Psalm 37:4-5, 7 has given me comfort and direction in this area. We are instructed to first delight in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our hearts. In the next two verses, however, we are told to commit everything to the Lord and to be still in His presence and wait patiently for Him to act. I know those usually aren't words that guys like to hear. We're used to making things happen.

 

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's workmanship created for good works that God prepared beforehand. The work has already been prepared; all we need to do is just take the first step and the next one after that. We're not walking in the uncharted territory that we believe we are.

 

Do not fall into the world's trap that anything exterior makes you who you are.

Every birthday I am reminded of my absolute favorite verse, 1 Samuel 16:7: "'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart'" (NIV). Guys, when all is said and done, who is really the One we should be comparing ourselves to? You got it.

 

It could get quite depressing if we keep comparing ourselves to earlier times in our lives. I remember the days when I could eat whatever I wanted and had to bend forward just to be able to pinch a quarter-inch. Fast forward to 31, and though I'm in good shape, I don't have to bend forward anymore. I can easily find those love handles we all get.

 

Stop comparing yourself to the images in the culture and, yes, even your old self back in the day. We need to be set apart from the world in both our motivations and expectations for becoming healthy. We do this to honor God, not to conform to the culture.

 

Think about all the things you still can do. Oftentimes we can do the same activities we did in our youth, we just may not be as quick. But the upside is we usually have years of experience and wisdom on our side.

 

Don't check yourself out of participating. Join that softball or bowling league. I'm currently getting back into playing in a baseball league, and it feels amazing just to be able to play again.

 

Most importantly, keep eternity in mind. We all know that in heaven we're going to receive our perfected glorified bodies (see 2 Cor. 5:2, 4; Rom. 8:23). Our situation here is merely temporary.

 

Live each and every moment with eternity in mind.

 

By Dino Nowak, whose training credentials include the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. His book, The Final Makeover (Siloam), is available at strangdirect.com. Visit him online at espfitness.com.