Skip to main content

Swimming -- Benefits

I'm ready to dive right in, so let's do it!

I don't see it happening while I swim, but I know swimming has made my heart and lungs stronger.  It works in tandem with my eating habits to regulate my blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol.  Plus, it has made a difference in my appearance.  It's strengthened, tightened, and toned my muscles which has reshaped me.  It's even helped my posture.

I intentionally swim three days a week because I want the benefits of swimming. 

The same is true for me spiritually.  I intentionally practice the ways the LORD teaches us to live because I want the benefits that come to those who do.  

I want all the benefits of swimming, so I learn all I can about the different strokes and their specific techniques.  The benefits come when I intentionally practice what I learn. 

I want all the benefits of the LORD, so I learn all I can about the ways of the LORD. The benefits come when I intentionally practice what I learn.

His benefits are not a trouble free life, but a life filled with all the strength, courage, trust and endurance needed to get through it well.  Never being alone is one of His greatest benefits (I think), but there are oh so many more!

Psalm 103 is a great reminder of all the benefits of the LORD.  Benefits we don't want to forget and I recommend reading it with regularity!!!

LORD, I want all the benefits that come with practicing Your ways.  Keep me mindful of Your benefits so I will not become weary in doing good.  Amen.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Help Wanted?

Anyone who has ever gotten a new pair of glasses knows the struggle of adjustment. Climbing stairs, stepping off a curb, and even reaching for something creates a need for added attention and care. The optometrist warns us against switching between our old and new glasses. Why? It creates added struggle and delays our ability to see with clarity through our new lenses. Jesus-followers encounter the same type of struggle. Our old selves see everything through the lens of our own understanding. Holy Spirit helps us see everything through the lens of God’s word. Yep! Reading God’s word causes us to see people and circumstances from God’s perspective, and our old understanding is challenged. It’s kind-of like putting on a new pair of prescription glasses. Every new perspective revealed in God’s word, challenges our perspective. I’m sorry to say, but just like those times when I’m tempted to wear my old glasses, I’m also tempted to refuse God’s perspective. I’ve even tried to justify ...

1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

Okay, call me crazy, but this is where my mind is today.  Everyone of us who has confessed with our mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in our hearts God raised Jesus from the dead, are saved (Romans 10:9). All believers are IN Christ. We are IN Him, He is IN us, and He is IN the Father. You can check it out for yourself in John 14:20. Every believer is IN Christ. Thinking about being IN Christ and a part of His body got me thinking about how a body is filled with cells. Well, you know me, I had to do a Bing search and find out what I could about the anatomy of a human cell and its function. This is what I found: "The human cell is the basic unit of life that can replicate itself." There are trillions of cells in one human body and they don't all have the same purpose or function within the body. But no matter what the purpose or function, every cell must replicate. No exceptions! Okay, translate that into us being cells in the body of Christ. We are not all th...

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it will be given to you.

Have you ever noticed the way our Heavenly Father will give us with the same message over and over and over from different people and all kinds of situations until we understand what He's telling us?  Maybe He doesn't need to do that with you, but that's how He teaches me. Very gently. And He's super patient with all my questions. Oh! He doesn't give it to me all at once either. He carefully feeds them to me in bite size increments; giving me plenty of time to taste, savor, digest, and then practice using what I've learned.  Well, Father's been leading me to remember and understand quite a few things lately, and they all came together for me last Sunday afternoon. George and I were chatting with one of his cousins across the pond when she said, "Shy bairns get nowt."  I said, "What?" She said it again, and then she explained it as a saying meant to remind children they get nothing if they ask for nothing. Well, it wasn't long after we...