217

So here I am again, feeling guilty that I haven’t been doing the thing that I said I would do on a regular basis.  I said I would devote more time and energy to the passion I have for the Lord.  Unfortunately, if this is passion than I am in real trouble.  Passion is something you think about and act upon on more than a regular basis.  I am guilty of doing way too much thinking and not enough acting.

So, what the heck is 217 you ask?  217 is what I weighed the other day.  The heaviest I’ve weighed since I lost 34 pounds last year.  On January 1^st, 2010 I weighed 233 pounds and I was going to turn 40 on June 7^th.  I put my game face on.  I was bound and determined to weigh 200 by the time I turned 40.  I was fanatical.  I charted my weight everyday on a spreadsheet.  I had projections and goals.  I stopped drinking pop.  I woke up insanely early to get a 2 hour workout in before work.  I drank water, tons of water.  I stopped snacking.  I ate sensible portions.  I slowed down when I chewed my food.  I felt good.  Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.  I was on top of the world.  All of my pants were too big, but I didn’t want to buy new pants for fear I would get down to 190 and then need to buy new pants again.  In fact, one of my most proud moments came when I was able to fit into a pair of jeans that a skinny friend of mine gave me (they were his fat pants).

Then everything changed.  I had to travel a lot for work.  At first I would work out in the hotel and still eat fairly well.  Then the stress set in and I stopped working out and I definitely didn’t eat very well (although I ate chicken, it was just accompanied with cheese and bacon).  Buy hey, I was still under 210 and considering where I was at 233 things were still looking up.  All I had to do was get back into the swing of things and I would be back to 200 in no time.  Except, that never happened.  Flash forward to September of 2011 and I decided to find out how much I weigh after way too much neglect and way too many McDoubles and apple pies (darn you Micky D’s value meal!!).  217.  217!  Stinkin’ 217!!  Common, that is almost 220.

Then it dawned on me, my spiritual fitness has been mirroring my physical fitness.  When I was losing weight and feeling great, I also was spending a lot of time in prayer, reading the Word and worshipping God.  I am ashamed to admit that I have been lacking in this department for a few months.  Not that I can jump on a God scale and see how my relationship is, but I know I miss the daily connection I had.  I know I miss the depth of the relationship I had.  I miss being close to my Father.  I miss being strong.

So, it is time for me to get back onto the battlefield.  This isn’t supposed to be The Marginal Competition.  This IS The Ultimate Competition and I need to be and stay prepared.  Consequently, I have been attacked a lot more by the Devil in my areas of weakness.  That stops now!!  In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I pray for strength and diligence.  Time to put the armor on, and keep it on.

Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Oh. . . it’s on!!

Your brother and warrior in Christ,

Ty Adams

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