Payout Day

A few months back I wrote about the power of consistency and positive outcomes from that lifestyle. After being so ill at the beginning of the year I felt that this year has been about investing in strengthening myself up.

As part of this time I have invested in getting a personal trainer to help me get properly fit especially now I am in my 40’s the words “what we do now will affect the next few decades” ring in my ears especially as I am totally committed to serving Jesus long term not as a gap stop filler. Well this week after 15 sessions I have noticed it is starting to payout; the results are becoming evident!

This has got me thinking about the payout in terms of practising spiritual disciplines or as I call them following Jesus. Day one we are excited as we have understood the new life that Jesus brings when we follow him, we may stay on that mountain top for a few weeks, months then bang back down to earth as they say and we are in the process of what the Scriptures call “working out your faith”. In other words we have to begin to not only believe Jesus but now live as He did – following in His footsteps.

I have been following Jesus for 35 years with a 7year blip in the middle and I think it’s beginning to payout (the results are becoming evident), I think differently, try to live differently, understand and operate in spiritual concepts and actions more now than I did a few years ago. Obviously we don’t follow Jesus to gain reward He is our reward but we do change shape in our character, actions and attitudes.

2 Corinthians 3:18: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Often on the journey of faith we may want to give up, it becomes hard like in physical training but if in the hard times we can dig deep and push through the pain of perseverance then payout day comes and you realise your not the person you used to be, you look different, act different you have become a little more Christ like “you have been changed into the image of Christ” so keep going the payout day will come!