Bringing Your Physical Life Into Focus - Day 1

Today's devotional comes from the Life Development Sermon Series by Lifechurch.tv

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
Proverbs 25:28

This proverb was written in a time when a city’s physical protection and security was found in the outer walls. When the walls were damaged or broken down, the city was completely vulnerable to attack. The same is true for a person who lacks self-control. A person without self-control is vulnerable to attacks of the evil one that will certainly affect your physical body.

teaches us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our Heavenly Father wants us to care for our body and our life as if it is a house for Him. One of the fruits of the Spirit that helps to protect our bodies is the fruit of self-control. D.L. Moody, a great preacher, was once asked, “What person gives you the most trouble?” He responded, “I’ve had more trouble with D.L. Moody than with any other man alive.” Maybe you feel like that! We’re the only ones who can care for our bodies, and when we fail, our walls may start to break down.

The word “self-control” comes from the Greek word egkrateia. Krateia means “strength, might, or power.” Eg means “of myself.” It’s the same root concept that gives us tempered steel, steel that has been treated and changed through a process that makes it stronger and mightier from within—unbendable and immovable. As the fruit of the spirit of self-control grows within us, we become strong, mighty, powerful—unbendable and immovable against the attacks of the evil one. Make no mistake: the uncontrolled physical life is dangerous.

In 2 Peter 2:19 the Bible says, “The deceivers promise freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity. For man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” Has something in your life mastered you? Maybe you have an addiction, a bad habit, or physical routines that are harmful rather than helpful. God wants the fruit of the spirit of self-control to grow within you. Think of any area of your physical life where you lack self-control. Maybe you’re addicted to smoking, dipping, drinking alcohol, or overeating. Maybe you spend too much time watching television, surfing the internet, or playing video games, when you could be doing something beneficial for your body. We all have areas we need to improve. Where do you think God wants you to be physically? We know that God wants us to treat our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. What does that look like in your life?

Perhaps as a part of your Life Development Plan, you’ll set some physical goals. Some examples of goals would be to run three miles, be able to do fifty crunches, or reduce your body fat to 12%. Now, unless you’re already in great physical shape, chances are you can’t do those things today. The goal may seem difficult to achieve and overwhelming. Can you run three miles today? Maybe not. But you can most likely run a half mile. Can you do fifty crunches today? Maybe not, but chances are good you can do five. Can you drop your body fat from 22% to 12% this afternoon? No, but you can back away from the Twinkie, and no one will get hurt!

My favorite definition of discipline is this: Doing today what I can do to enable me to do tomorrow what I can’t do today. Today you can take the first step towards God’s perfect plan for your physical body. What is it that God wants you to do today that will empower you to accomplish tomorrow what you can’t do today? In I Corinthians 9:25-27 Paul said, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly, I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I’ve preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Let the Spirit of God lead you into strict training. Your training is not to get a crown that doesn’t last, but to receive an eternal crown from God. Don’t let your body master you. With God’s Spirit helping you, you will master your body. God wants to give you the fruit of the Spirit of self-control. Do today what you can do to enable you to do tomorrow what you can’t do today.

Next Steps for Today:

• Spend some time honestly evaluating your physical well-being. Do you have adequate energy? Are you able to meet all the physical demands of your day and complete strenuous tasks? Do you feel good and look healthy?
• What role does self-control play in your answers to the questions above? Identify areas in your physical health where you lack self-control and you’d like to improve.
• Set a goal in at least one area listed above, and make a plan to reach that goal. Remember, start by doing something today that will enable you to do tomorrow what you can’t do today!

Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, we know that you have a plan for our physical well-being, just like you have a plan for all the other aspects of our lives. Please help us be open to your direction in our lives. Help us see our bodies as You do—as temples for Your precious Holy Spirit, worthy of all Your love and attention. Please grow the fruit of self-control in our lives, and enable us to do what we need to do today!