Pursing Wellness: Week 4, Joyful Obedience

The focus of this week in the First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ study, was Joyful Obedience is the Pathway to Blessing. As the week unfolded, the study guided us through Hebrews 12:1-3:

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We looked at Christ as the author and perfecter of our faith, considering what He suffered and endured for the joy set before Him. Jesus, as the script writer lays out the perfect plan for our lives. If that is the case, are we joyfully walking in obedience to His call and Biblical instructions?

We also had the opportunity to look at Christ's example of endurance, suffering, and joy, drawing parallels to our own lives. What is it that we must suffer and endure? How do we need to run this race, especially in terms of pursuing wellness? What is the joy set before us, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? What are the things or even people that hinder us in this process?

The week concluded with two reflection points: What are we going to do to stand firm against things that hinder us and tempt us to fail? How do we need to continue operating even while we are being remodeled from the inside out?

Yes, this week was full of questions and thought-provoking concepts, continually bringing us back to Christ's example of obedience and His loving, perfect plan. How did it impact you? How does the passage from Hebrews speak to your heart in your pursuing wellness journey?

"No matter how difficult the course may seem,
we can endure because we know that God isn't finished with us yet!" (p. 57)

Philippians 2:12-13
¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Share with us, either in a comment below or a link to a post at your blog, how this week's homework was used by the Lord in your life to expose your thinking and lifestyle choices. Also take a minute to jot down your responses to the accountability questions below. Then get going on Week 5: Our Folly and God's Forgiveness.

Accountability Questions

1. How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
2. What goal have you set for this coming week?
3. If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
4. How can we pray for you?
   

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

My Personal Response

I found this week to be a refreshing reminder to fix my eyes on Christ and to demonstrate my love for Him through obedience to His Word. But I also have struggled with feeling defeated. When I fail to do what I say I am going to do, I fall into condemnation and spiral downward quickly. It often happens without realizing my defeated attitude. Reviewing this week has been helpful in that regard, because I can see how I was growing weary and quitting, instead of enduring and persevering. Time to step up, stand firm, and move forward again.

Accountability Questions

1. How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
   My goal was to look at the shopping lists and menus, and try to follow as closely as possible. I started off with great intentions, and actually purchased a ton of fruit and healthier meal options. But I haven't exactly put the menus to work. Instead I've been eating the good food, and still picking through the leftovers in the fridge. Of course, with the kids being sick all week, it made it hard to focus on healthy meals.
   
   
2. What goal have you set for this coming week?
   I want to take another stab at the menus and tracking, and I also want to cut back on sugar.
   
   
3. If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
   Still no weight loss, but I am not surprised. I have not changed my eating habits enough and I have not increased my exercise.
   
   
4. How can we pray for you?
   I want to deal with the belief that I am not good enough if I don't do "this" according to "this" standard. Not just in the area of food, but in every area of my life. Pray for the Lord to reveal the root of this belief and to show me His truth! Interesting enough, after writing the majority of this post yesterday, I came across Sara Mae's blog, and she is hosting a focus series on Breaking Free from Your Core Lies. I'll be interested to see how that is used by the Lord in this journey.