“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12b-13

My legs hurt! It’s all my fault… but it’s not! Yesterday was gym day… so we went to the gym. I hate the gym. Not raised with athletic parents, I wasn’t encouraged to work on my body or engage in any physical sports or activities. So consequently… I didn’t. Realizing that was a mistake, we pressed our kids to become physically minded as well as spiritual. They did.

It wasn’t until about 5 years ago that I met a gym instructor that drove home the importance of exercise. Usually that kind of talk turned me off, but he moved me forward in time to a point in time where I would be old. Would I be able to walk around, feed and take care of myself? Or would I have to depend on my kids to wheel me around and nurse me?

My legs hurt because I worked out yesterday. Now they ache. A gym rat would be happy about that. Me? Not so much. But like it or not, I am spending effort and time to strengthen my walk. Which is what God is calling me to do today in the verse above. It states that God is working INSIDE of me, in order to work OUTSIDE of me. I am called to cooperate!

Is God calling YOU to spend time with Him? Is He trying to encourage you to put effort into your relationship with Him and to grow stronger every day? Are you cooperating with His call to you? Yes… it could be a strain, even a little uncomfortable at times. But God promises to work in, and through you, for your own strength. How about it?