Today I had another “D’oh!” moment. You know – those moments when something becomes to obviously clear that you know you should have seen it before. How many times have I told people to spend time daily in prayer? How many times have I preached about the power of daily devotion?
And how many times I have begun the discipline, but then allowed myself to slip? How many times have I picked up a Bible, with full intention to just read, but then allow myself to be distracted by a game of Zuma Blitz or some article on espn.com?
Today I created a new page. I called it #Fat2Fit and in it I described another effort to rededicate myself to healthier living. I created a list of things I want to do to be more healthy. Guess what I left off? Daily Bible study and prayer.
A few minutes ago I got back to the office from a lunch with some guys from church. I sat at my desk, and pulled out the Upper Room from my top desk drawer. I read the scripture it suggested – the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, and read the little devotion about daily prayer. I thought to myself, “Well, this is an appropriate topic for me to read today, when I’m trying to clean up my life.”
I spent a few minutes in prayer and asked God to help me in my journey from Fat to Fit. I felt a surge of Holy Spirit power come over me. I breathed in, and felt good deep inside my heart. It was a little moment of worship at my desk that gave me so much peace. Then I looked at the “Thought of the Day” part of the devotion. 1 Timothy 4:7 reads “Train yourself in godliness.”
D’oh!
Isn’t that what I’ve been talking about? Isn’t this exactly what I need to hear at this exact moment? After slapping myself on the forehead I literally laughed out loud. I’m an idiot – an imperfect, fat, slow-witted, good hearted, trying to be better idiot. I’m training. Thank heavens God loves me anyway. Thank God I’m not training alone.
The Fat Pastor 