So many times I wanted to stop, to quit, to be DONE! The Spartan race (specifically "The BEAST") was over 14 miles long. My group consisted of: Athletes, competitive old school men, and some young bucks. Keep pushing! Let's Go! We got this! Did we finish the race? Come on...of course we finished. We're not WEAK! We're men. That's how we sound more times than not.
That's me on the left. That looks says quite a bit.
With Community come Accountability
Let's talk about the value of having these two perks within the Fitness realm initailly (That's probably how you found me). If you see the benefits in fitness and health, just wait to see what it can do in the other areas of your life.
Community can be defined like this: A group of people with something in common, a similar goal, or working together. Community is often an important source of social connection and provides a sense of belonging.
Accountability Partner: someone who supports another person to keep a commitment or maintain forward progress on a desired goal. Someone who pulls you along when you're tired or discouraged, down and out.
We all want to be better, to do better, maybe to look better, definitely to FEEL better. Some of us absolutely enjoy a hard workout, others find it difficult to get started or to keep going. Some of us thrive when faced with a challenge, others may be intimidated or uneasy. It doesn't matter which one you may be or how you're wired. God designed you, and He gives us a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
The goal for us all should be just to take a next step, to make a little progress each day. Though in our 20's we most likely believed it is always about being the best. It's NOT! It's about being better than we were.
When you have a partner if your fitness and nutrition journey, (whether that be your wife, a friend, a bro, a co-worker, a friend from church), WHOEVER, it's easier to have a partner. Just like in the Spartan race, someone to encourage, to motivate, to inspire, to pull you along when necessary.
Small Groups in Church and Community
I have a great friend who is always saying, "We are not meant to do life alone". Why would he think that? We look at the life of Jesus and we see He even had a circle of people. He had a circle of 12 and an inner circle of 3. If Jesus lived that way, isn't it automatically great advice. Hmmm.
Accountability and Community Inside the Church
The two may not be found on a Sunday morning. Sunday mornings are usually directed to the entire flock. It can be difficult to get 1-on-1 counseling or advice. We have something at our church called Small Groups. We meet bi-weekly. Mine specifically consists of between 3-12 men (depending on how hard life if hitting at the time)
This group of men is genuinely committed to each other. We know each other. We know each other's struggles, we know our strong points, weak points, and our messes. Obviously out of context and with random people telling people all our problems, business, and airing our dirty laundry is not the best idea. That's whats different. We're not strangers. It's not random. We are a community, a brotherhood, committed to helping each other through all the battles of life. We go through the storm. Not only do we go through it, we come out stronger and better on the other side. We are not meant to do life alone.
Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another
Yes, I know... I know. Is this cliche? Yes. Is it still good? Yes. Does it apply here? Absolutely.
Can we agree that for the most part that all of us men are slightly/extremely stubborn? Have you ever worked with iron? It takes WORK, TIME, EFFORT to change iron.
Let's end on this note: Men are LIKE iron.
It's safe to say if you're reading this, we're in the same boat. I have a relentless drive to be better. That would be dangerous if I wanted to be better for own aspirations and selfish desires. God has placed me as the head of my home. He created me to lead those in my realm, IN LOVE!. I have an amazing wife and 4 beautiful daughters. They deserve better than I am. It is my privilege and responsibility to protect them, serve them, love them, guide them, and so much more.
If I just admitted they deserve "Better than I AM" (currently). What am I going to do about it?
I am going to RISE UP and answer the call on my life. If God called me to it, then He will equip me for it. He has already given me the tools I need to be the man He created me to be
Plan of Action:
Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit
Allow God's word to transform me
Be involved in a community of like-minded men
Put trusted accountability partners in my life
Use community and accountability to ensure constant growth
Have accountability to Never Give Up
Rise. Pray. Train.
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