This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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              It Is Time For The Church To Get In Shape

The Lord has been speaking this to me personally for a few months now,
and He told me that this also for the church -- God wants us to get in
better shape.

For some of us that involves losing weight, but even many of those who are
thin still need to get in shape.  God wants us physically fit.  He wants
us strong and healthy.  Something is coming in the future where we will
need to be in better physical condition than most of us are currently in
to get through it.

This year is a grace year... sort of a year of rest where we can get
work on getting in shape and taking better care of our bodies.  We need
to begin praying and asking God what He wants us to do to get in better
condition.  He would like to be involved in this process with us. But
ultimately, we need to do what He shows us to do.  God is not going to
spare us exercising and eating right to supernaturally make our bodies
fit/toned/healthy.

Some of us need to change our eating habits.  Some of us are thin but we
don't have healthy eating habits and are not giving our bodies the nutrition
it needs.  Some of us are overweight and need to loose.  Many of us need to
do major revamps so we eat healthy.  Others of us just need take vitamins
or nutritional supplements.  And we have to make other changes as well.
Some of us need to start drinking less coffee/tea and start drinking more
water.  Some of us need to start exercising more, such as joining a gym or
taking up jogging or cycling, or participating in recreational sports, etc.
Others of us need to start walking more; we need to park at the far end of
the parking lot and walk in instead of driving around looking for the
parking spot that is closest to the entrance.   Some of us need to revamp
our lifestyle to get adequate sleep.  Some of us need to reduce the stress
in our life by avoiding unnecessary stressful things.

If you don't know what you need to do, ask God and He will show you.  If
you don't feel you have enough discipline to do what He shows you, then
ask Him for help and He will help you.  He is releasing a special grace
right now for those of us who are willing to start doing what He shows us
to get into good shape.  He wants us physically healthy and fit so that
we will be able to function well for Him in the future.

And as we get into better physical shape, our spiritual walk is going to
improve as well. We will have more energy for prayer and intimacy, we 
will become more sensitive to His leading.  God wants to become more
involved in more and more areas of our lives, so that we might be a people
through whom He can glorify His name.  And one of the major areas that
He is asking from His church right now is our health/eating/exercising
lifestyle.  He wants to bring His lordship into that area of our lives.

God is commanding us to take good care of our bodies, His temple, for our
bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We have to obey Him because we
love Him -- that means many of us have to start making some changes in our
lifestyle to make ourselves healthier. So bring yourself to the Lord and
ask Him to give you the strategy that He wants you to follow -- then do
what He shows you.

Don't waste this grace period that God has given us.  Use it wisely.

Are you willing? If so, don't put it off, start this week.