My neighbor and good Christian friend, Mark, is a personal trainer and I've been working out with him for the past couple of weeks. Actually, I intentionally started exercising again the day after Thanksgiving. I can admit that I, like millions of other Americans, have struggled with eating the right proportions and exercising. To add to it, although I refuse to keep a weighing scale in my house, my bedroom mirror knoweth not flattery and neither telleth a lie. While my Mirror and I are comfortable enough with being brutally honest, my Pants and Waistline are not getting along. To make matters worse - it's a public battle and quite frankly those two being at odds can get quite embarrassing sometimes if you know what I mean!

At the end of the day, this fight comes down to self-discipline. Just as I'm always learning to feed my spirit man the Bread of Life and exercise my faith, I have to return to that place of discipline in the area of eating right and working out. Therefore, in order to be most effective for the work of the kingdom, I must strive to get this physical man at least to the place where the spirit man has been lately just for the sake of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

As I was reading Mark 2:14 this morning and 'hearing' Jesus tell Levi (the tax collector) to "come be my disciple", it just dawned on me that Jesus was inviting him to trade his old ways for a new and better way which leads to kingdom-living. I can't imagine what my life would look like for the kingdom today had I not been obedient to God's call to learn how to sing, play the piano, and write music.

Having said that, I posted the following thought on www.ericlige.org today:

"A healthy adult who's behavior is still that of a child is dubbed immature. Where does that leave the Christian who is uncommitted to studying God's Word or praying consistently? Some are physically ready but spiritually unfit. Just remember that our natural reactions in life are only as strong as our spiritual interactions with a Living God. Be a disciple today - get disciplined in the ways of God."

What are your thoughts?

The same way my personal physical form reflects my eating and exercising patterns, so does what we as believers feed on spiritually affect the way we respond naturally to life in general. It's time to change our diet - put down the 'old man or woman' of this world and become the person God desires you to be!

Be blessed!

Eric Lige