Some days it is easier to just lay in bed. We rationalize if we can get 15 more minutes, it will make a difference. The truth is it rarely, if ever, does. It delays the inevitable. We have to get up and get moving. There are things to be done. We don’t often realize what a benefit it really is to simply get going. To top it off, it we could get going and exercise too, we would be even better. But when we are tired and just want a few more minutes of sleep, getting up to exercise seems ridiculous. Why would we exercise when we are so tired? We would just rather not.
Our bodies often work in ways our minds don’t understand. Exercise makes us feel better and become less tired. When we push ourselves to go ahead and get up, we are more productive and our day gets kicked off better. But it seems to make no sense. We just keep thinking about the few more minutes of sleep. Doing things which are good for us can feel like the most challenging. What is most challenging can be most rewarding. But too often, we would rather not.
Our spiritual lives tend to work the same way. We can get complacent, satisfied with where we are. We can find ourselves in a rut and not want to put in any extra effort. It seems easier to just continue to do what we always have done. Yet, we can find our greatest successes are waiting around the door of the most difficult challenges. When our faith is pushed, it becomes stronger. When our beliefs are questioned, we dig deeper to understand. When we step out to serve in new and different ways, we experience God in new and different ways. But this doesn’t happen in the valley of sameness. It takes the effort to get up and get going. It takes extra effort – but produces the greatest joys.
Today, begin to seek God and where he is leading you. Where are you challenged? What can you do to become more like him? What will it take for you to get going? May our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits be renewed and rejuvenated beginning today.
Focus Scripture:
1 Timothy 7b-8
Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 