Dear Family and Friends,

I started walking for exercise again. After a very long break, for which I can recite a number of excuses, it feels great. And gosh, a lot has changed. Our neighbors’ homes have grown larger, as did my waistline.

Getting back into walking has taught me several lessons. Like, at my age, exercise has become – no gain, just pain.

In all seriousness, what’s become obvious is how quickly we forget to do what’s good for us. And how easily we put off til tomorrow what we should do today.

This is so true of our physical health. And unfortunately this is also true of our spiritual health.

Aileen was just reminiscing of the many hours we spent at church, fellowshipping with our small group, attending midweek service, events and gatherings. Our lives revolved around the church.

For many of us, activities like these served as reminders to walk daily with Jesus.

And then there came the Great Disruption called Covid.

Which was closely followed by the Great Inertia.

The dictionary defines inertia as the tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.

If you’re like most of us who now spend less time and effort walking with our Lord, please don’t feel guilty. It’s human nature.

And God, knowing it can happen to all of us, gave us ways to remember Him and His goodness.

After asking Joshua to build a memorial of twelve stones, God explained, “That this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” ‭Joshua‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ESV

Jesus gave us a reminder, “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:19-20‬ ESV

God even set a reminder for Himself telling Noah, “When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9:14-15‬ ESV

Allow me to share how inertia is defined in physics. A property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force.

Allow me to be our gentle external force today.

I realize we all have busy lives, but let me remind us that walking periodically or haphazardly is not healthy.

Walking daily with Jesus is not only healthy, it has immeasurable benefits. And regardless of whether we just started our walk or have been trekking for years, Jesus asks that we carry our cross daily, which by the way is for our good, not His. See Luke 9:23.

I recognize that some of us have established routines like starting the day with reading the Bible and doing devotions. If this is you, keep it up! 

But for the rest of us, perhaps setting markers, something to help us remember, could help. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Remember God knows this is our nature. He is in a battle for our soul and is well aware that our flesh desires we just sit, snack and be happy. 

If you’ve been in traditional homes in Japan you know that many have an alter or shrine used for daily ancestor worship.

We’ve even visited homes that have pictures of family ancestors hung at an angle where the wall meets the ceiling. They cannot help but remember those who came before.

Now as for us, I do not suggest hanging a picture of Jesus up near the ceiling. Nor do I suggest piling stones in our homes.

But having some sort of marker or reminder may help those of us who need that little extra help to, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:9‬ ESV

The marker could be a message to self on a computer home screen. Or it could be on a post it note on the mirror. Or if you’re truly serious, a pile of rocks near the front door.

Dear friends, the reason for this rather simple message is this: It’s time we get back into a spiritually healthy lifestyle.

Let’s break through any inertia that may be holding us down. Let’s set markers and make these words ours, 

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭77:11‬ ESV

In love always,