Live It Articles I AM ABLE!

Numbers 13:30 (KJV) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Have you ever hit a snag in your workout or your diet, feeling as if it was all hopeless? Are you having “why do I even t ry" days? Do you feel very unappreciated and discontented with where you are in your diet and exercise program? Does your heart feel boxed up? The enemy would love for you to fall into the "Why do I even try " trap. If you listen to yourself say that often enough you will stop trying. My advice to you is this, Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

By way of personal testimony and to glorify the work of the Lord, I will tell you how to use God’s word and Scripture memory to pump up your workout. Scripture memory will change your “why try” attitude into an “I will try” attitude.

The latter part of 2004, and the first half of 2005, I suffered injury after injury and health problem after health problem. I had a major setback in my workout regimen, and because of pain in my feet, I suffered from what I called “foot anxieties.” I was so afraid my feet would begin hurting that I slowed down and held back on my workouts. My fitness level went to half of what it had been and I began to see weight gain, which freaked me out. I desired so much to get back into my workout full throttle, but my fear of pain kept me from going there. My foot doctor dealt with the Plantar Facitis and the heel spurs. He put some wonderful inserts in my shoes and told me to get back into my workout regimen. I knew all was well, but I still had a fear the pain would return.

In June of this year, to get myself back on track I took a drastic measure and registered to run the Houston Marathon in January 2006. I adopted a training schedule and began training the latter part of June. The three mile runs during the week were not a problem; it was the long runs on the weekend that sent me into foot anxiety. I would run, but not with all I had, because I was anticipating pain. The enemy was using the fear of pain to hold me back. There was no pain, but I was waiting for it start.

On Sunday, my pastor was preaching from the book of Numbers about the good and bad report the spies brought to the Hebrews when they returned from the Promise Land. I replayed his sermon points in my mind, and began to quote the Scripture I gave you at the beginning of this article: “I am well able.” “I am well able.” “I am well able.” The more I quoted this scripture the stronger I felt. I began to feel the life came back to my steps. The steps that used to bring me pain became steps of authority. I finished my seven mile run with no pain that day saying, “I am able.” Each day before my workout I thank the Lord that “I am well able” to do this. Scripture memory can pump up a slumping workout into a “can do” session.

I am a goal oriented person. While I was injured and lived with the fear of pain, I stopped setting goals fearing that I couldn’t meet the goal. Today, I am setting goals for next year. Here is how I am doing it!

• Houston Marathon – I AM WELL ABLE
• Nashville Century (100 mile) Bike ride - I AM WELL ABLE
• Run Through History 10K with huge hill climbs – I AM WELL ABLE
• Marine Corp Marathon, Washington DC - I AM WELL ABLE
• If you have developed a “can’t do - why do I even try” attitude. STOP IT!

The way you stop it is by replacing the enemy’s mind tactics with God’s Words in your mind, soul, and spirit. Remember this, “Success will find a way…   failure will find an excuse!” You are well able to accomplish and be successful. Don’t allow that voice in your head to talk you out of it. Replace that negative voice with Scripture memory. It will pump up your life.

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 160 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is the First Place Director and the Director of Wellness Ministries at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, MS. She is also an area Networking Leader for First Place in Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.