“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
My wife and I went to the gym on New Year’s Day to work off some of the holiday calories. While there, I observed the eclectic mix of people. There were familiar folks who, like me, are there on a regular basis; there were some who, like my wife, are less regular due to a busy schedule and used the holiday as an opportunity to get in a good workout; and then there were those who were clearly new to the gym, but who have most likely decided to try to exercise more in 2018. After all, it is that time of year for resolutions. We see the New Year as a time to start fresh and seek to improve our lifestyle in various ways. However the success achieved will depend on the driving force behind the desire for change. As Christians we’re called to daily renewal and transformation so that we live in a manner that is honoring to God and a blessing to us…it is a better way and a way to flourish. No matter what changes we seek to make in our lives, for us to accomplish our goals or to simply live well, we need to maintain our focus in three areas: our renewal must be God centered, we must be engaged and we must maintain a proper attitude.
If we are to succeed in living well and to avoid conforming to the world’s view of a good life, our source of renewal and strength must be our Lord. Colossians 2:6-7 reminds us: “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” Several places in scripture Christians are compared to plants. Plants that are firmly rooted, well-nourished and regularly watered thrive and grow. We know that we are to be firmly rooted in Christ, that time in prayer and scripture nourish our souls and Christ provides the living water that we need. However, it’s easy to get distracted, engage in some unintentional means of uprooting ourselves, neglect our nourishment or treat Christ’s living water more like a water fountain that we run to when we notice that we’re dry rather than regularly drawing on the water of life. It’s the difference between living like the neglected Christmas poinsettia in the corner and the image presented in Psalm 1 of a tree firmly planted “by streams of water” who does not wither, but bears fruit and prospers in what he does. It takes daily renewal of the mind that comes from regular nourishment that allows us to be transformed, flourish and overflow with gratitude.
Due to the holiday vacations, there has been an increase of teenagers at the gym in the afternoons. While most were there to actually use the gym, there were a few who spent more time sitting on the equipment than using it. One girl was even trying to nap on a workout bench while those she was with were exercising. My point is that we cannot flourish if we do not engage. John Ortberg, in the book “The Me I Want to Be”, says: “We do not just drift into becoming the best version of ourselves.” In the first chapter of James we are reminded it is the “effectual doer” that will be blessed in what he does. Further, throughout scripture we’re told to ask, seek, knock, search, put on, put off, obey, love, hope, bear, diligently seek the Lord, bridle our tongues, sow, reap, etc. These are all active words not passive ones. If we are to live well and love well, we must do more than acknowledge or agree with scripture or the convictions to change that God brings before us, we must be intentional and act. God will readily help us identify how we need to grow and change and will encourage us, but it is up to us to take action and truly invest in the process.
The third consideration is our attitude. While action plans, schedules, and measurements of progress can be helpful tools, maintaining a proper attitude is necessary for us to finish the race well. On my 50th birthday, I was too weak to celebrate and cancelled most of what was planned. At 60, by exercising while giving deference to my health issues, I can function more normally. In general, I work the various muscle groups on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and do cardio workouts on Tuesday and Thursday as I’m able. That said, I have to listen to my body and be flexible or I will fail. If I stick to my schedule regardless of how my health issues play out, I am being legalistic. I am not helping my body to function at its best and am possibly damaging it. If I exercise because I want to have a body builder’s physique, I am being prideful and will, in fact, fail as my body is not capable of that level of exercise. That kind of failure would be enough for me to quit going at all and again I would not be living at my best. If I maintain my schedule and ignore other tasks or opportunities for service, I am being inflexible. The point is this: when we are lead to make changes, whether it is to improve our spiritual health, our physical health, our financial health or to address some other conviction, we must do it out of a desire to be who God calls us to be. Colossians 3:23 tells that we should “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”, Zephaniah 2:3 reminds us to seek righteousness and humility, Hebrews 11:6 instructs us to have faith believing and God and that He rewards those who seek Him, and Hosea 10:12 encourages us to “Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness”. When David was dying, he told Solomon “ Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kings 2:3). The same is true for us, when we have a proper attitude, that is, when we seek to live for the Lord rather than to impress others, follow a formula or satisfy our pride, God will help us to achieve our desired goals and help us to thrive and to succeed.
As long as we live, there is a battle to avoid living according to cultural mandates and to overcome our own preconceived notions of how our life should be. It is a constant process of renewal and transformation that allows us to grow in grace and to thrive. However, it can only be done by drawing near to God, deepening our relationship with Him, and allowing Him to sustain and direct us. When we do that, we also have the proper motivation to engage in the process and maintain a godly attitude. Living well allows us to become who God wants us to be, to accomplish the tasks that He has uniquely planned for us, to flourish and overflow with gratitude rather than merely enduring life.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Will