Monday, April 18, 2011

He Knows when you ready..

I walked into the weight room at college fresh out of high school.  I slid under the bench press bar that had an unknown amount of weight on it.  I took a couple of deep breaths and reached for the bar.  Coach Webb, the strength and conditioning coach came around the corner and almost blew a gasket as he screamed for me to get out from under the bar.  It was the first week of practice and our first day of scheduled weight training.  I had never lifted weights in high school.  Coach Webb told me it was 400 pounds on the bench press.  I weighed about 170 pounds (soaking wet with rocks in my pocket). If I could have gotten the weight off the stand, it was a sure bet I would be injured. When you have a weight training program it involves taking a little bit of weight and lifting it several times.  They call it repetition or “reps”.  Coach Webb put us on a program that called for reps on different machines three times week.  Every other week we “maxed out”.  We attempted to lift our maximum amount on the different machines.  Based on our previous work outs coach had this uncanny way of predicting what weight we would max out on.  He paid attention to our training and physical conditioning and could predict how much weight we could handle.
 

About 18 months ago I did not know I was beginning some spiritual weight training.  I managed to handle every hurdle that came my way and there were a few.  I questioned the bumps and even the successes that brought a small measure of peace.  It was like driving through a parking lot with speed bumps.  The spiritual bumps were minor inconveniences but they required me to watch my speed and hold the wheel a little tighter.  Some bumps allowed me to maneuver around them so only two wheels bumped over them.  It did not allow me to go any faster or smoother, as matter of fact it made the vehicle off balance and snatched the wheel. There is no appreciable speed gained by trying to avoid a speed bump.  Watch your speed and hold the wheel.

This year my family is not only facing speed bumps but detours into unknown areas.  In past years I am really not sure if I would have been able to lift this spiritual bar or hold the wheel tight over the speed bumps.  In past years there would have been fear, doubt and indecision.  Small reps of spiritual teaching and homework (prayer), have given me the faith that tells me I can lift this spiritual weight.  God had me on spiritual weight training and now it is time to “max out.”  In past years He knew I was not ready to bear this weight, but like all max out times, He will not let me or you bear more weight than we can carry and your spotter (the Holy Spirit) will give you constant encouragement.  
 

You may be going through a storm of some sorts.  It may be a bunch of little ones (in training) or a full blown hurricane (maxing out).  Just know that He not only has power, but is power! He has given you enough of Him to see you through.  He has trained you to be more than a conqueror so that others may see Him in you… Someone you know needs to see Him ..in you.  He knows when you ready  ..
 

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies….. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.