Our lives are full of the potential to be changed into the image of God in Christ. Our problem is we have a flesh that doesn’t like to follow direction or follow authority. We don’t like to be obedient or disciplined.

I was having a conversation with my daughter, when all of the sudden I heard myself say this sentence, “The other day I realized that for 3 years I have been reading about prayer, discipline, and obedience and it dawned on me that when I prayed and ask God to help me, I didnt listen. No wonder I have been reading the same things over and over and over again. I think I finally got it.”

See, 3 years ago, I asked the Lord to help me. I hate to exercise but I know its good for my health. To me excersize is work, hard physical labor, kind of work. So, He told me to do a specific excercise routine. His exact words were, “Do 10-10-10.” I understood this instantly to simply do 10 sit ups, 10 push ups, 10 squats. (Dont despise small beginnings and Ps. dont laugh) So I began.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Now here is where it goes all wrong. I began to add all kinds of extra’s. Leg lifts in all directions, Arm lifts, more squats, no push ups, no sit ups, changing my diet, tracking my water intake, and all kinds of other tracking methods for cleaning, reading, and writing. I added all this extra stuff God never said to do but I sure felt like I was doing something. Every month or so for the last 3 years I’ve fell off the wagon of doing exercise. With every change of life be it school, summer, vacation, sickness, winter, spring, you name it – anything – I was not able to hold the schedule. Which was really frustrating to me because I am a pretty organized person and hold a lot on my schedule but not this. It would not stick because I was not obedient. God give us what is good for us. This reminds me of something Jesus said in Matthew 23: 4a ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders… I was doing that to myself. I tied a heavy burden on myself that was hard to bear. My shoulders could not handle it. Well I am back around mountain again and I am just doing 10-10-10. We all have areas of life that need to be worked on but if we are not following the voice of the Lord and obeying what He says about those things. We just might go for a merry-go-round ride until we do.

Granted, in His mercy and grace, I have learned alot about prayer, obedience, and discipline. I have been tested in other areas and now He has brought me back to this. He is so good to us even when we are dumb and dont listen.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla