By Coki Cruz
Hey everyone! Thanks for joining in and reading another input to my blog with Faith & Fitness Magazine. It’s been some time and I know you’re wondering: so Coki, what’s next?
PURPOSE
What is my purpose? This is a question I find asking myself a lot lately. Who else goes through periods of life where you question God’s purpose for you? I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t happen frequently to me. I could go on about my expectations of how this life was supposed to have gone according to my will, but God has this funny way of imposing His will on His children to help them lead the life He’s called them to live. #ThanksHolySpirit
Don’t get me wrong, I know that the purpose of the Christian life is for God to be glorified and the gospel to be preached. However, the method in which that’s done is different for each person. If you don’t know anything about spiritual gifts, they are manifestations of the Holy Spirit or gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit after coming unto salvation and being born again. My top five have been faith, prophecy, teaching, exhortation and discernment. Ever since I took this exam four years ago I’ve wondered what it’s meant for me. To some degree I see it in the work I (want to) do for my company Fit4HisArmy: be a light against the misinformation plaguing the health/wellness community; teach coaches and the general public about exercise science and nutrition; and encourage/lead others in Christ and to Christ.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM ME?
A couple weeks ago I was up all night, restless from too much caffeine earlier in the day, crying out to God with questions like: Is Fit4HisArmy what You want me to do? Is it what You want me to pursue? What should I be focusing on? What about weightlifting, what do you want from me there? At the end of it all, when I was done questioning, this prayer came to mind:
Help conform me to Your Will. Let Your Will be done.
Before long, that was what I kept reiterating. But can I be real, can I be candid for a second? I’m scared. I’m scared of the unknown. I’m scared that I won’t be successful. I’m scared that I’m pursuing something that God doesn’t want from me. I am beginning to understand a similar fear that Moses had when he declared to God:
“And he said to Him, “If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”
Even more, I’m scared that in asking God for this to be done, He’s faithful to respond. He’s faithful to put us in a position of discomfort. He’s faithful in this because He wants us to rely on Him.
OH, HOW HE RESPONDED
Without revealing too much, God has recently put me in a position where I have no other choice but to pursue Him and trust in Him more through the development of Fit4HisArmy. It’s incredibly scary. I feel like the disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee while it was storming and Jesus is there sleeping peacefully. Sure, I know He’s with me- He’s always with me– but this storm is all around me.
Recently, after some prayer time with my wife I realized I’ve been focusing too much on the storm and not enough on Him. What a reality check! While I can’t control this storm that I’m in, I can certainly control how I respond to it.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because [the waves] were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.
Your turn! What’s something going on in your life where God is trying to push you out of your comfort zone? How are you responding?
Tell me in the comment section below.
Certified STRONG!
This is truly a turning point in my life. I’ve pushed being baptized back and back because I was afraid of the commitment that followed. I was afraid of the responsibilities that lay ahead of me. But I’m not anymore. I’m excited as to where God will take me next.
-Posted on my Instagram (March 2014)
