The Girly Machine Part 2 (Acts 7:51)

Since last time I wrote about the girly machine I have learned what the actual name is. It is called an Ellipitical Machine. I spend 30 minutes of almost everday (roughly 2% of my day) on that thing. As I get older, working out has become about raising my heart rate and burning calories. Gone are the dreams of getting buff or huge, or as we call it in South Florida, Jack Diesel or DEEZED! Now my goal is to not be fat. One of the ways I increase my heartrate and burn more calories is by raising the resistance level on the Elliptical. I have worked my way up to level 12 now which kind of resembles running in quicksand. It takes so much energy just to keep the thing going. Atleast 5 times during my 30 minute workout I have a moment when I just want to quit. It is hard, but I just keep on pressing on. (It helps that I can take my mind of my burning legs by watching Sportscenter on the TV set up right in front of me...I love technology!! Even though I got ESPN to get me through I still wish I could drop the resistance to 1 and still get the same workout. On level 1 it is like you are gliding on ice....it's like curling. If you don't know what curling is, it is this sport (I use the term loosely) where a team of 4 guys attempts to slide a heavy granite stone down a rectangle ice alley all the while trying to get the stone to come to a stop in the bullseye. They also try to knock the other team stones away from the bullseye. I don't know why but I love watching them glide down the ice effortlessly, it looks fun....Well back to the elliptical. I wish I could drop my resistance down to a curling glide and still get the same workout. Resistance makes things tough. I was reminded today that resistance isn't only a term used for working out...it is a spiritual term as well. In Acts 7, Stephen (a newly elected deacon), gives the Sanhedrin (experts in Jewish History and Law) a History lesson- OUCH! In verse 51 he rebukes them and tells them they always resist the Holy Spirit. It's like they are living their lives on level 12 and the Spirit of God which desires to change them instead chooses to flow through others like Stephen who are completely yielded to God on level 1. I live my life many days on level 12. I can be so hard headed sometimes. Instead of letting God's Spirit flow through me, I resist His moving in my life because I am either afraid where He is taking me or too comfortable where I already am. No wonder, so many days, it seems like I am running in quicksand.

God I want to be yielded to You. I want You to flow through me effortlessly. I don't want to resist You anymore. Help me remove the resistance in my life. Please be patient with me. Thank You for Your mercy, grace and love.