Living with a WHY far greater than YOU!

One of the most surprising things in my journey toward more intentionally pursuing a healthy lifestyle this last year, has been the way God has been opening my eyes to the reality that every aspect of my life is connected and is meant to be lived as unto Him.

For so long, I've ordered my life in compartments: Time with Jesus, housework, school work, workouts, time with my hubby, time with the kids, church, ministry, time with friends, appointments, etc.

But this journey of pursuing better health physically has been changing me. God is growing me to realize that EVERY area of my life and EVERY moment of my days are His. They are for HIM.
And that is changing my WHY.

I used to pursue discipline for the results I would see in my body, or to avoid feeling guilty later, or because I worship at the altar of productivity.

And truth be told, I still fall into those habits quicker than you can slip on a banana peel, but something has been shifting in my heart and mind, and that is the reality and liberating truth that I AM HIS! All of me!

And that, the moment I offer myself and my body to HIM as a sacrifice, right then, He is pleased.

Do you realize that taking care of your body doesn't HAVE to be idolatry? It can actually be worship.

"Christians who don't take their health seriously don't take their mission seriously. What we're saying by our actions is, 'My life doesn't really matter.' But because of the ability of God to work powerfully in any repentant sinner's life, EVERY BODY DOES MATTER." (Gary Thomas, Every Body Matters)

GOD is slowly changing my why.

He is opening my eyes to a WHY far greater than myself and my fleeting existence, and even greater than the legacy I leave behind.

We were made for so much more. We were made for forever.

As long as I cling tightly to my goal of having washboard abs (because obviously that's totally maintainable the rest of my life) and being a size 4; as long as I am obsessed with having my children obey perfectly and not cause any inconvenience tome; as long as I make it my top priority to figure out the perfect schedule and only feel successful at the end of the day if everything on my to do list got done - I will MISS COMPLETELY the true reason God gave me life and breath.

As a follower of Jesus I AM FREE from the same motivations and shame that drives so much of the decisions and passions of those who do not know Him and His love.

I AM HIS!
I am NOT MY OWN!

For too long, I've just not seen it that way. I've lived with a why that would only last as long as I do, if even that long. . .

But my WHY is changing.

I'm done with kinda sorta, good enough, complacent living.
I'm over my own depression and laziness.
I'm through with making excuses, with explaining myself out of my sinful responses and feeding myself lies that choke out life in me and others.
My why is living fully, giving fully, being all in, and all ready for every good work God has prepared for me - whether that's in the mundane everyday faithfulness of motherhood and the discipline to be intentional in stewarding my body, or in some radical, extravagant act of abandonment and sacrifice...
I'm wanting to grow to say every day and every moment: "Anything, Jesus! As long as You are glorified."


I want my life to be HIS and I want HIM to be ALL to me!!

God demands all of me.

The enemy would have us believe that we cannot find joy in yielding our lives to Him!

And if we don't fall for that, He'll hold out the lie that we can somehow live fully filled with Jesus all the while never letting go of ourselves.

But the reality is, I need to die.

I need to view every loss that brings me more of Jesus as gain.

Because the wonder of His call to lose myself, to deny myself, to follow Him 

 is that I will be FULLY SATISFIED 

and He will be TOTALLY GLORIFIED!

This call is one of LIFE. ABUNDANT LIFE.

Living with a WHY far greater than ME is the ONLY WAY TO TRULY LIVE!!!