Spiritual Training Cycle: Submission (wk. 1/13)
The gym is the safest place to avoid stumbling on your fitness journey. There, our progress is more assured. With coaches guiding us through workouts and a supportive community motivating us, we feel accomplished in those 60 minutes, closer to our goals.
After leaving the gym, the temptations of daily life can derail our progress. Whether it's succumbing to frequent happy hours, hitting the snooze button too often, or feeling envious of others' progress on social media, we find it challenging to maintain our commitment to fitness. In the end, we become the builders of our own demise.
Accountability is the solution to our challenges outside the gym. Having someone to reach out to when workouts feel tough increases our likelihood of getting to class. While you can't bring your coach home, it's perfectly fine to ask them for support with healthy habits. Accountability is essential for success, especially when we encounter obstacles.
Even though our coaches are not with us every hour, we have the Holy Spirit to be our guide wherever we go. This was only made possible because Jesus had to leave. During his earthly ministry, Jesus hinted at the fact that He would willingly lay down His life. His disciples never understood why his rescue mission for Israel meant His own sacrifice, but He explains this in John 16 when he says,
“But now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:5-8 NIV).
The Holy Spirit is referred to by many names in scripture. Some include the Advocate (John 16:7), the Comforter (Isaiah 11:2), the Helper (John 14:16), the Teacher (1 Corinthians 2:13), and other names. His role in our life is to guide us through a faithful and true understanding of our relationship with Jesus.
As a guide, the Spirit teaches us how to prepare for following Jesus. The weight of sin burdens us, but the Spirit offers accountability, making us aware of our misses and helping us to come to Him with our burdens. Accountability can be tough; many avoid accepting correction when they're wrong. Some choose to walk alone, thinking they aren't accountable for their decisions.
Having the Holy Spirit with us is like having a coach who holds us accountable. The Spirit addresses our brokenness with conviction rather than condemnation. He's a trusted friend who knows us well and understands our weaknesses. The Bible describes Jesus as someone who can sympathize with our struggles because He experienced temptation as we have but did not sin (Hebrews 4:15)
We can confidently rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance because He gives us grace when we need it most, especially when we can't forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Whether we're skipping the gym due to too many “rest days” or avoiding God because of guilt and shame from sin, His grace is where the Gospel brings transformation.
In the end, “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Questions for Reflection:
What does accountability look like in your life?
Do you sense God’s Spirit is leading you? If so, in what ways?
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