True Gains

Having body builder friends has opened up a whole new world to me. Part of that is learning new phrases. The three I hear the most are: "Killing it!", "Crushing it!", and "Gains".  I didn't know what "gains" meant. I guessed it meant gaining muscle weight,  but I was wrong. "Gains" means any progress that gains ground on the way to reach your goals: losing weight, increasing endurance or strength, strengthening balance, etc.  It's actually a cool word to use.

Today was just one of those days that nothing seemed to go right. By evening, I was so stressed out. I had all this negative energy, and it was snapping out at my kids. Now, usually, I would've drown my stress in many pieces of chocolate sneaked out of sight of my kids. I would've eaten more and more until I started feeling sick. However, tonight was different. Even though I did succumb to a handful of chocolate chips in some almond butter, I did not make myself sick on sweets. Instead, I texted my mother in law and asked her if I could drop off the kids for a couple hours so I could go burn off some steam at the gym. She said she could! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!  So, I dropped them off and headed to the gym where I got on the elliptical and burned more calories than I've ever burned! That was so much better than getting sick on cookies or chocolates. 

One of those days...

I'm thankful for my bad day now because God used it to show me how I've gotten stronger in my spirit as well as in my body. That got me thinking about true gains. What I saw tonight in how I've grown stronger in stress management was a true gain. 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" -Mark 8:36

A dear friend of mine has been strongly encouraging me in the direction of finding my comfort and strength in Christ alone, and not looking to any person to fill the void only He can fill. No praise or approval or physical "gains" can take the place of all we have in Christ. If I take this verse and read it how it's hitting my heart right now, it would say this:

465 calories!!!

"Sarah, what good is it if you reach all your physical goals, but lose sight of the things that are eternally valuable? What good is it if you teach your children to make healthy choices, but don't lead them to Jesus?"

I'm doing awesome physically. I'm losing weight. I'm getting stronger. My body is changing fast. Okay, all that is good! Be happy about that. Be proud of the work it has taken to get this far, but don't neglect your soul. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I read the Bible to strengthen my faith. We have missed so much church. My prayer life is lukewarm. How do I expect to get strong in my faith if I don't put in the work? That's like never working out and eating whatever I want, and expecting to be fit and strong physically. Think about that. It's absurd! 

So, I'm on track training my body, and I can see that it is having a good effect on my character, but I need training for my spirit, for my soul. I have Jesus, and I want to start living like it. I want to start pushing myself to true gains.