Secret Weapon for Busy Women by Laurette Willis

As we enter to into a new season this will be our last featured article in our summer series from guest bloggers. Let’s welcome back Laurette Willis from Praise Moves


"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" Deuteronomy 30:19

"Choose Life" = Spiritual Shorthand for the Busy Christian

What's one of the quickest ways to experience positive change in our lives? Choose life. How about for weight management, fitness and vibrant health? Yes, the "choose life" decision can be made in a minute and lived moment-by-moment one day at-a-time. Choose life.

How can a scripture and spiritual directive to "choose life" assist us in our goals to be fit witnesses spiritually and physically? As busy people, we need some practical, proactive tools we can use at a moment's notice to help us handle decisions, challenges and temptations.

I have found these two simple, yet startlingly powerful words have kept me from falling prey to sudden urges for "just one" (bite, cookie, candy bar, soda, binge or foray into Debtsville). You may be different, but for me "just one" rarely ends with just one.

Whenever I simply stop and say to myself, "I choose life," my spirit (the real me) rises up with strength to overcome the flesh and I'm suddenly able to say "No" to the temptation.

These two potent little words from scripture can also help us get moving when our flesh wants to "veg out" in front of the television or skip the fitness break we've committed to taking that day.

"I choose life," I'd say as I laced my running shoes and headed for the door or mini-trampoline.

"Choose life," I'd say to myself when I wanted to pout and "punish" my husband for hurting my feelings instead of forgiving him. Choosing to follow those two little words would often turn the whole situation around.

What IS "Life"?

Jesus said His words are life.

"The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life," He said in John 6:63.

Is "choose life" some sort of "magic incantation" or "lucky charm"? No, certainly not! Both magic and luck are part of the enemy's bag of tricks. When you have the blessing and favor of God through your relationship with Jesus Christ, you want nothing to do with capricious fortune, magic or luck. God's promises are based on truth, not happenstance.

When you meditate on and speak God's words, you are being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). As your mind is renewed on the Word of God, you will be transformed, and part of that transformation process relates to the choices and decisions you make.

We are presented with hundreds, even thousands of choices every day which affect the health and fitness of our spirit, soul and body. How well I know the cry of the flesh, "I want it and I want it NOW!" I had to have my favorite snack, drink, a second helping--my "fix." Like a child, I thought only of the desire of the present moment and wanted to have my way. Let the grown-ups deal with the consequences. It didn't matter how strong my will power had been or how solid I thought my commitment was, my flesh would scream and I'd cave in like a startled soufflé.

"Choose life." Again and again those words would come to me. I'd be faced with a temptation to forgo my food plan for the day, or neglect the exercise I'd purposed to do and the words would come to me: "Choose life." I'd want to blow off a commitment I'd made, or stay in bed instead of getting up early to invest in my relationship with the Lord, and the words would come to me, "Choose life."

A third-party report (i.e. gossip) would come to me and I'd want to share the "news" -- then I'd hear the words in my heart, "Choose life" calling me to make a godly choice.

To choose life is to choose God's way of doing things. Can we override the gentle nudge of the Spirit of God bringing His Word to our remembrance? Yes. The Lord's still, small voice doesn't come with a two-by-four to enforce compliance. While we may try "reasoning" or bargaining with the Lord, the more time we invest in reading, meditating and speaking His Word, the more we will want to heed His gentle reminder to "Choose LIFE" -- it IS the secret weapon for the Busy Christian.

(Adapted from The Busy Woman's Guide to Total Fitness by Laurette Willis, Harvest House Publishers) available at www.PraiseMoves.com.

And now I'd like to invite you to get my free "Fit Favorites Devotional" and PraiseMoves FitNews. To get yours, go to http://praisemoves.com.
Laurette Willis ©2009

Christian Fitness Expert and author Laurette Willis is the Director of PraiseMoves® Fitness Ministry, offering fitness programs, DVDs, books and instructor training for those interested in a Christian ALTERNATIVE to yoga, plus fitness for spirit, soul and body at http://praisemoves.com . To follow Laurette on Twitter, please visit http://twitter.com/Fit4Christ, and Facebook at http://facebook.com/people/Laurette-Willis/661158603