Guys, I relapsed.
About a month ago, I purchased a few items from Marshall's Department Store and while I was in the checkout line, I noticed a DVD with Billy Blanks' face on it.
Taebo Flex.
"Ooh, I don't have this one," I thought to myself, gawking.
I've been a fan of Taebo workouts for several years. After all, Billy's DVD's helped whip me into shape after I gained a little over 40 pounds while pregnant with my second daughter, Kaiah.
Now, some of you who have been reading this blog for a while already know that I'm recovering from my addiction to purchasing new exercise programs needlessly. On this particular Saturday, standing in that checkout line, my addiction won out.
When I flipped the DVD over and saw that the sticker price was only $4.99, I was sold.
So, I stuck it in my shopping cart and purchased it when my time came to check out. The whole time, I convinced myself that this was a "sweet deal" and besides, I figured it would come in handy in light of my new commitment to working out.
I failed to mention that this new commitment was fueled only by my need to justify that purchase. Well, I'd love to be able to report that this DVD really helped me bump up my fitness levels, but uh, it hasn't. I guess it's because I would need to remove the shrink rap and actually open it first, in order to benefit from it.
It's sitting right here next to me in the shiny plastic as I type this post.
What's my lesson from a DVD? "Anything we remain dedicated and committed to, will stem from an inward conviction, not an outward stimulus."
Our convictions are lasting, but our compulsions are fleeting. When we give into the latter, we tend to frivolously invest in things to no avail, because our heart isn't in it.
I wonder. When's the last time you pursued a specific course of action, not because it was in your heart, but because you were pushed in that direction? It might have been a sales pitch... or a sale...that got you; the coercion of friends and family; the patterns of the mainstream majority; or public opinion that swayed you.
But I can attest to the fact that, if it doesn't begin on the inside, it won't make any lasting change on the outside. No matter how we try to convince ourselves otherwise, real change comes from within.
Of course, purchasing a five dollar DVD isn't the end of the world, but when it comes to our destiny and pursuit of purpose, we cannot afford to be so easily moved. God has a plan for our lives, but it's the enemy's job to keep us off course, because as long as we main distracted and out of balance, we'll never fulfill God's will for our lives.
Your adversary knows that greatness lives inside of you. God wants to be glorified through your life. But if you remain sidetracked, frustrated and off course, you'll never see the manifestation of all He has in store for you.
I don't know about you, but I want everything God has for me.
Today, as I look at this DVD, I'm reminded that we cannot "flex," bend, fluctuate, or detour from God's set plan. We cannot afford to waste our time, resources, thoughts, or energy chasing after something that didn't emanate from within. If the Holy Spirit didn't birth it, it's gonna be stillborn and we won't reap a harvest from it.
But if we're led by the Spirit, He'll take us by the hand and lead us to our set place, all in His set time.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
