To your very good health!
by VivianAlthough I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, it’s that time of year when folks think of getting back in shape after the excesses of the holidays. However, what kind of shape should we as Christians be focused on?
Our ladies’ Bible class recently studied James chapter 5:
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
We all know from experience that prayer does not always result in physical healing. But perhaps we as the church put too much focus on physical health.
How might our lives be transformed if we put more focus on our spiritual health, and confessed and prayed for each other as James exhorts us to do?
“Celebration of Discipline” lists several ways to get a spiritual workout. Our minister Lewis is encouraging us to address our spiritual fitness by resolving to read through the Bible in a year, which is sort of like core strength training. I’m thinking of looking more into this confession and prayer stuff.
How are you thinking of getting spiritually fit this year?
January 6th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Good post! There are two issues here with the lead-question — (1) staying at least as fit as you were last year, and (2) actually growing. So one must maintain at least the current status quo for #1 (but don’t get into a rut!). And for #2 personally, I plan to teach a class. The old saying is true — teachers often learn more than the students, and I’m looking forward to that. I also plan to become more involved, more “present”, in bible studies, share God with more people around me, and continually challenge myself to follow whatever growth paths God opens for me. Thanks!
January 16th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
As iron sharpens iron….
I plan to spend time with other Christian men this year in smaller group settings so that I can be sharpened by them, held more accountable by them, encouraged and instructed by them.
I will continue to spend time in the Word daily, pray always and jot down my thoughts before they escape me for good…at http://www.billbelew.com