Better Off Shred
It’s a quiet morning at home and I’m sitting in my living room listening to a wonderful summer storm. The thunder is a low constant rumble and the rain is coming in bucket-sized drops. I’m no fan of violent weather, but a benign slow soaker can soothe the stress right out of me. It reminds me of being at my great-grandpa’s house as child in the same type of skies. His house had a metal roof that would multiply the crash of angry clouds. Pop knew I was scared so he would stick out his dentures and all other manner of ridiculous things to make me laugh until the storm had passed. He was wonderfully, hysterically crazy. I never doubted that he delighted in me and I loved him better than life. He’s been gone for 15 years and I still miss him so badly I could just cry my eyes out.
Nix that. The tears have come. Good thing I haven’t gotten out the mascara yet today.
I wasn’t planning on waxing nostalgic. I actually wanted to share something profound that Jillian Michaels said in the 30 Day Shred Video. Y’all may have heard a thing or two about it around the web. I could share how sore I was the first few days but honestly, who can tell that tale better than Melanie? The girl is a comedic genius and I bow at her feet. Today, that is. On days 2 and 3 of Shred, I could barely bend my legs to use the bathroom, much less pay homage to Big Mama.
So back to Jillian. (Can we all agree she has an evil smile? It never quite travels to her eyes. It’s like she knows we expect one but can’t quite convince herself she can do it. Or wants to. Scary.) On Level One – which I’ve ventured past once only to quickly return – she made a statement I loved. In convincing us that the hard work was necessary in order to see changes she said, “You can’t phone this one in.”
That statement completely resonated with me. How many times have I practiced a phoned-in faith? Wanted to get big spiritual results with minimal effort? Believed there could be huge gain with no pain? I heard David Jeremiah on Moody yesterday say something to the effect of, “Many of the men and women of faith with whose names we are familiar have been completely crushed in order for God to use them mightily. I had always hoped I could be the exception.” Amen, my brutha. I would totally high five you if I could get past your security guards.
I’ve got this on my mind this morning because during my time with God, I asked Him to do something in me that will probably hurt. My prayer went something like, “Lord, I want you to help me change (a personal issue). But, can you please do it gently?” And in a way only He can speak, He said, “For you to be truly changed may require my shaking you up so badly that you’ll never want to go back. “
And then I might have said something like, “Okay then, I take it back.”
Okay, not really. But I wanted to. That is until I realized I was just phoning it in. Wanting to be different without any sore muscles involved. Of falsely believing I can transform into some spiritual giant while sitting on the couch eating Kettle Cooked Lay’s Potato Chips. (Oh my word, those are the best.)
So I resolved my prayer with this thought: It may hurt, but I’m better off shred. The end will justify any temporary discomfort and hopefully, prayerfully, I’ll be one buff warrior when it’s said and done. I ask that for myself, and I hope you don’t mind if I do the same for you as well.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
~2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Just started the shred today! Love it! I love this post too. thank you thank you!!! I am going to post a link on my blog to this one.
I love this Scripture in 2 Corinthians which is so similar to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3.
“So I ask you not to lose heart…For this reason, I pray…May he grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit…”
The strengthening of the inner man results in the shredding of the flesh and unsurrended areas of our heart, so that He can do superabundantly, far over and above anything that we could ever dream in our lives in our own selves.
The end definitely is more glorious and not only justifies but makes the discomfort a little more bearable if we know God’s plan is to bring me ultimate joy and Him ultimate glory.
Wonderful post!
Ouch. It’s so much easier to want the gain without the pain!
Did you have my quiet time? Sounds the same- minus Jillian:)
I don’t mind one bit that you as the same for *me* as well. In fact, thank you kindly.
Oh my you’re writing what my heart is saying today! Lord move in my life the way You never have before — I’m terrified, but I know that You will walk with me. I want to be a “buff warrior” of God!
Great post Lisa!
Funny how God turns our ordinary moments into teachable ones. I had a similar thought when she was talking about stressing your body, and how change does not come without stress. Boy, did that one hit home! The worst stresses in my life have made the most profound change in me. So, I am with you, we are better off shred.
Is it crazy that I want to go buy The 30 Day Shred DVD now?
I want in on the party.
Yes, I have this dvd and I growl at Jillian ever so often during my exercising.
I know that my boys, as toddlers, had to fall down many times before they learned to walk.
As babies, they had to drag themselves on their tummies and struggle on all fours in order to strengthen their legs to walk.
A little growing pain never hurt anybody….o.k., maybe a little but it’s worth it.
BTW, I sent a request to be added to the Ministry wives blogroll. Hoping you received it. I imagine you get lots of email and are pretty busy, but thought I’d mention it in case you didn’t get it.
Yep..day 1 of Shred is behind me and I can barely type.
but after following the compassion India trip…I need a serious breaking of many things. I’m selfish, spoiled, prideful, stubborn, and 401 other things.
I’ve got so much work to do, but its TIME Lisa. It’s just time.
I love ya,
Fran
Lisa: You straight crack me up – and this is a fine word young lady – a mighty fine word. I know I would have loved your Pop too.
And may I say – the only thing I am going to shred is some sharp cheddar cheese…HAHAHAHA
You young girls better shred while you can…believe me!
You can’t phone this one in – your application analogy was great!
Much love,
GA JAN
Oh wow..did you hit home with me!!
For the first time in my life, I am experiencing a relationship with God. I reached a point that I knew things had to change. I have prayed that He would break me and then make me into the woman He has wanted me to be. I don’t think I realized what I was asking Him to do. It has been and is a painful process I am going through. There have been days that I was ready to quit and give up because it hurts too bad.
Your words have given me such encouragement. Once I get to where He wants me, I will never want to go back. Because you are right..it hurts too bad.
BTW…Kettle Cooked Barbecue are to die for :-)
I must say, I think that is a very scary thing to pray, but a very much needed thing to pray!
God and I are doing this little dance now too.
I say, “God, I want _________.”
He says, “Will you give me _______?”
Fill in the second blank with any number of things: your pride, your money, your energy, your best, your time, your comfort … the list continues.
It’s a question that makes me step back and think.. I’ll just settle for what I have now. Things are OK. Nevermind, God.I no longer look in the rich young ruler who went away sad with disdain and disgust. Instead, I sympathize and say, “I know how you feel, man.”
Lord, help me not to be so content!
One more thing… the great George Muller said this to an interviewer at the end of his life about what he accomplished:
There was a day when I died, utterly died. Died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will — died to the world, its approval or censure — died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends — and since then I have studied to show myself approved only unto God.
Thanks for this word, my friend.
I heard our friend Ed Stetzer say this… “People do not change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”
I want to be shred!
Oh gosh I can’t believe you let Jillian get her hands on you!! That woman scares the beeswax out of me.
I have to say I hear you with the “hoping to the be the exception”. I think I’m one of those gals that keep doing things the same way and hoping for a different result. And we all know that ain’t happening.
I suppose I’m just a little terrified of discomfort and hate and I think that the road He calls to walk is surely going to bring some of that.
Living for the Lord and loving Him, it sometimes makes me want to compare it to a free fall!!!! Scary as heck, but so exhilarating.
I love this! and agree wholeheartedly with every single word you typed on that page. Every word.
Guess I am going to have to get the DVD.
I always enjoy your blog. So glad that I stopped by today.
I am still new to the land of blog, but so loving reading others stories. Everyone has a story and so many of them are so touching….
Hope you will stop by for a visit.
The May give-away has started and this month there will be 10 winners. I will be blogging from Disney World soon…
I love you because you can turn The 30 Day Shred into a biblical application! Good good word. I learned long ago and have been reminded recently that God is much more concerned about my holiness then my happiness and I am so thankful that He is!
First off, Jililan Michaels scares me. I don’t scare easily, at least not of people, but she terrifies me! Also, it somehow makes me feel better knowing that I’m not the only person who tears up several years after losing a grandparent. My Nannie has been gone 4 years this past week, and while I’ve learned to focus mostly on the things for which I am thankful I had her, missing her sometimes makes me actually hurt. I didn’t think there was anybody out there who would admit how it feels, because I think my family believes I’m nuts. Thank you for this post.
I’m shredding too…thanks for helping me realize that I can either phone in the spiritual struggle I’m going through, or I can let God use it to transform my faith to something deeper and stronger. On Sunday I’m going to start a 30 Day Spiritual Shred…though I’m not sure exactly what’ll look like (thus the lag to pray about what God wants for it). http://mstheophilus.blogspot.com/2009/05/30-day-shred.html