It's Too Heavy

I have the pleasure of watching my nephew during the day while his parents are at work. He is pretty strong and everyone who sees him for any amount of time makes some comment on how smart, strong, funny, or cute  he is. Of course, I am a little partial 😍 but I would have to say all those things are true, even if, I were not his "favorite auntie in the world".  The other day, I watched as he picked up his diaper bag we have packed into a backpack. It is not light, so I was surprised when he decided to tote it around the room. While watching him I had a teachable moment. 

Of course, this child is only two, and yet every day he grows into new abilities that were unreachable to him the day before. Every day he adds new knowledge to his data-bank. However, his age, size, and lack of experience hinder his capacity to accomplish things that someone older can do. There are going to be many times in life where something is too big for us to carry. If everything was light why would we need Jesus? 

Perhaps, someone is coming out of injury or illness and their strength capacity just isn't there to pick up the weight that someone else can. Maybe the injury is that they are still battling an illness, recovering from abuse, dealing with the loss of a loved one, in a troubled marriage, have a loved one struggling with addiction, have the loss of a job, or many other things that are laden with pain. All these things can weaken our abilities. Maybe someone has had more practice carrying such a load and so it is less of an effort for them. Our spiritual muscles must be built up for strength and endurance! My nephew may have been able to pick up the backpack and carry it around the room but he grew tired quickly. Whereas, I could carry it for him with no strain. 

In our life, we can be exhausted by injuries, attacks, continual battles, and/or lack of training. We must learn how to exercise our spiritual muscles. We must put on the proper work out clothes for our training and use the proper tools:

• The Bible 
• Prayer (individual and group)
• Praise (in all circumstances)
• The Armor of God 
• The Gathering together with our fellow believers 

We have to use these tools continuously some of them daily. Just like the body needs physical exercise our faith walk does as well. 

We will become seasoned in particular battles if we exercise our faith and stay the course in our training. When we are seasoned we can then coach others or partner with them to aid in their "exercise" routine. We will know how to share what scriptures aided us, what prayers we called out with, and how we walked when the pain made it hard to stand. We will be able to share how the Lord increased our strength with His strength and how He helped increase our faith and bring us through. 

A good fitness trainer will tell you, that as you do an exercise regularly you will develop muscle memory. Trainers like to keep it new and fresh to continue to increase endurance and strength and not let their clients stall out where they are. There is always room for improvement! We cannot expect a life of stalled out faith and strength. We must remember that we cannot compare ourselves with someone who is at "fitness trainer" level or someone who walked into a "gym" for the very first time. Each person is unique in their walk with God. Each person will be challenged to rise to the next level of their strength training. When our faith is increased then our testimonies prevail! 

No one would go to a fitness trainer that had a lifestyle of a couch potato. We go to experts in the areas that we need help in. God will purposely place people in your path that you can minister to because you have been there and have overcome with His help. He will also direct your path to the aid you need to get through your battles. 

Remember that you always have opportunities for strength training and you always have occasions to help someone else. Our Heavenly Father does not want to see us suffer but He will use suffering to help us to grow! We need to give Him our pain while trusting Him with the healing and outcome. When we do this we become more seasoned in our walk with the Lord!  

Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV) - He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) - But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  

1 Timothy 4:8 (KJV) - For bodlily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (MSG) - Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV) - Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) - (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty for our God to the pulling down of strongholds) 

 Revelation 12:11 (KJV) - and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

If you would like to pray for God to help you become stronger in your spiritual muscles then pray this following prayer. 

Father, help us to grow in your strength and might. Train us Lord to be fit and ready for battle in the Spiritual realm. Lead us to others that can aid in our training. Help us Lord to recognize and be placed beside those who can benefit from the lessons we have learned and the valleys we have walked through. Create in us a Spiritual drive that does not become lazy or stalled. Help us Lord to give praise to you in all circumstances and give us the understanding of the tools we need to defeat the enemy in Christ Jesus. Lead and guide us in all ways, in Jesus name we pray, Amen!

If you have never asked the Lord to be your Savior and Master of your life; I invite you to pray this prayer:

Lord I am sinner, I confess myself to you. I believe that you sent Your Son to die on the cross and You raised Him to life again so that I could be called your son or daughter and have eternal life in my Savior Christ my Lord. I ask that you forgive me of my sins and that you come to live in my heart and  fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I give you thanks that today. I'm made new in You. In Jesus Name, Amen!