Strengthen the Spirit

I went to the doctor yesterday.

I have some things happening with my sugar that became a bit alarming.

As I was talking with the doctor I realized one thing: all she wanted to do was treat the symptoms, she didn’t actually want to help heal me. It’s not her fault. I think it’s our culture as a whole and the medicare that we have and how we are so accepting of it. It’s hard these days to find someone who wants to help you without just throwing medications at you.

I had to say aloud: “I actually want to know how to keep this from happening, not just take a pill when it’s happening.”

I was kind.

And confident.

Because here’s what I am learning in this stage of life: no one is going to do it for me. Not even doctors. No one cares about my health as much as I should.

I have to choose to eat healthy. I have to choose to go workout. I have to choose to spend time with the Lord. I have to choose to be intentional with the community around me.

I have to choose.

No one can force me to do all of these things.

What’s helping me in all of this is not so that I will be skinny and fit and in shape. It’s not so that people will think I am cool or wise or strong or confident. It’s not so that I can check off a list of things that I have done before 8am.

It’s because “whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, I do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

If my body is His temple, I have to take care of it. I have to steward it well. All of it– spirit and body. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. I can’t do the work He is asking me to if I’m not abiding in Him in all areas. I can’t bear fruit that I don’t have.

May we be people who fight for ourselves so that we can fight for our people. So that we can be ready in and out of season to proclaim this Gospel. So that we can be bold and confident because of Holy Spirit. May we strengthen our outer man by strengthening the inner.

May we find the root and not just manage the symptom. May we strengthen our spirit so that we walk in patience and kindness and gentleness and self control. May we search out what’s actually causing anger and bitterness and insecurity.

What I have learned through this sugar stuff and through the last year of having a knee injury– we have to strengthen to prevent injury. My diet has to get better to take care of the sugar. My leg muscles have to get stronger to protect the knee. 

And just like that, we have to strengthen our faith. We have to sharpen our intimacy with the Lord. But we are the only ones that can do it. We have to take ownership of our walks with the Lord. We have to abide in Him to bear much fruit. 

“for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8