Think about it...He was the least likely candidate for anything. He used the wrong words, he did the wrong things, he wasn't the smartest guy around, he was from the wrong side of the tracks, and his days consisted of blood, sweat and tears.
BUT! In the end he wins the fight and gets the girl! He more than conquered his obstacles, until he reached victory.
So...why am I posting about this guy on my blog dedicated to the faithfulness of God? Because Rocky's story is a sad imitation of MY story. And, perhaps, yours.
I don't know about you, but my day is chock full of obstacles, waiting to either be overcome or to overcome me. More days than I would like to admit don't end up the way I had hoped...
I've been in a season (yet, again) of God teaching me the art of discipline. Discipline in eating...discipline in getting up each morning...discipline to spend time in His presence...discipline to care for the temple where the Holy Spirit abides and that I have been given stewardship...discipline in managing my household...discipline in training my child in the way she should go...discipline in training my puppy in the way he should go...discipline to complete the things my sweet, wonderful, adorable, grace-filled hubby asks me to do instead of getting distracted OR choosing to do the things I deem as more important...discipline to preach the Gospel to myself...discipline to put on the full armor of God to guard myself from the enemy... Discipline...discipline...discipline...
You see I, like Rocky, am the least likely...but I am the least likely to know a Holy God. I'm from the wrong side of the tracks...I say the wrong things...I do the wrong things...and all the rest. But, unlike Rocky, I don't have a trainer who is along side me, yelling at me, trying to get me to tap in to some inner strength. My Trainer carries me, He whispers lovingly in my ear, assuring me of His care for me. He lives in me, and HE is my strength...there is nothing I can do apart from Him but go my own way!
Discipline is something that will be with each of us all of our earthly days. We never arrive, we are never done!
BUT GOD...always SO kind and gracious...has placed me amongst some AMAZING folks in my NEW church family! I am suddenly surrounded by women who have a burden for me, and I have one for them. I haven't been THIS excited for a long, long time...
SO, two of my new friends (you know who you are!) asked me if I wanted to get together once a week to share with each other and pray for each other about one particular area of our lives...our weight. This is an ongoing battle for me. God has provided different means of grace over the year, and I have seen some success, but I always end up back where I'm headed at the moment. Somehow, I have not managed to make it a lifestyle change that STICKS!
I found myself somewhere between "I'm so excited about this!" and "What's the point, I always lose in the end".
BUT GOD, in His mercy, reminded me of a Scripture He gave me a couple of years ago...Romans 8:31-39:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be [1] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [2] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I CAN make it to the top of those "stairs" and throw my arms up in the air...Not because I did it, but because GOD did it, and I praise Him with my whole body. I CAN do the work He calls me to do because He provides me with ALL I need!
Wow. That all just hit me...pretty weighty, I must say! =D
What area has God called you to be more disciplined in? I'd love to pray for you, so let me know what you're going through!
Amazed by His grace,
Colleen
2 comments:
Colleen,
I hardly check this blog anymore since you have your other one. But today I clicked on it and glad I did. We started Weight Watchers on Monday. We are on day four. I have had the same thought that you have expressed. I have failed over and over what will make this time any different? Let's enourage one another along the way. You can do this! I can do this. God will give us the strength we need. We started a group here. There are 6 of us. We have a private blog that all of us are authors on so we can post anything at anytime and encourage each other I set it up where all the comments are emailed to all of us. It has been helpful already! I will pray for you . . i konw this isn't easy. But God will give you strength to make it through. I am so happy to hear that you are happy in Jacksonville! God is so amazing.
Colleen . . . it was so good to read your comment on my blog. Isn't God faithful? I am so glad John's post encouraged you. I know exactly how you feel. With God's help and grace we can do this! We just have to take one day at time and be faithful each day as it comes. Love you and miss you girlie! I am so happy that God has given you a Godly husband and father for Brianna. God is SO faithful!!!
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