H.O.T. (Holy Obedience Training)

Years ago when I was working in children's ministry, I used a curriculum called, "HOT, HOT, HOT!"  I don't remember who put the materials out, but I'm thinking it was Willie George Ministries out of Oklahoma (but don't hold me to that).  That title has been running through my mind these last few days, since that is exactly what I've begun, "Holy Obedience Training." 

After reading several my recent posts on Facebook, folks have repeatedly asked me, "So, you're on a new diet?"  That's a fair question, I'm always on a new diet.  But, what God is showing me is that you can't diet your way to obedience, but you can obediently follow a diet.  This challenge for me is NOT a diet, anything but,\!  It's thinking deeper, being more honest with myself than ever before, and facing truth with new eyes. 

The fact is, I have NOT been faithful to my body, God's dwelling place, the temple of the Holy Spirit!  For many, their disobedience in this same area of sin, doesn't show up visibly on their body.  My disobedience does!  My Heavenly Father has been revealing truths to me, about ME.  I deeply care about the welfare of others.  In fact, to that end, I've been an over-functioner and when you over-function in one area of your life, just like a teter-totter, you under-function in another.  Sure enough, that is what I've done and now my journey is all about - balance.  That place of peace found only in the balance of Godly wisdom, through prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, and healthy living.  Today, I want to look at this verse found in Romans 12:1:

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies - presenting all your members and faculties - as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (The Amplified Bible)

It is useful for us to note that the author of the book of Romans, was Paul, whom God blinded in order to give him sight, and insight, you might say.  That blinding moment was a moment of realigning for Paul.  It was an awakening to the truths of God in every aspect of his life.  This Godly encounter affected Paul physically, spiritually and emotionally - and from that day forth Paul was obedient to the things of God.  In the same way, I've had a blinding moment with God.  Recently God has impressed upon me how I've allowed childhood hurts to actually shape me; body, soul and spirit!  They shaped the way I thought, the way I responded (to food and other stimuli), and even distorted the image of God, in me.  Through a class on Bowen's Family Systems and a study on Emotional Intelligence, God blinded me, so that I might see!  Soon, my vision became clearer and clearer and I saw that my spiritual worship was even affected by my previous vision of who I was.  I knew in an instant that I was going to have rebuke the enemy, rebuff my body, and  renewed my mind through scripture; in order to walk in the liberty God so desired for my life!  My current lifestyle with it's heavy influence on meeting everyone else's needs was no longer sustainable.   

God's call for me is to make a decisive dedication regarding my body; what I put in it, how I exercised it, how I was spiritually fed, and the amount of rest, sleep and renewing, I gave it.  This living sacrifice had to make the top of my priority list, and it I had to do it NOW!  I want to be well pleasing to God!  God isn't pleased with my "performance, performance, performance," for all the wrong emotional reasons.  God is not pleased with my people-pleasing skills.  God isn't even impressed with all my doing in His name, NOT AT ALL!  God is pleased by my obedience and sacrifice.  From God's perspective, the body of His son was given for me, the least I could do is surrender mine to Him!  It is my reasonable service, and when that is done and I have compassion and service for others, THEN God is not only pleased, but well pleased! 

So, here's to another week of right eating, a mile on the treadmill, and meditating on His Word daily! That is the Temple Training Challenge!  And, blessings to you who join me!  Comment and let me know how God is speaking to you!

"Creator of my body, Almighty God and Heavenly Father,  I ask today that you give me the grit I need to get through this week as faithfully as I did last week.  May my sacrifice be pleasing to you as I engage in this Holy Obedience Training.  Amen."