"I woke up this morning, and really just reflected on the past 2 days. I realized that yes, it wasn't just physically taxing, but also mind changing. I expected sore muscles but I was not expecting what God had planned to really work on. This was like a retreat weekend. Every time I hit the track the Lord showed me lies that I had hidden away but was allowing myself to believe. Lies that have held me back from doing things because I was just too afraid to fail. Lies that I believed, that had me hating my body because it wasn't as athletic as I wanted it to be. I walked away from this grateful for the journey, grateful for the trials, grateful for this body that the Lord uses as His temple. I walked away realizing that I have an obligation to this body. To keep it healthy, to keep it moving, and what I put into it matters. Both what I feed it physically and mentally. I am so grateful for the tribe of people who are in my life. People that stand by me, pray for me, challenge me and discipline me. People that see in me things that I couldn't see. When they call Melissa Sharp a wellness coach, don’t take that title lightly. Our whole being is so much more than just a physical shell. Heal your mind, heal your soul, heal your heart. That is what this weekend did for me."
Those were the words written and posted by my dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Tina Zamora (pictured above in front with the black tank top), yesterday upon taking the time to look back on all that had happened over the holiday weekend. To understand her words, consider that Tina took part in the 5th annual 4x4x48 for the Fourth event that took place at our local high school football stadium. The challenge consisted of running (or walking) four miles every four hours for forty eight hours (which equaled 12 rounds). However, she and my husband modified the challenge to two miles every four hours for forty eight hours. And if you think that's easy, think again. One of the biggest challenges she faced was sleep deprivation. On top of that, she battled the July heat and humidity, made worse by the track that made the feel-like temp even hotter.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
Throughout the years that I have directed and participated in this event, I will tell you that we have only had about a handful of people every year (this year there were four) who stick it out for the entire time, although we had close to 100 people come by for a portion of it. The challenge is just that hard! But Tina trudged on and not only learned that she was physically capable of more than she thought possible, but came to understand the importance of treating her body like "the temple of the Holy Spirit" that it is.
You see, because God permanently indwells Christians and purchased them from the slavery of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our bodies are not our own. Hence the reason, God commanded, through the words of Paul that (since we were bought at a price) we are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which are God's. In other words, believers are to completely yield their personal autonomy to God, viewing themselves as His servants--something that goes directly contrary to the world's view that says "do whatever feels good and makes you happy."
But here's the deal, the devil is a liar. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." He's been lying since the garden of Eden. He lied to Tina, he lies to me, and he lies to every single person made in the image of God in an attempt to turn them from their Creator.
"'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'" Romans 12:1-2
That means everything that we do with our bodies matters! Think about it this way... would you arrest the person who went in and spray painted the Church house that you belong to? Of course you would because it's destruction of property! But this is the very thing that we do when we eat processed foods, when we pollute our minds by what we take in with our eyes and with our ears, and when we don't exercise as we should. We destroy our bodies one step at a time.
Furthermore, this honoring God isn't only about what we do but about how we think. Which is the very reason Paul continued by saying, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Paul was saying, "Don't believe the lies of the world! And definitely do NOT think like the world does by buying the lies of the enemy, but align your thoughts with what the Bible declares to be true, godly, healthy, and holy.”
This means that we are to read God's Word, commit His commands to memory, and then live it out for the world to see. Will we face opposition? Of course! Following the Lord is not easy! Just as it took discipline for Tina to fight her body's desire to sleep and choose to get up and walk instead, it takes discipline to say, "I will not eat, say, think, or do anything that damages the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is me. I will not believe the lies of the enemy but will choose to see myself as God sees me and will choose to use this body to bring Him glory, even if it's hard!"
"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17
Last but not least, honoring God with our bodies means choosing our friends wisely and making time to fellowship with them often—encouraging them to honor God with their own bodies and to hold us accountable to do the same. This is what’s called spiritual sharpening, just as "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." This mutual sharpening is one of the greatest weapons against the lies of the enemy that we could ever take advantage of.
So, treat your body like the temple that it is my friend, that you might show yourself set apart from the world, set on glorifying the Lord, and ready and able to tear down the lies of the enemy. It won't be easy, I can promise you that. But it will be worth it! Just ask Tina. The devil told her that she couldn't do it, but her God said, "Oh yes you can."
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are not our own and that we have no right to treat them as we please. Father, give us the desire to read the Word every day, to commit it to memory, and to allow it to transforms our minds, hearts, habits, and lives. Lord, remind us that the devil is a liar so that we won’t fall prey to his tactics but will press on until the end. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
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