"Lifting Barbells"

        "Continue to work out your

         salvation with fear and trembling,

         for it is God who work in you to 

         will to act according to his good 

         purpose."   Philippians 2:12-13

Growing strong in christ is like lifting very heavy barbells. The trouble is that no one likes to lift them. We walk around those huge barbells and examine them, comparing them to other weights we've seen. We gather with other barnells lifters and discuss the proper technique involving the approach, the bend -and- grasp and the pull-and- jerk.

        We enjoy listening to the testimonies of famous people who have lifted record breaking weights, and we collect books and articles about barbells lifters of the past. We join groups of other lifters who are like-minded, and together we prayed and memorize verse about barbell lifting.

        We do everything but actually walk up to the barbells and lift them!

sometimes fear keeps us away. Will we succeed? What if we can't lift the heavy weights? Are we too weak? When we finally wrap our hands around the task and begin to exert force, eureka! At that point divine energy surged through us. God's power works in us at the moment we exercise faith for the task. We can do all things even lift those barbells through Christ Jesus who strenghtens us.

        As you work out your salvation, God works in you, giving you the desire and power to sccomplish His will. You only have the strenght to say "no" to a bad habit when, You only have the desire and  the power to read His Word when, in His energy, you pick up the Bible and begin reading.

        Lord, today I will face many challanges to my faith and I respond positively to each challenge, wrapping my hands around the task, and trusting You to give me divine strenght as I obey.