Thirst

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 3/13)

Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

Do you ever realize how needy we are? Seriously, our human biology testifies to the repetitive need to fuel ourselves. Before we make it to the bathroom in the morning, we need air to reach our lungs, food to ease the groaning in our stomach, or coffee if you’re wired that way to keep the monster inside of us at bay before we enter the office. 

We are made so dependable which makes it often predictable to assume what we need because of the built in warning signs our body gives us. When you’re in the middle of a workout all bets are off when your body demands a need to keep it alive. Your body will need its thirst quenched, its legs to rest, its heart rate to drop, or its skin to perspire for you to keep going.

While the body tells us our physical need, it’s much harder to discern our spiritual need when the body distracts us. That’s where God’s Word turns the warning signs on for us. God’s Word in the scriptures, but also God’s Word in His Son, Jesus (read John 1:1). 

There’s a story where Jesus encounters a woman in need drawing water alone from a well in the heat of the day. Social, political, and gender barriers aside, Jesus risks His own reputation to speak to this Samaritan woman (the Jewish people are known to have beef with the Samaritans). The irony of the story is that Jesus first approaches her in need Himself asking for a drink of water. While the fully human side of Jesus needed water, the fully God nature of Jesus was looking for an opportunity to give, what He mentions to her as, “living water.”

What is this living water? The Samaritan woman also asked this question. Standing by the well Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” What a gift! To never be in need again. This is what we are all after.  

But how do we get it? The Samaritan woman also wondered. Jesus tells her in one simple word, “Go.” To act. To move. An example of spiritual fitness. For her it was to go and turn from her adulterous life. For us it can be to go and seek forgiveness for a harsh exchange we dealt. It can be to go and leave your phone in the nightstand to get a clear mind. Whatever it may be, Jesus already knows. His Word wants to persuade you to leave your idols aside to trust and believe in Him. 

The living water is the living Word that meets us where we are. Whatever our need is, Jesus meets us there. He meets us in joy, in pain, in shame, in fear, in doubt, in anger, in love. When we are in the presence of God, we are without hiding. Our dependency is exposed, our need is clear. It’s our need for eternal life with God found in His Word. When you open the Bible, let God read you. What can finally give our thirsty bodies rest is in the water He’s willing to pour out for you.

Questions for Reflection:

What has reading the Bible revealed about you?

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “spiritual thirst?”

Wise Up

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 2/13)

Reading: Proverbs 3:13-26

Shortly after we married, my wife and I headed to Portland, Oregon for me to attend theology school. First year students were strongly encouraged to serve in local ministries while they worked on their advanced degrees. So, within a couple of months of relocating to the Portland area, I found myself also serving as a part-time college pastor at a small church 30 minutes south of Portland.

Several months later, I was asked to preach at our Sunday church service. The theme of the weekend was Christian stewardship, and I preached about God’s generosity, our stewardship and trusting God for our needs.

Just as the good books says . . .

I don’t remember much of what I preached.  I don’t remember how many of the congregants showed up for my message that morning, nor any of the songs nor other elements of the worship service, nor even how my preaching impacted the people sitting in the pews.

Here’s what I do remember: after the service was over, I stood at the back - as was our church’s tradition for the preacher - greeting people and thanking them for coming.  One of the parishioners, an elderly lady who was a pillar of the church, thanked me for my “excellent sermon” and then, as she exited, she shared with me a comment that has caused me to smile for many years: “Just as the good book says, young man, a penny saved is a penny earned.” Here's why I smile every time I remember her quote. That quote is from Ben Franklin, not the Bible!

There’s truth beyond the Bible

Poor Richard’s Almanac was a collection of Franklin’s best quotes on how to live a wise life. Other sayings of his? “Well done is better than well said.” “Be always ashamed to catch yourself being idle.” and my favorite for us who are fitness enthusiasts: “There are no gains without pains.”

Indeed, Franklin and others have shared life lessons in their writings for thousands of years.  From Marcus Aurelius shortly after the time of Christ to current best-selling authors such as James Clear in his book Atomic Habits (which is very popular in the CrossFit world), there is much wisdom beyond the Bible.  The Bible even encourages us to seek out this wisdom.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit is better than gold.” — Proverbs 3:13-14

Seek life wisdom in the Bible and beyond

Here’s the point: While the Bible is fully true, not all truth is in the Bible.  Want to eat as healthy as possible? – Research the best current thinking on nutrition. Need to deal with a nagging injury? – Seek out the best healthcare professionals. As athletes – and humans – who want to be wise in how we take care of ourselves and those around us – we need to search out the best information available so we can make the best decisions possible. That is what wisdom looks like.

One of the reoccurring themes throughout the book of Proverbs is the need to seek wisdom.  Wisdom begins with God’s truth found in the Bible – the Bible provides the framework for wise living – and then, building on that foundation, the Bible challenges us to keep growing in our wisdom.

Questions for Reflection:

How do you make sure you are growing in wisdom?

Where do you look for good life advice?

How do you make sure the advice you get doesn’t contradict the wisdom of the Bible?

Transformation

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 1/13)

Reading: Romans 12:1-8

I’ve always been inspired by weight loss photos and the journey behind an individual’s transformation. In the ‘before’ photos you often see someone who appears somber and defeated. But in the ‘after’ photo, you see someone who appears confident and joyful. Yes, the weight loss part is evident, but even more apparent is the change in attitude and body language they exude. So now you’re left wondering, how exactly did this person get from point A to point B? Typically, a specific playbook, process, and coach were used to achieve the physical results of their transformation. In the same way, we can use a specific playbook, process, and coach to create spiritual transformation; producing the kind of genuine confidence and joy that comes from understanding God’s will for our lives.

The most difficult part of any weight loss transformation process isn’t usually the start. The beginning of a weight loss journey is typically when you will see the most change. The body is shedding the carbs and water stored in the muscle during this time and the numbers on the scale reflect that. This is the exciting part of the process and helps athletes feel an early “win.” The most difficult part of the weight loss journey comes with the dreaded “plateau.” A plateau occurs when the body has adapted to the new caloric deficit and the new output of weight training and cardio. At this point in the journey, having a coach can make all the difference. A wise coach, with all of their knowledge, can prescribe small changes that have a significant impact on the trajectory of weight loss and body composition. This kind of coach has a wider perspective on transformation over time and is aware of all the small details that need tweaking that you likely won’t see on your own.

The most difficult part of spiritual transformation is very often the same story as our fitness journey. We collect some early “wins” in our new or renewed faith walk. We might hear a sermon we like from a pastor, or a worship song that moves us, or a powerful prayer by a friend. While these experiences do inspire us for a period of time and they are genuinely valuable, they may only fill our spiritual tank temporarily and then we experience that dreaded plateau. This is why we are continually encouraged to spend time reading the Bible. We have access to the wisest Coach’s playbook of all time. God has given us the Bible so we can READ it and understand more of His good plans for us. Jesus has a wide view perspective on how to transform and renew our hearts and minds. He can see the small details in our lives that need adjusting. This is why the power of the Biblical playbook cannot be underestimated!

Admittedly, the Bible is a very long and complex text and it can be difficult to navigate. In order to break through a spiritual plateau, we have to come up with a process for reading the Bible that allows us to see what God is truly revealing to us through it. Sometimes that means researching the specific historical context for the time period in which a book of the Bible was written. For example, a letter from Paul written to the Greeks has a unique context compared to a letter from Paul written to existing believers of Christ as Savior. Sometimes part of this decoding process might mean that you need to pray and meditate BEFORE you read the Bible and invite God’s perspective into what you are reading. Oftentimes for me in that specific prayer, I’m asking the Holy Spirit for His power to diminish my own views and biases so His truth can become more evident; to minimize any distorted opinions that may have been shaped by my social culture, family, friends, secular communities, media, etc. To push aside what the world is saying and open the door to what God is really trying to communicate. Paul speaks to this when he writes in Romans 12:2:

“Do not conform 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.”

To push through the plateaus of our physical transformation, we need a playbook, a process, and an experienced coach who sees the wider perspective. The plateaus of our spiritual transformation also require a playbook, a process, and a coach. The Bible is our playbook. Intentional and humble study of scripture is our process. And the Holy Spirit Himself is our Coach. God’s will for our lives, not our own, is perfect and it is SO good my friends. Be transformed!

Questions for Reflection:

What has God revealed to you in the Bible from a story that you’ve heard before but found new meaning in?

How are you working to understand God’s will for your life and not the world’s?