I just got back from Centrifuge with my Youth Group. What a blast! We left as a bunch of individuals and came back as a group. On more than one occasion, there was some serious healing and decision making that not only strengthened the bonds within the group, but more importantly reinforced the desire to take one’s relationship with Christ to the next level.
I did that math at one point and was able to determine that in the course of four days, there was a minimum of 20 hours spent enjoying a concentrated dose of the Holy Ghost. During that time, we either were worshipping, listening to a sermon, studying the Bible as a group, praying and pouring over Scripture on an individual basis or just sharing how God is moving in our lives.
It’s too bad that those moments usually are reserved for conferences or retreats when the fact of the matter is the same transformational power is available to us at any given time throughout the day.
More and more I’m seeing parallels to the needed approach where physical fitness is concerned and the necessary resolve required for spiritual fitness.
I teach a fitness class in the mornings at the local rec center. Usually we do four cycles of 3 to 4 exercises that target every major muscle group. In between those sets, we’ll take a lap around the gym. To get to the gym, we need to run past the weight room. As you run past the window, you’ll catch glimpses of people working out. Some are doing it right; others aren’t even breaking a sweat. In their minds, their progress is measured by their presence. They’re at the gym to get through it. Those who are working hard measure their presence by their progress. They’re at the gym to get to it.
One party expects to see results simply because he or she attends. The other party is looking for results because he or she expends.
When you sit down to have your quiet time, are you truly engaged? Are you reading the Word of God and hearing it as a conversation between you and your Savior, or are you just glossing over some godly sounding phrases and heading out the door? Are you getting to it or are you just getting through it?
A good way to avoid the trap of just showing up is to track what you’re doing in a way that can be measured. One thing I’m doing with my students is having them go through something called Spotlights. It’s a 13-week tour through the highlights of the Bible. By the time they’ve finished, they will have read through a portion of every book in the Bible; and because they have to document their answers to a series of questions, you as the student minister have access to something you can use to hold them accountable. From a fitness standpoint, you can use the grid in Muscular Christianity to define a plan of attack and then celebrate your gains as you progress.
Refer to the links below to access those resources, but remember: The idea is to get to it not just get through it. Therein lies the secret to success to all your endeavors.
Bring it!
Daily Papers (Muscular Christianity Work Out Grids)
Spotlights (13-Week Tour of the Highlights of Scripture)
