Have you ever noticed how comfortable doing nothing is? Even more…how the desire to remain comfortable is addictive? Usually, it’s our secret self-talk that creates stupid habits.

I knew I should do something, but I didn’t. Frankly, I didn’t want to…I didn’t want to change. For some time, I recognized I was losing strength in my legs & hips. I noticed my balance was worse…but I told myself It’s not too bad…I’ll just be more careful. I knew the solution but chose to do nothing.

This strategy worked until 3 weeks ago. While talking with my buddies, I turned to walk over another friend across the room. That’s when I began to fall & fall…for some 6 to 8 feet. Too bad no one was recording because it would have been a funny YouTube hit. I ended up laying across several chairs in the room…bruised but unbroken. Then a week later I found myself kissing the concrete at a convenience store parking lot. More bruises, blood dripping out of my nose but nothing broke. As I lay there, looking into Mary’s crying eyes, I knew my strategy was not working.

So here I am back in therapy…the uncomfortable place…where I knew all along, I needed to be. The morning starts with pedaling the stationary bike for 10 minutes. The same type of bike I have at home with dust & clothes on it. If only I had not been so convincing with my “self-talk.” The next exercise was the simple foot exercises (the one in the picture). The instructions were, “Pick your right foot up pass over the other side of the cone & back with both feet for 30 times for each foot.” I thought to myself, “What good will this do? This is too easy.”

As I sat there picking my feet up & over, I thought, “This is exactly the self-talk we go through each morning before starting our day. We roll out the door focused on the “Big-Dog-Deals” while neglecting the most significant…time with Him.”

Like therapy, it’s the basics of prayer, reading & pondering God’s Word wrapped up in more prayer. That’s the home exercise we must establish to remain healthy. I have learned from the success of previous therapy; it’s the repetition & sequence of specific simple task + an encouraging therapist that gets results. Simply put, we need that coach, that special person to encourage us…to block the comfort “self-talk.” After all the stationary bike I have at home with dust on it can be like the dusty Bible. Ouch!

I have recognized the parallels of therapy to developing a healthy relationship with Him…our Creator. Both should contain individual development time (prayer & study/reflection) + (group discussion & accountability) = Fellowship with the Father & people. Do you remember the Jewish leader who asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Here are a couple of home exercise from God’s textbook:

Prayer:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

Individual Bible Study:

“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.” Psalm 119:15

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16

Fellowship:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,” Colossians 2:2

Are you tired of kissing the ground? Then get into a relationship with the Father. There are many good Bible study programs but the one I have been part of for over 20 years is Bible Study Fellowship. It’s an international, non-denominational, Bible-only-study for Men, women & children that can be done In-Person or On-Line. I have witnessed God strengthen & develop hundreds of men through an hour-long-Bible-only-habit-forming-fellowship. It begins at home each day with weekly discussions of scripture, a lecture & scholarly notes focused on the weekly passages. Check it out at https://www.bsfinternational.org/.

Who knows…you just might develop healthy Spiritual habits that bring balance & strength into your life. What have you got to lose?