behaviors will change, and your health will change. When you put Him first, you'll experience the genuine peace and lasting comfort that only He can give.

In the book of Exodus, God instructs us to place no gods before Him. (20:3) Does God rule your heart?  Make certain that the honest answer to this question is a resounding yes. And then prepare yourself for the cascade of spiritual and emotional blessings that sure to follow.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

YOUR DIET REFLECTS YOUR VALUES

If you place high value on the body God has given you, then place high importance on the foods that you use to fuel it.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD

Exodus 15:2

New International Version (NIV)

 ² “The LORD is my strength and my defense
   he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Deuteronomy 6:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Psalm 92

    A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. ¹ It is good to praise the LORD
   and make music to your name, O Most High,
² proclaiming your love in the morning
   and your faithfulness at night,

Deuteronomy 6:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Luke 4:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
 ⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT

PUTTING GOD FIRST

Make God's will the focus of your life day by day. If you  seek to please Him and HIm alone, you'll find yourself satisfies with life. - Kay Arthur

Jesus Christ is the first and last, author and finisher, beginning and end, alpha and omega, and by Him all other things hold together. He must be first or nothing. God never comes next! - Vance Havner 

Do not be afraid, then, that if you trust, or tell others to trust, the matter will end there. Trust is only the beginning and the continual foundation. When we trust Him, the Lord works, and His work is the important part of the whole matter. - Hannah Whitall Smith

Our body is a portable sanctuary through which we are daily experiencing the presence of God. - Richard Foster

PERFECTION IS IMPOSSIBLE

You don't have to be perfect to be wonderful. The difference between perfectionism and realistic expectations is the difference between a life of frustration and a life of contentment. Only one earthly being ever lived life to perfection, and He was the Son of God. The rest of us have fallen short of God's standard and need to be accepting to our limitations as well as the limitations of others.

If you find yourself frustrated by the unrealistic demands of others (or by unrealistic pressures of the self imposed variety)  it's time to ask yourself who you're trying to impress and why. Your first responsibility is to the Heavenly Father who created you and to the Son who saved you. Then, you bear a powerful responsibility to be true to yourself. And of course you owe debts of gratitude to friends and family members. 

But when it comes to meeting society's unrealistic expectations, forget it! Those expectations aren't just unrealistic; they're detrimental to your spiritual health.

So, if you're a woman who has become discouraged with your inability to perfectly fit, remember that when you accepted Christ as your Savior, God accepted you for all eternity. Now, it's your turn to accept yourself. When you do, you'll feel a tremendous weight being lifted from your shoulders. After all, pleasing God is simply a matter of obeying His commandments and accepting His Son. But as for pleasing everybody else? That's impossible...so why even try?

WORKING IT OUT

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FIT AND STAY FIT

Would you like to continue your journey toward improved fitness? The start with the firm conviction that God wants the very same thing. And then have the faith that when you and God work together, anything is possible!

CELEBRATING LIFE

Today is a non-renewable resource - once it's gone, it's gone forever. Our responsibility, as thoughtful believers, is to use this day in the service of God's will and in the service of His people. When we do so, we enrich our own lives and the lives of those whom we love. 

God has richly blessed us, and He wants you to rejoice in His gifts. That's why this day - and each day that follows - should be a time of prayer and celebration as we consider the Good News of God's free gift: salvation through Jesus Christ.

Oswald Chambers correctly observed, "Joy is the great note all throughout the Bible." E. Stanley Jones echoed that thought when he wrote "Christ and joy go together." But, even the most dedicated Christians can, on occasion, forget to celebrate each day for what it is: a priceless gift from God.

What do you expect from the day ahead? Are you expecting God to do wonderful things, or are you living beneath a cloud of apprehension and doubt? The familiar words of Psalm 118:24 remind us of a profound yet simple truth: "This is the day which the LORD hath made." Our duty, as believers, is to rejoice in God's marvelous creation.

Today, celebrate the life that God has given you. Today, put a smile on your face, kind words on your lips, and a song in your heart. Be generous with your praise and free with your encouragement. And then, when you have celebrated life to it's fullest, invite your friends to do likewise. After all, this is God's day, and He has given us clear instructions for it's use. We are commanded to rejoice and be glad. So, with no further ado, let the celebration begin!!

STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH

HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE

You must guard your heart by putting God in His rightful place - first place.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD 

ABOUT JOY

Philippians 4:4

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Psalm 16:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

2 Samuel 6:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with castanets,^[a] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

Esther 9:22

New International Version (NIV)

²² as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Nehemiah 12:27

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁷ At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 

NOTES TO YOURSELF

Are you putting God first in every aspect of your life? Describe how you believe God wants you to treat your body.

Maria DiCroce Phitness Training: 21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 20

Maria DiCroce Phitness Training: 21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 20: FITNESS IS A FORM OF WORSHIP Worship the Lord your God and... serve Him only. - Matthew 4:10 FOCUS FOR TODAY When you worship God with a...

21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 20

FITNESS IS A FORM

OF WORSHIP

Worship the Lord your God and...

serve Him only.

-

Matthew 4:10 

FOCUS FOR TODAY

When you worship God with a sincere heart,

He will guide your steps and bless your life.

What does worship have to do with fitness? That depends on how you define worship. If you consider worship to be a "Sunday-only" activity, an activity the occurs only inside the four walls of your local church, then fitness and worship may seem totally unrelated. But if you view worship as an activity that impacts every facet of your life - if you consider worship to be something far more that a "one-day-a-week" obligation - then you understand that every aspect of your life is a form of worship. And that includes keeping your body physically fit, keeping the temple that He dwells in, in good health.

Make no mistake: All of mankind (including you) is engaged to worship...of one kind or another. The question is not whether we worship, but what we worship. Some us us choose to worship our Heavenly Father. The result is a plentiful harvest of joy, peace, and abundance. Others distance themselves from God by placing the desire for personal gratification above the need for spiritual gratification. To do so can be a terrible mistake with eternal consequences.

Everyday provides the opportunities to put God where He belongs: at the center of our lives. When we do so, , we worship not just with our words, but also with our deeds. And one way that we can honor our Heavenly Father is by treating our bodies with care and respect.

The Bible makes it clear: "Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" 1 Corinthians 6:19. Treat it that way. And consider your fitness regimen to be one way - a very important way - of worshiping God.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

DON'T FOCUS ON FOOD;

FOCUS ON GOD

Don't worship food. Honor the body that God gave you by eating sensible portions of sensible foods.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD

Psalm 100:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his
 we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

John 4:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers 

 

 

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David. ¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
   “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Acts 2:46-47

New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

So that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow-of those who are 

in heaven and on earth and under the earth-

and every tongue should confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

-

Philippians 2:10-11

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT WORSHIP

It's the definition of worship: A hungry heart finding the Father's feast. A searching soul finding the Father's face. A wondering pilgrim spotting the Father's house. Finding God. Finding God seeking us. This is worship. This is a true worshiper. - Max Lucado

Spiritual worship is focusing all we are on all He is. - Beth Moore

To worship Him in truth means to worship Him honestly, without hypocrisy, standing open and transparent before Him. - Anne Graham Lotz

God asks that we worship Him with our concentrated minds as with our wills and emotions. A divided and scattered mind is not effective. - Catherine Marshall

Worship is your spirit responding to God's Spirit. - Rick Warren

REMEMBER THE SABBATH

When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, it became perfectly clear that our Heavenly Father intends for us to make the Sabbath a holy day, a day for worship, for contemplation, for fellowship, and for rest. Yet we live in a seven-day-a-week world, a world that all too often treats Sunday as a regular workday.

One way to strengthen our faith is by giving God at least one day each week. If you can carve out the time for a day of worship and praise, you'll be amazed at the impact it will have on the rest of your week. But id you fail to honor God's day, if you treat the Sabbath as a day to work or a day to party, you'll miss out on a harvest of blessings that is only available one day each week.

How does your family observe the Lord's day? When church is over, do you treat Sunday like any other day of the week? If so, it's time to think long and hard about your family's schedule and your family's priorities. And if you've been treating Sunday as just another day, it's time to break that habit. When Sunday rolls around, don't try to fill every spare moment. Take time to rest....Father's orders!

It is impossible to worship God

and remain unchanged.

-

Henry Blackaby

WORKING IT OUT

CONSIDER YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

A FORM OF WORSHIP

When God described your body as a temple. He wasn't kidding. Show respect for God's Word by keeping your temple in tip-top shape.

PRAISE HIM

Too many of us, even well-intentioned believers, tend to "compartmentalize" our waking hours into a few familiar categories: work, rest, play, family time, and worship. To do so is a mistake. Worship and praise should be woven into the fabric of everything we do; it should never be relegated to a weekly three-hour visit to church on Sunday morning.

Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, the author of the classic devotional text, Streams in the Desert, wrote, "Two things are necessary to lift our souls toward God; prayer and praise. Prayer asks. Praise accepts the answer." Today, find a little more time to lift your concerns to God in prayer, and praise Him for all that He has done. He is listening...and He wants to hear from you.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD ABOUT

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

Psalm 92

Psalm 92

    A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. ¹ It is good to praise the LORD
   and make music to your name, O Most High,

Colossians 3:15

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 2:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

 ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH

NOT JUST SUNDAY MORNING

Worship is not meant to be boxed up in a church building on Sunday morning. To the contrary, praise and worship should be woven into the very fabric of our lives.

NOTES TO YOURSELF

Make notes about specific ways that you can worship God seven days a week.

21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 19

RECHARGING YOUR

SPIRITUAL BATTERIES

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not faint.

-

Isaiah 40:31

FOCUS FOR TODAY

For the journey through life, you need energy.

The best source of energy, of course, is God.

So if you're wise, you'll ask the Creator to energize you

and guide you today and everyday.

As you make the journey toward improved fitness, you'll undoubtedly run out of energy from time to time. When it happens, you can turn to God for strength and for guidance.

Andrew Murray observed, "Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing power."

These words remind us that the ultimate source of your strength is God. When we turn to Him - for guidance, for enlightenment, and for strength - we will not be disappointed.

As you feeling exhausted? Are you emotions on edge? If so, it's time to turn things over to God in prayer.  Are you weak or worried? Take the time - or, more accurately, make the time - to delve deeply into God's Holy Word. Are you spiritually depleted? Call upon fellow believers to support you, and call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. When you do, you'll discover that the Creator of the universe has the power to make all things new...including you.

Never be lacking in zeal,

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

-

Romans 12:11

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD

Matthew 19:26

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Psalm 77:14

New King James Version (NKJV)

 ¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders;
         You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

Psalm 68:34-35

New King James Version (NKJV)

 ³⁴ Ascribe strength to God;
         His excellence is over Israel,
         And His strength is in the clouds.
 ³⁵ O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places.
         The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.

           Blessed be God!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FINDING THE ENERGY TO DO GOD'S WORK

It takes energy to do God's work. And a well-rested Christian can be a much more effective worker for God. So plan your life, and your sleep, accordingly.

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT

RENEWAL

Jesus taught us by example to get out of the rat race and recharge our batteries.-  Barbara Johnson

Troubles we bear trustfully can bring us a fresh vision of God and a new outlook on life, an outlook of peace and hope. - Billy Graham

Repentance removes old sins and wrong attitudes, and it opens the way for the Holy Spirit to restore our spiritual health. - Shirley Dobson

Hope can give us life. It can provide energy that would otherwise do us in completely if we tried to operate in our own strength. - Barbara Johnson

He is the God of wholeness and restoration. - Stormie Omartian

BEWARE OF RESTAURANT FARE

In the good old days, dining out used to be an occasional treat for most families. Now, it's more of an everyday occurrence. But there is a catch: most restaurants aim for taste first, price second, and health third. But you should think health first. So the next time you head out for a burger, a bagel, or any other fast food, take a minute to read the fine print that's usually posted on the wall. You may find out that the healthy-sounding treat is actually a calorie-bomb in disguise. 

WORKING IT OUT

MORE EXERCISE EQUALS LESS STRESS

As exercise increases, stress usually decreases. So, if you want less stress in your life, you should exercise more frequently.

YOUR ENERGY AND GOD'S PROMISES

All of us have moments when we feel exhausted. All of us suffer through tough times, difficult days, and perplexing periods of our lives. Thankfully, God promises to give us comfort and strength if we trust  and turn to Him.

If you are a person with too many demands and too few hours in which to meet them, it's probably time to examine your priorities while you pare down your daily to-do list. While you are at it, take time to focus upon God and His love for you. Then, ask Him for the wisdom to prioritize your life and the strength to fulfill your responsibilities. God will give you the energy to do the most important things on today's to-do list if you ask Him. So ask Him....today.

STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH

ENERGY DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE

Feeling exhausted? Try this: Start getting more sleep each night; begin a program of regular, sensible exercise; avoid harmful food and drink; and turn your problems over to God. And, the greatest of these is "turn your problems over to God."

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD ABOUT

BIBLE STUDY

2 Timothy 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Matthew 4:4

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

 

Matthew 24:35

New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

 

Hebrews 4:12

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹²

Romans 1:16

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

NOTES TO YOURSELF

Make notes about the strength that can be yours when you follow God's path and trust His promises.