Jillian and...Jesus??

I just want to state that I am going to do my best to NOT talk about The Shred EVERY STINKIN' DAY for the next 27 days, however, I realize that hasn't been the case so far! It's just the newness of it all!

Ok, so this morning was Day 3 of The Shred. Amazingly, the 20 minutes felt like they flew by a faster than the previous 2 days, and I was able to do TEN push-ups in a row! Holy cow!!

So, while we were doing one of the circuits of cardio, Jillian was talking about how we are given a "false message of lethargy" when we are told that we can just take the stairs and become healthy. She was saying that you CAN work hard, you CAN workout, and you CAN get up and exercise. Isn't that an interesting phrase, "false message of lethargy"? I started thinking about what other "false messages of lethargy" I might be receiving in other areas of my life.

One of the things that popped into my head was the message that once we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we can simply "coast" through life, our eternity secure. No way! Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants to talk to you throughout the day. He wants to share the endless secrets and mysteries of His kingdom with you.

Luke 12:32 [KJV]

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

What are the components of the kingdom Luke is talking about? One of the coolest examples of this is the church in Acts. We think of the disciples as the 12 men that were with Jesus throughout his ministry, but in the church of Acts, there were literally thousands of men [and women] putting their faith into action by healing, casting out demons, and baptizing people in the name of Jesus Christ. They were seeing miracles, signs, and wonders. Doesn't sound like lethargy, does it? Nope, that's the kingdom of God that WE have access to! What's even cooler is that it's our "Father's good pleasure" to give it to us!

The other example of a "false message of lethargy" is the idea that LOTS of Christians believe; that God allows sickness, disease, and trials to TEACH US or to STRENGTHEN our character. If you believe this is truth, I challenge you to look at your image of God. I love this quote [from Bill Johnson or Graham Cooke], "God can't give what He doesn't have." God doesn't have cancer, so He can't GIVE it to you. God doesn't have disease, so He can't give that away either. He doesn't have pain, strife, or trials, so He can't give that to you either. He can only give HOPE, LOVE, PEACE, and JOY. Graham Cooke says that our personal image of God is the single most important thing in our walk.

By allowing ourselves to believe God gave us sickness or pain to teach us a lesson, we have received that message of lethargy in our lives instead of the message of authority over the things of this world. We have authority over these things!!

Romans 12:2 [NIV]

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Who knew that Jillian would propel me onto self-examination about false messages of lethargy that might be ruling my life instead of God's truth! We know He is a God of ACTION. He calls us to be people of action.