Lighter Loads

Spiritual Training Cycle: Examination (wk. 6/13)

Reading: Psalm 23:1-6

Every seasoned athlete, weightlifter or otherwise, has learned the lesson of overtraining. Some athletes claim overtraining is just a myth; an excuse people use not to push themselves as hard. While it may be true some individuals won’t push themselves to the extreme, overtraining itself is not a myth. If an athlete doesn’t adequately recover after periods of intense training, they risk consequences like prolonged fatigue, injury, and an overall decline in performance. This is why consistent rest and recovery must happen throughout the training cycle. And if we take that a step further, to effectively avoid the consequences of overtraining, deep and restorative rest must also occur in between training cycles. This practice is known as a “deload.” A deload isn’t the absence of a training plan, it is a crucial component of the training plan. Because God Himself created the concept of rest, we are in fact participating in His plan for our lives when we allow ourselves to experience deep and restorative recovery.

A typical training cycle lasts anywhere from 8-12 weeks. At the end of that period, the best strength training, bodybuilding, and CrossFit coaches will plan for a “deload week;” scaling back the volume of training. This means the athlete uses lighter weight, performs fewer reps and sets, and decreases the overall intensity of their workouts. No new personal records will be set that week. But what follows a deload cycle will inevitably result in increased strength, muscle gains, and better training results in the long term. These deload cycles are critical in ensuring progressive change over time so that athletes can set PRs consistently, month after month, and year after year. The novice eventually turns into an athlete, the athlete into a competitor, and the competitor into a champion!

Just like in the physical training model, progressive change can also occur in our spiritual training when we plan for periods of rest and recovery. If we set out to become a global evangelist the very first moment we experience the power of the Holy Spirit, we might risk putting ourselves in a position of spiritual overtraining. The consequences of spiritual overtraining could mean the return of negative behavioral habits, the creep of secret sin, and emotional burnout. Truly effective spiritual leaders who have managed to serve the Lord and their communities for extended periods of time know what it means to seek deep and restorative rest. Opportunities for rest are planned out in their weekly routines and “deload weeks” are also scheduled after seasons of high and intense spiritual output. This might look like quiet time alone after a sermon or time away with family after a busy period in church planning. In order to serve our communities well in both the short and long term, it’s critical all followers of Jesus tap into the benefits of rest.

If you’ve spent time in the Bible, you’re likely familiar with Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is a very popular verse to memorize because it provides a beautiful and relaxing image of what it feels like to experience God’s rest:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”

We read here the Lord makes us rest. We know David wrote this passage and we also know David’s history from the Old Testament as first a shepherd, then a soldier, then a general, and finally a king appointed by God Himself. David indicates rest wasn’t optional for him; it was a requirement from God Himself. God leads David to stillness for the explicit purpose of soul restoration. The progression of David’s growth over time included rest!

God created spaces for us to lie down. God created spaces for us to walk with Him. God created restoration for us. David knew of this rest as he grew from shepherd to king. Help us Lord, to experience your pasture for rest as David did. Help lead us into your stillness so that we might experience true rest and recovery for our souls.

Questions for Reflection:

What does spiritual rest and recovery time look like for you?

What obstacles keep you from prioritizing spiritual rest?

Raised

Spiritual Training Cycle: Examination (wk. 5/13)

Reading: Romans 6:1-11

There I stood, awkwardly and obviously out of place. It was baptism Sunday at my church, and I had decided to go public with my faith and get baptized. Along with about 20 other people – all who were under the age of 18. Like Buddy from the movie Elf, there I was, at age 39, sticking out like a sore thumb.

One by one, each person moved from the deck of the pool into the water where the pastors were waiting to make it official. I almost faked a stomach cramp and bailed. But before I could make a break, I was in the water. There was nothing magical about the chlorinated water in that community pool, but I could sense there was something special in the moment.

As I covered my nose and prepared for the plunge, I heard the pastor say, “Buried with Christ in baptism.” Then the water quickly silenced the noise as they submerged me. Coming back out, my ears cleared and over the cheers of the crowd, I heard the pastor declare, “And raised to walk in new life.”

New life. According to the decree made by a guy with a theology degree, that’s what was in store for me. It all happened so fast. Next thing you know I’m in a towel and then there were photos and some tears with my wife. And then we headed home. To the same house with the same struggles with the same fears and the same doubts. I’m not sure what this new life the pastor spoke of was because I sure wasn’t seeing it.

At least, not yet. But that’s because I had the wrong expectations. I was like that person who starts a fitness journey after years of being inactive and wonders why a week of exercise hasn’t done anything. And it won’t. At least, not yet. You’ve got to stick with a fitness program. You’ve got to look at nutrition and hydration and sleep. You’ve got to trust the process.

And trusting the process of baptism, or more accurately, spiritual transformation, was so new to me I had no clue what to do or expect. So, I thought I would break down the process for you and share what it did in my life. To do that, I’m going to use some Scripture. This is from the Apostle Paul’s letter to a church in Rome. A church who also needed to understand the process.

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:3-4

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Jesus. It’s not so much about getting dunked in a pool or having water sprinkled on your forehead, it’s about a decision to put your trust in Jesus. In Paul’s day, that decision would have been followed very shortly by a water baptism, which is why the two are so intimately connected in Scripture. But don’t tie the process of spiritual transformation to the event of baptism. Tie the process to the decision to trust in Jesus.

Which comes with incredible power. Like the power to unite us to God – but in a weird way. Paul writes that when we are baptized in Jesus, we are baptized into His death. But what’s that got to do with new life? Let me show you.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “This workout is going to kill me.” Some of you literally have thought that. But did you die? No. Instead you pushed yourself into a place of incredible suffering because you knew there was something better on the other side. You can call that fitness or strength or winning or whatever. But with no break down, you were going to get no breakthrough.

That’s what Jesus did for us. Only, He took it to the next level. He did a workout none of us could ever do. It’s called resurrection. See, on the other side of death was life. And when Jesus died, which He did, the world assumed it was over. That He was just another prophet who did some cool stuff but ultimately the Romans had their way with Him on the cross.

But it wasn’t over. Jesus overcame death. In His power, He broke the power of death and came back to life. He CRUSHED that workout. Not just for Himself, but for ALL who would trust in Him. The power of faith in Jesus not only unites us to God, it also unites us to all others who have put their faith in Him.

When I got baptized and dedicated my life to Christ, I was raised to new life. I was immediately united to God and forgiven for all the selfish, self-centered, poor choices I made. But I was also being raised to new life. As I gave more of heart to Jesus and surrendered my ways for His ways, I experienced new joy, new peace, and a kind of love only Heaven can send. Tomorrow, I will continue to be raised to new life. It’s not about me anymore. The Spirit of God is moving, giving me the power to live my best life. I’m not who I used to be. I’ve been raised!

Questions for Reflection:

What’s been your experience with spiritual transformation? Can you recall moments where you felt yourself changing?

Do you think physical transformations or spiritual transformations are more challenging? Why?

Quiet Victory

Spiritual Training Cycle: Examination (wk. 4/13)

Reading: Acts 8:26-39

There I was, high above the class, pull-up a bar at my waist and begging everyone to look. After 10 years of CrossFit, I had finally gotten a muscle up. Everyone needed to know, but no one was looking. As I came off the bar and walked away from the rig, I celebrated my quiet victory.

About 2,000 years ago an Ethiopian eunuch was leaving Jerusalem and heading home. He had visited Jerusalem not for business but for worship. This was especially odd because he was Ethiopian, not Jewish. While the Old Testament predicted a time when people of all nationalities would come and worship God – it was rare. And this worshipper was rich. Rich enough to travel by chariot. The equivalent of flying in your own private jet. Even more unexpected, he had a Bible scroll. Not just any scroll but the Scroll of Isaiah.

Books didn’t exist at that time, just delicate scrolls. They were incredibly expensive. Almost no one owned their own. They were shared within the local synagogues, a place this Ethiopian eunuch could never enter. At the time, eunuchs were considered outcasts and uncleaned. Mutilated as children, these men were barred from regular worship and considered outside the promises of God. However, deep in the scroll of Isaiah, chapter 56, God makes a promise to eunuchs; he has a plan and a promise for them.

When Phillip rolls up on the chariot, he hears the eunuch reading Isaiah 53, a passage describing how God would use Jesus to save the world and bring everyone into the kingdom. The eunuch wasn’t looking for a savior; he was looking for the part where God says that even eunuchs can be included in the kingdom. He was looking for a hope. He found his Savior.

As Philip explained the message of the cross and the promise of the resurrection, the eunuch discovered the love, grace, and acceptance he’d always longed for. Then it happened. He saw some water. He was baptized.

Baptism symbolized that this rich Ethiopian was no longer just a eunuch, he was now a child of God. He had a family, one that could never be taken from him. He had a home and future. He was saved. Baptism was his declaration of this new reality. He had been made new. Everyone needed to know.

Muscle-ups are cool gym tricks, and for anyone who has struggled to get one, it is worthy of celebration. But it won’t change your life. Not like Jesus does. The problem is that for many of us, we keep our victory quiet. We don’t declare the forgiveness and hope we’ve discovered. We don’t proclaim that we have a true forever family. We don’t cry out, ‘look at me I’m being made new’. There are many reasons that keep us silent. Here are a few to speak of:

1)    Saying it makes it more real. There is a big difference between thinking you love someone and saying it. The same is true about faith and salvation.

2)    Declaring it encourages others. Something happens when people see you get baptized. It deepens their own faith journey.

3)    It marks your journey. As we grow in our faith, we need monuments that stick out and remind us how far we’ve come.

When Jesus changes your life, it’s a victory worth shouting for. The love God has for causes Heaven to roar. Don’t keep the victory of your faith in Jesus quiet. Let the world know.

Questions for Reflection:

What spiritual milestones do you have in your life?

How are you allowing others into your spiritual journey?

Have you been baptized? Are you ready for that step? If you have been, what is the next spiritual milestone for you? Mission trip? Small group? Tithing?