Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Read Isaiah 53)

My plan for the morning was to get up early and get outside for a run.  When I heard that is was only 41 degrees, my excitement about being in the morning air disappeared.  I was expecting a temperature well into the 50s and I really hate being cold.  I procrastinated as long as I could before I forced myself out my front door.  On the way to the track, I continued to talk to myself about how much running to do.  I haven't run outside in ages and starting again is always challenging or itchy. 

Perhaps, you share this itching problem that I and others in my family have.  It's a story for another day.  The basics are that the lactic acid in the muscles causes an itching sensation which results in me not wanting to run.  So, on my way to the track I had to talk myself out of only walking to running a decent amount.  I have goals and just strolling is not going to get me to marathon shape.

When I stepped on the track, I pushed myself to keep it moving at a breathe hearing pace.  It wasn't too easy and it wasn't too hard.  While I could hear my breathe outside of my head, I was in control of my breathing and when I started walking when I was done normal breathing resumed within seconds.

If I had simply listened to what I wanted to do, I would have been in the bed eating ice cream.  I have fallen off the path before and given myself a pass to do more junk eating than I should.  I am called to be a good steward of my body. Sometimes, this means I need to ignore what I want to do and do what God would want.

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.)

Sometimes, we are looking for a miracle when God simply needs our obedience.  There is work required to take care of the temple.  "Use or lose" it is actually rooted in truth.  As I sat down to write this entry, a PBS show on yoga for arthritis was on and the woman speaking told of her first-hand knowledge of joints deteriorating after extended periods of inactivity and making people virtually immobile. 

The same thing applies to our eating habits.  I know what a serving size should be even when I eat 3 or 4 more than I should.  Why I expect not to gain weight after consistently doing what I should not do is really beyond me.  I can be self-controlled and if I need help, I should lean on the Lord.

(Proverbs 23:20-21 ²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, ²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.)

Fortunately, falling short in these areas does not condemn us.  It does, however, result in less than optimal health.  It may not be an easy transformation.  While Paul may not have been talking about diet and exercise, he knew of similar challenges when he wrote Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

During this Lenten season we are focused on our improvement and we also celebrate as Paul did in Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!