Stay at Home Mom

At 4:30 this morning, I was up. No rhyme or reason, just up. So I decided to do something I hadn’t done in a long time, yoga. Yes, girl, I was up before the sun, stretching in ways my postpartum body was not accustomed to. The best thing, my daughter didn’t wake up in the middle of my workout. Peaceful stretching for the win! If you are interested in the workout I did this morning, here is the link to the video:

One aspect I love about the YouTuber I follow is her idea of setting an intention for the day. The first word that echoed in my mind was intentional. Now anyone else would think that this was just building off of what my yoga instructor had said, but I can say with confidence that is not true. In the past, my intentions have been peaceful, productive, or joyful. Today, it is intentional.

Of course, I had to do research on scriptures on intentional living. I just had a feeling I needed to share this with you. I enjoyed reading this: http://34.212.235.124/scriptures-ntentional-living/

All of the scriptures were great, but Paul’s words to his spiritual son, Timothy, stood out the most to me.

1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

I have read so much of the Bible since elementary school, but I never took the time to read Paul’s letters to Timothy. I know that these letters were written with the intention to encourage and give advice, but I never studied them for myself.

I don’t believe Paul was telling Timothy not to exercise, but to not put so much into exercising that he misses out on a connection with God. Honestly, I would love to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy, but exercising my body shouldn’t get in the way of my relationship with God. I know the time I spent doing yoga this morning was valuable because my body responded well to the different stretches. However, my time spent reading God’s word was invaluable, because, for the first time in forever, I am writing to you, my spiritual sisters.

Here’s my advice to you:

Don’t get caught up in what the scale says. Be healthy. Yes, exercise. Yes, take care of yourself. Don’t allow it to rule every action or thought in your day. 2 Corinthians 4:18 states that only what we do for Christ will last.

I may never have the perfect beach body, but I want to be spiritually fit for this journey I am on. I am ready to inspire and encourage you just like Paul did with Timothy and many others. I’m not doing it for the fame of man, but I’m doing this because His love for you is so much that it has overflowed into my heart. That same love is why I have been up for the last hour writing this post for you. Trust me when I say I’m not up this early every morning. God intended for me to write to you, and I intend to live the life God called me to.

Sincerely Your Sister,

JJJ.