I do enjoy running, but one of the things that I have never liked doing when it comes to working out was lifting weights.  One of my favorite lines about lifting weights came from a friend of mine, “I’d lift them if they weren’t so heavy.”

But one of the things I hear that is important about lifting weights is that it works on your core, those muscles in the center of the body, in the abdominal area.  They control much of the body and help many different parts of our lives.

If you have a strong core, lots of other things will fall into place.  I thought about that when I read Ephesians 3: 14-17 this morning:

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.

It says today that we may be strengthened in our inner being, with power. And that we may be rooted and grounded in life.  That we may have power through the Holy Spirit.  That Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.

In other words, we should make sure that our core is set in Christ Jesus.  He is the center of it all, He is the core. And all things trace themselves back to Him.  He is the center of the universe and the center of our lives.

And as we are strengthened in Him, daily, we will find ourselves living out His life, His purpose, and His love.  But our ability to love, serve, and be faithful, they aren’t just acts of the will in our lives, they are actions that come from a strong core.

They are actions that come from being rooted in Christ.

Today, work on your core.  Walk close to Him.  Chase after Him.  Love Him. And as you do that, see what happens.  See the way that it changes your walk and your actions towards others.

Today, may we be grounded deep in the love of Christ.  Today may we work on our core.

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