[T]his past week I wrapped up my Learning How to Squat Series over on Truly Fit T.V. It’s my passion to teach technique and good form to women and to help ease some of the fear and stigma that’s associated with lifting weights. Especially heavy ones. So for the past three weeks I’ve been showing drills and modifications for the squat and dissecting each movement and as is typical fashion, God showed me some parallels in the squat that apply to our spiritual lives. He is so cool!
He made us body, soul and spirit for a reason. Those three parts of us are interconnected and learning how to bring all three into alignment to become a truly fit warrior princess of God is the whole premise behind all of my training programs. In everything that we do we have to be aware of how these three parts of us interact and what we are letting lead. We have to be aware of which part really needs training, healing, and rest.
So anyways, back to what he showed me about squatting. There’s a technique that happens during a back squat called bouncing out of the bottom or “confidence in the bottom”. If you watched the videos you will see what I mean. It’s where we DON’T slowly lower ourselves down because the weight on our backs is heavy. Instead, we rapidly descend with the weight having confidence with how we will feel in the bottom of the squat (no matter how heavy) and then use all the power we’ve created to drive the weight up and then safely back on the rack. But what I see more times than not and have been guilty of myself, is SLOWLY squatting down and babying the weight on my shoulders. No momentum is created, thus no power is generated. This happens when you fear the weight that’s been placed on your back so we squat timidly with no confidence. The result is usually a bail out and a mental block is created about the next lift. Or lifting ANYTHING heavy in general.
The same thing happens to us spiritually.
You must not fear the weight that’s been placed on your back. Be it a calling, a problem, a crisis, a relationship, a ministry, a decision, a loss, a success, a responsibility. It’s been placed there for a reason. You can either squat that spiritual weight timidly and baby yourself every step of the way or you can team up with the power of the Holy Spirit and rock some God confidence on the way down. It’s going to feel heavy either way, so get over that. It’s not about the weight being heavy but how you handle it. Especially in the bottom. That’s where you will need power the most to rise back up.
Remember, what goes down must eventually come back up….Eventually. There may be some training and disciplined involved before you are able to lift the amount of weight again but you will and can lift it….eventually. You see, building strength is a process both physically and spiritually.
If you move in fear and timidity, second guessing and teeter tottering over every move you will not create momentum. Where there is no momentum there is no power. Having confidence in the bottom of spiritual valleys is crucial to rising out of them.
It’s not about confidence in your own strength but the strength HE is daily supplying you with. The weight may be the heaviest thing you have ever had on your back. Embrace it. Squat it boldly and righteously. Proverbs says that the righteous are as bold as a lion. Be bold. For in HIM you have been made righteous. Valleys come only to teach us confidence in the bottom of them and make us stronger. Rise Up.
In HIS strength,
Lindsey Nadler
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