WOD with GOD

If God were impatient, we would all experience immediate wrath for sin. Imagine living in constant fear of doing something wrong!  But fortunately for all of us, God possesses great patience.

One reason that the Lord shows mercy is because He knows we have a fallen nature.  Just as a toddler has to learn obedience, God’s children also must learn to walk in His ways.  He takes pleasure in watching us do what is right and wants to help us when we go wrong.

Paul appreciated God’s patience.  His life demonstrated that because the Father is slow to anger, unbelievers have a much greater opportunity for salvation.

In Romans 2:4, the apostle affirms that our heavenly Father’s kindness and mercy lead to repentance.  But in the following verse, he warns those with stubborn hearts that they will experience judgment.  In other words, the warning is that God’s patience will at some point run out if someone continuously sins against Him, submitting to unrighteousness instead of to the Father.

In the Old Testament, Israel repeatedly experienced this painful truth.  The people turned away from the Lord and did evil in His sight by worshipping idols.  God patiently tolerated their waywardness, giving them ample opportunity to choose obedience.  Eventually He’d withdraw His protection until they would cry out and return to Him.  Ultimately, even when the Lord allows calamity to reach His children, it is still drenched with His love and purpose.

Is there unconfessed sin in your life?  Be thankful that the Lord is slow to anger.  And be wise: Do not test the limits of His tolerance.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.~1 Timothy 1:12-16

Grace is far more than a mealtime prayer.  The word communicates the idea of blessing. As children of God, we are the recipients of grace, which is poured out on us by our heavenly Father.  Let’s look at how we experience this amazing benefit of His love.

God’s favor is seen in our salvation “For by grace you have been saved.”  The blessing is undeserved and unearned—nothing about us prompted God to save us.  He acted purely out of His goodness, sacrificing His precious Son Jesus Christ in our place.  In that way, we could be reconciled to the Father and adopted into His family.

Grace is also the sphere in which we live the Christian life.  At salvation, we were transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.  Here, we live out our new identity as God’s children and carry out His purpose of glorifying Him—both of which result in manifold blessings.

The beauty of grace becomes especially clear when we consider who we once were—a people hostile to the Lord and alienated from Him.  We were spiritually dead, living according to our own selfish interests.  But now, through faith in Jesus as our Savior, God has justified us and given us new life.  He has declared that we have right standing before Him.  All of our sins were placed upon Jesus, and His righteousness has been credited to our account permanently.

Picture yourself living in the favor of God. Internalize this truth, and then give Him thanks.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.~Romans 5:1-2

Some of King David’s prayers are recorded in the Psalms.  There we read how he praised the Lord, confessed sin, and cried out about his troubles.  He also asked God to hear his prayers and not be silent.

We all want to pray effectively like David.  To do so, we must avoid certain hindrances, such as:

Wavering faith.  Doubts about God’s character or dependability diminish our trust in Him.  Therefore, we must not allow feelings to dictate what we believe.

Wrong motives. Petitions motivated by selfish desires won’t receive an affirmative answer.  God wants us to pray for His will to be done—not ours.

Conflict in relationships. Being resentful or argumentative with others will affect communication with the Father.

Lack of generosity. God is displeased when we ignore people’s needs or give begrudgingly to the church.  He hears us asking for a blessing yet sees us refusing to obey Him in our giving.

Indifference.  Apathy to the Scriptures is another stumbling block.  God has given us the Bible so that we might know Him and serve Him wholeheartedly.  Failure to read and apply His Word consistently will diminish our ability to maintain a godly lifestyle.

It takes effort and commitment to develop a strong prayer life, but the rewards are great. If your prayers have not been answered, consider which, if any, of the above issues may need correction. Then, start by personalizing the prayers you read in the Psalms or elsewhere in God’s Word.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.~James 1:5-8

God’s Word is clear.  When we genuinely invite Him to reign over our hearts, and when we accept His transforming love, we are forever changed.  When we welcome Christ into our hearts, an old life ends and new way of living, along with a completely new way of viewing the word begins.  Each morning offers a fresh opportunity to invite Christ, yet once again, to rule over our hearts and our days.  Each morning presents yet another opportunity to take up His cross and follow in His footsteps.  Today, let us rejoice in the new life that is ours through Christ, and let us follow Him, step by step, on the path that He first walked.

You were born with tremendous potential.  When you were born again through the faith in Jesus Christ, God added spiritual gifts to your natural talents.

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.~2 Peter 1:19-21

It is a tragedy that many people go through life without ever becoming acquainted with their Creator.  To overlook that relationship is to miss the purpose for their existence and the greatest privilege available to mankind: knowing God.  Even Christians can undervalue the honor of getting to know Christ more intimately.

Paul’s all-consuming passion to know God caused him to count everything else as worthless in comparison to that tremendous blessing.  Though believers can accept Christ as their Savior, faithfully serve Him, and anticipate being with Him in heaven, many have no hunger to know Him right now.  How can we be satisfied with simply being saved and have so little interest in the most gratifying relationship available to us?  Pursuing Christ with passion requires sacrifice—spending time with the Lord, surrendering our will, and knowing Him through suffering.  Although salvation is a free gift, intimacy with God is a costly process, but the rewards are invaluable and eternal.

Our culture floods us with distractions that can fill our minds and hearts, leaving us indifferent about developing a deeper relationship with Christ. Some people even substitute learning facts about the Lord for knowing Him relationally.

Find what is hindering your passion for God.  Consider ways to carve out time each day to be alone with Him. As you go about your routine, seek His guidance and listen for His voice.  You, too, will eventually count everything else as rubbish compared to knowing Christ.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.~Phillipians 3:7-11

 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:3-11

The definition of uniqueness is, being the only one of its kind; remarkable; extraordinary.  That is how God feels about you.  There is no one like you.  He thinks you are remarkable and extraordinary.  Despite what you are told by others.  If you have been subject to someone always picking you apart, remember you were designed by a Creator for something special.  You are unique. 

 Parents see this in their children.  One child may be more stubborn, driven to achieve their goals.  While another is more laid back and doesn’t get in a hurry for nothing.  Do you love one more than the other based on their strengths and weaknesses?  No.  Neither does God.  He created you for a purpose and gave you the qualities for a reason.  “Stand at the intersection of your affections and successes and find your uniqueness”M. Lucado.  You were created for a purpose, to serve the Lord and through your gifts utilize them to honor Him.

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:5

People oftentimes develop a desire for something that is not in God’s plan for them. When they fail to attain what their heart is set on, the desire can build into intense, unrelenting pressure.

Christians who are consumed by covetousness have ceased to depend on God. To reach a goal, some will manipulate circumstances because they’ve lost faith in the Lord’s ability to know what is best and provide it. Such behavior indicates a rejection of God’s sovereignty. Then fear becomes an issue as the person chases harder and harder after the object of his desire.

The consequences of jealousy are painful: A believer’s spiritual sensitivity can be weakened to the point that he no longer hears when God speaks to him. As a Christian distances himself from the Lord, an envious attitude is likely to breed ungratefulness. It’s hard to be thankful for the things one has when the focus is on what’s lacking.

Covetousness leads to a life of tension and worry. Jethro wisely advised his son-in-law Moses to search for assistants who hated ill-gotten gain. These men were more interested in what God provided for them than in what they could acquire for themselves. If we want to be like them, we must focus on God’s purpose for our life. When we are sensitive to His voice, He will teach us to distinguish between desires falling within His will and those that lie beyond. As believers, we have the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us resist the lure of wrong desires. Covetousness does not have to be our downfall.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.  You will surely wear out, both yourself and [a]these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.   Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you.  You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.  Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.~Exodus 18:17-21

Humanity tends to project its own faulty habits onto God. Consider how God’s love is often seen: Many people assume we must barter, plead, or try hard to earn the Lord’s favor. But as the Prodigal Son learned, the Father’s love is unconditional.

The wayward boy returned home, not expecting to be loved as before; all he hoped for was a place among the family’s servants. Imagine the son’s delight at his dad’s greeting of a hug and a celebration. The boy’s actions surely didn’t merit an outpouring of affection, but Jesus’ parable is all about a Father who doesn’t give people what they deserve.

A love based on conduct would keep people wondering, Have I done enough? Instead, God cares for you simply because you’re you, and He expects nothing in return. Consider the Prodigal’s life after his homecoming party. He didn’t move into the servants’ quarters and go to work. He was reinstated to his place as the second son of a wealthy man, with all of the privilege that entails. In the same way, believers are the Lord’s cherished children. When God looks at His loved ones, He doesn’t focus on their past failures, faults, or sins. He sees the heirs to His kingdom—men and women who love Him and desire to spend eternity in His presence.

No matter how far we may wander from the Lord’s perfect will for our lives, we are always welcome back. The Bible teaches that God’s love cannot be lost, regardless of sin or poor decisions (though we may have to live with the consequences). Our Father’s arms are always open.

And He said, “A man had two sons.  The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.   And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.   Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.  But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!  I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’  So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;  and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’  And they began to celebrate.~Luke 15:11-24

Someone asked me the other day if the Wod With God was a CrossFit thing?  No, I replied. It is something that we wanted to incorporate into our website.  The Wod With God was intended to strengthen people in their spiritual walk.  We talk about strength all day in the gym but if we are weak spiritually that is more important than the physical.  For those of you who have noticed that this hasn’t been posted as frequently than it had originally started, the only excuse is poor time management.  The error is in becoming so busy and forgetting what matters most.

I beleive now more than ever we are under attack and the only way to overcome is to stay close to the Lord.  We become complacent and go through the motions and that is when are most vulnerable.  If our day starts out ill equipped and not mentally prepared to face the obstacles we face at work or home we will find our self defeated and frustrated.

I know people talk to me about how they prepare for their wod through out the day.  After the wod is posted they start strategizing.  What shoes to wear, what shorts do I squat in better, what to eat for lunch, how much water to drink and so on.  What if we prepared our hearts and mind the same way everyday in the Truth. Satan is very subtle and knows when we are most vulnerable.  One of the strongest tools he has in how micromanaged our lifes have become and how little time we spend with the Lord because everything else takes precedence.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Ephesians 6:13 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Ephesians 6:10