Core: the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything. We always hear that it is important to have strong core muscles when it comes to our physical bodies. There is much truth in this concept, but I would like to speak about our “spiritual core muscles” for a moment.
If you are like me, I hate working my core, because it is the hardest area to see results. I can workout for a few days and I can see the difference in my legs, arms, and even my face, but my core is another story. I have to workout for months before I can see any real significant change in that particular area. This is the same when it comes to our “spiritual core muscles.”
It takes time to develop strength in the innermost part of our being. This is the place where no one else can see but God; and sometimes, if we allow ourselves to be honest, we take a peek just to see what’s going on in there. This innermost place is where we store our motives and intents. Motive is applied mainly to an inner urge that moves or prompts a person to action. Intent is something that is intended, purposed, or designed. God looks at what others cannot see. Hebrews 4:12-13 states, “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Psalm 90:8 states, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” We are not able to cover up our lack of “spiritual core muscles” with God. In the natural, we may be able to cover and conceal, but this is impossible with God.
God does not want us to fear our motives and intents. He wants us to be honest with Him and ourselves about our motives and intents so we can get out of the way that others might see Him in us. We are all ministers of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ….” We have been sent by God into this world as His mouthpiece, but God wants our motives and intents to be godly and pure. To do this, we need to spiritually get to the underlying muscles. In the natural, it takes aerobic activity to burn abdominal fat, and at the same time we should be doing toning and strengthening exercises for our underlying core muscles. This concept is the same spiritually. It takes aerobic activity to burn “spiritual” abdominal fat and in the process we should be doing toning and strengthening exercises to make our “spiritual core muscles” (aka: underlying core muscles) strong so we can have spiritual balance and stability.
Aerobic means requiring the presence of air or free oxygen for life. We need oxygen to burn “spiritual” abdominal fat. Jesus states in John 14:6,…”I am the way, the truth, and the life…”. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We need oxygen to live a pure and healthy spiritual life. Jesus is that oxygen. A relationship with Jesus gives us the oxygen to get rid of “spiritual” abdominal fat and the Scriptures help us tone and strengthen our underlying spiritual muscles so we have a firm foundation to land on when we get knocked down or we stumble and fall.
Unfortunately, some of us are living anaerobic lives. Anaerobic means living in the absence of air or free oxygen. The key word in this definition is “free.” Jesus did something wonderful for us…he paid a debt that we could never pay off. It would be like paying on a credit card balance and never seeing the balance decrease. Most of can relate to this analogy (and know the frustration related to it). When we don’t realize the significance of a relationship with Jesus and pursue such a relationship with Him we are slowly killing ourselves spiritually by depriving ourselves of oxygen. Just like when Jesus spoke with the woman at the well, he said, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would gave given thee living water.” (John 4:10). It doesn’t matter what your past motives and intents may have been because today Jesus is saying, “I have living water for you to drink and if you drink it you will never thirst again.”
It is time to exercise our “spiritual core muscles.” Let us decide today that we are going to have a deeper relationship with Jesus and the Scriptures. When we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us. He is waiting to help us start a new “training program” where we can have strength, balance and stability. He is waiting to help us dig deep and get to our “spiritual core muscles” where our motives and intents live. John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness.” He is a loving God that wants a closer relationship with us. Please do not put Him off today…..He loves and misses you.
Stay in the Vein…
