Live It Articles Get it in Gear! God Can't Drive a Parked Car

When I travel, I often find that I must drive a rental car. Rental car companies rent clean cars in tip-top working order. While I am renting it, I am responsible to take care of it, put gas in it, mileage on the odometer and return the car in the same pristine condition it was in when I rented it, or pay for the damages. How foolish it would be for me to rent the car, park it and not drive it, while I was paying my hard earned money to rent it.

I like to think of my body as a rental car the Lord let me use to move around in on this earth. I need to take care of it, put the right fuel into it, and keep my rental body in good condition. Some of us have the rental body in park, and God can't drive a parked car. The Lord needs us to get it in gear and be moving around for the Kingdom. In which gear are you spending the most time? Some of us are in park; we don't move much at all. Some of us stay in reverse ; we can't go forward and stay on track. Some of us are in drive , but we are in low gear. We can't get moving fast. Then there are some that are in full throttle drive . Be heart smart! Start moving!

Jeremiah 12:5 If you have run with the footman and they have wearied thee how can thou contend with the horses. The Lord gave me this verse of scripture the third week I was in First Place. I lost 12 pounds the first two weeks of the program. Even though I had done everything right, I gained four pounds the third week. I was ready to throw in the towel. This was too hard and it didn't work. The Father popped me on the hand with this scripture. He told me that I was just getting started, and if I couldn't take it on this end while I was still a large woman, then I really would not be able to take it on the other end when I got to maintenance. He asked me if I wanted to be able to run with the horses? I said, "Yes, Lord." Then He said, "You have to get it in gear." Move every day; stand rather than sit, and move more today than you did yesterday.  God can't drive a parked car.

These are some things I began to do in my daily life to drive, rather than sit.

    * Go inside the restaurant and dine, rather than drive through and eat.
    * Carry a few bags from the store, rather than use the cart.
    * Pick up and hug a child at least three times a week.
    * Labor with your hands as you can.
    * Throw a ball or a Frisbee.
    * Do something you did when you were a child. Cut out paper dolls, twirl a hula hoop or play Twister with your kids or grandchildren.
    * Do something you have to sit on the floor to do.
    * Walk around your neighborhood and talk to your neighbors.
    * Turn off the television and get a life outside the tube.

What shape is your body in today? Which gear do you find you stay in the most? What kind of car are you driving? Do you feel like a Jalopy or a Ferrari? Be heart smart! Get in gear, start moving, and that Jalopy body will turn in to a Ferrari.

Acts 17:28 In Him we live and MOVE and have our being."

PRESS ON!

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer


Beverly Henson is a conference and rally speaker for the First Place ministry. She is also a Bible teacher and certified personal trainer. Beverly joined First Place in July 1997 and has lost 147-1/2 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is a First Place leader and Bible teacher at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.