GODliness - Part #3

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Scriptural Reference:

1 Timothy 4:7,8 KJV "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." "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."

Philippians 3:12 KJV "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ."

2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; "And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; "And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

Pray.

Love.

Trust.

Believe.

Forgive.

Worship.

Rejoice.

(repeat)

 

Pray.

Love.

Trust.

Believe.

Forgive.

Worship.

Rejoice.

 

Do this: Pray, love, trust, believe, forgive, worship, and rejoice.

Then do this: Pray, love, trust, believe, forgive, worship, and rejoice, again, and again.

As I am each day practicing Christian Disciplines of living a life of prayerfulness, consistently loving, active trust, faithful belief, forgiving offenses, and deliberately worshipping while rejoicing in JESUS for who HE is and not exclusively for what HE does, I find I have a deepening peace settling in my inner heart-mind life. I rejoice because the living WORD of GOD repeatedly brings me into focus on CHRIST, and moving away from my self, my flesh (my inner foe), and purposely pursuing JESUS for HIMSELF alone.

This season of my life I am being deliberate about what I eat, what I think, hear, see, say, and how I spend my time each day. This comprehensive regimen is meant to focus my life and time on building better soul-body-health. The other benefit of improved physical-health is that I am purposely offering my body to JESUS, anticipating that a well body will allow me to serve HIM fully with vigor and joy.

The accompanying peace within is a source of encouragement that echoes back to me that these disciplines and life choices are not pious practices, or mindless exercises done by rote. I deliberately adopt a heart of gratitude and a posture of worship. I am engaging in purposeful surrender of my soul-body life in a congruent celebration of grace to become a GOD honoring instrument for heaven's earthly purpose in time.

As a person who has endured repeated battles with an eating disorder, rapid weight gain, slow weight loss, and imbalances of body image throughout my early development and adult life, I am required to diligently examine my relationship with food, and the consequences of these imbalances when they occur. I might be the only person I know who seems to gain weight just thinking about pizza and chocolate ice cream.

These days, due to allergies and intolerance, I am happily recovering, and learning to overcome impulses that provoke poor food choices that, if heeded, will create havoc in my body. I am learning, instead, to choose to maintain the internal peace my body prefers by adhering to a mild and far less exciting food regimen.

I am certain there are issues and circumstances in your life that you face that are not easily addressed by tweaking your diet, or setting your alarm 30 minutes early to more easily incorporate morning prayer. I do not think there is a 'one-size fits all' because we are not exactly alike.

What I hope is that these thoughts introduce the idea that our lives of GODliness are not relegated to the sanctuary where we attend gatherings on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Nor is it as simple as adopting some outward show of piety during Lent or in preparation of Advent. I am thinking of the radical dismantling of the inner workings of the flesh that erode faith and cause the heart to think that actions and heart contemplation are two separate things.

When we allow the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD to govern our inner thoughts, unspoken ideologies, and incorrect ideas about who GOD is, where GOD is, and what GOD cares about we will begin the most earnest work of true biblical GODliness. Please believe that our Heavenly Father is not in a galaxy, countless light years, far, far, far away from us gazing at us with angry or malicious eyes because we can't meet HIS standard of holiness or GODliness.

The LORD GOD of all heaven an earth is nigh (near) to those who believe and trust in HIM through JESUS. Our FATHER is present and close enough to hear our whispered prayer and sigh. HE is present, in love, grace and power to transform us from the inside out.

 

Pray.

Love.

Trust.

Believe.

Forgive.

Worship.

Rejoice.

 

(repeat)

Pray.

Love.

Trust.

Believe.

Forgive.

Worship.

Rejoice.

 

Start where you are, by faith, in love.

 

Feel free to shine,


OneLight

 

© 2026 M Del Publishing

No part of this post may be used without expressed written permission. All rights reserved. All content of OneLight is the sole property of the author.


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