About 6 months ago, I decided I was tired of having a tire around my waist.  So, I started using the “myfitnesspal.com” app as a tool to help me lose weight.  It worked.  I ate smaller portions(notice I didn’t say healthier) and started exercising on a regular basis.  Over time I was able to lose 21 pounds.  For the most part I’ve been able to keep the weight off.  Every now and then I’ll gain a pound or two and then lose it again a day later.  

I did well until about two weeks ago.  Around that time, I quit entering all the stuff I ate on my app.  I started eating dessert for EVERY evening meal.  I also quit exercising as regularly as I had been.  Needless to say, I gained some of that weight back.  Just a couple of pounds, but for the first time since I lost the weight, I didn’t lose it the day after.  I started noticing when I got dressed on a daily basis that the clothes were tighter than they were a few months ago.  It caught me off guard.  I hadn’t really noticed the effect being lazy had on the progress I had achieved.

Over the last several weeks, work has been real busy.  Church has kept me real busy.  Sunday School; Worship Service; Sunday Night; Saturday Morning Bible Study; etc.  

Over the past several weeks, the routine of having a personal quiet time with God each morning; a personal prayer time on Sunday mornings; devotions with my wife several times a week was “explained away” with legitimate reasons.  Tired; busy; need to study; no time; etc. were all reasons I knew God “understood” not taking the time to spend with Him.  As long as I was “busy” doing some work for Him, that was all I needed.  You would think by now, I would have learned this lesson.  Apparently not.

I found myself with a shorter temper with my wife; a shorter temper at work; constant exhaustion; less time preparing for SS; less time preparing for Men’s Bible Study and becoming an all around backsliding Christian.  I woke up one day and realized that I had become lazy in time spent with Him.  I realized I wasn’t living a life pleasing to Christ.  This didn’t happen overnight.  It happened because over time I began to be undisciplined.  I began to “gain weight” and live an unhealthy spiritual lifestyle.  

I realized I can’t control my attitude; temper;  etc. with my own strength.   I have to have God’s direction.  I have to follow His leadership.  I have to make Him first in ALL areas of my life.  That means I HAVE to spend time with Him.  I need a quiet time; I need a time of prayer; I need a time of devotions with my wife.  

Is having a quiet time really necessary for you?  I can’t answer that for you.  I would challenge you to ask God and see what He says.  For me?  It most definitely is necessary!  I can’t live this life on my own.  I need His strength; guidance; wisdom and love.  I only find that when I seek Him on a regular basis.

So, I’m back on the Spiritual Exercise Trail.  And on the Physical Exercise Trail.  After all; “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  

I Timothy 4:8