Stretching Season

Many fitness experts would suggest that stretching is good for overall health. In fact, they would suggest we stretch everyday 2x a day. They would also tell us some facts like “ stretching decreases stress”, reduces pain and stiffness; improves overall health; enhances our range of motion, and lowers risk of injury. The same way stretching can help us in our physical lives, it can also help us in our spiritual lives.

“The same way stretching can help us in our physical lives, it can also help us in our spiritual lives. ”

Spiritually we are called to “stretch” ourselves or in other words, grow in our knowledge, our love for God and our love for others. 2 Peter 1:5-8, says “ 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. For me, it doesn’t matter whether I’ve stretched before or after my workout, it still hurts to stretch. That goes for me physically and spiritually; neither of them are comfortable. Even though they are uncomfortable, I find that I do feel a lot better and relaxed. Afterwards, it makes me wonder why I ever thought about and still try to skip this process.

Throughout our lives, God requires us to stretch too. To move beyond are limits; beyond our thinking and, beyond what we see. In doing so, it causes us to complain, breathe and sigh from how uncomfortable it may feel. Here’s some encouragement for God, says Matt. 11:30 “ For my

yoke is easy and my burden is light.” That alone can give us hope that however God is calling us to stretch, that it can be done with ease and with a promise of rest.

I’m not sure how God is asking you to stretch in this season. He might be calling us to stretch

out our arms to lend a helping hand, stretch our hearts to forgive, or stretch our funds to give. Let us hold onto the hope that in whatever way he is asking us to stretch it’ll not only be for His

glory but our growth. Sooner we'll see that we have everything we need to live and sustain a

godly life. Vs. 8 states that, “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you

will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The more we say yes to God and stretch, we can also spiritually increase our overall spiritual

health, decrease stress, improve our daily walk, increase our range for others, and lower our risk of falling into sin. The first step is simply on us. Jesus has already stretched out his hands on the cross for us and is continuously stretching out his hand so that we can walk daily with him. If we stretch out our hands, he will stretch back out his grace and mercy so that we can begin to stretch for others.

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Dear God, give us the heart and courage to let our answer to you always be a Yes. That

we might stretch and add to our spiritual lives not only for our gain, but for your Glory and

furtherance of your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen!