Some theologians refer to this title as the Mighty Warrior.  I love that imagery, directly following Wonderful Counselor.  Our Lord Jesus cares deeply about us just as much as He fights mightily for us!  He is our Rescuer and our Redeemer.  He’s strong and powerful and victorious over death!  Don’t let His humble birth and childhood skew His heavenly reign.  The song Marching On by Rend Collective is a favorite in Holy Barre. ‘The battle belongs to the Lord and no one else. We’ll sign hallelujah for all hell to hear. Shout out Hosanna above every fear. Strongholds will crumble like castles of sand. We are marching on. We’re marching on!’

It’s important to note that while we visually see a Mighty Warrior God and even grasp some tangible nature to His power, our Lord looks at the heart. So when we talk about strength and might and power, we’re not referring to bulging biceps and chiseled abs. Nor is this workout’s goal to help you develop your own physique. ‘For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.’ (I Tim 4:8)

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians beautifully and boldly states the power and might of our God through Christ!  Read through this powerful passage, absorbing the truth in your own soul while also using it as a weapon to fight for others! Friends, we serve and love and worship as Mighty Mighty God!  He’s drawing near as our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and any other form of power you need!

Scripture: I Samual 16:7, I Timothy 4:8, Ephesians 3:14-21

Here’s a worship-filled workout celebrating and honoring our Mighty God!

This week we celebrated the amazing milestone of YouVersion (the Bible app) reaching 500,000,000 installs! Rather than attempting to articulate the impact of this history-making, world-changing event, I encourage you to watch (or listen via podcast) to this message from Life Church. And also keep in mind that the Word is alive and active, so this milestone is just the beginning of the spread of Jesus and His love to the ends of the earth!

In addition, this past week’s focus in our Armor of God study was the helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit. I love how God doubled our emphasis on His Word by aligning our study with what He’s doing through YouVersion, and I encourage you to take time this week to join us for our 50-minute full-body workout! Just grab your light weights (and ball if you have one for the end).

As we celebrate His Word and its power, I want to remind us all, myself included, that it’s most alive in us when we not only read it but also meditate on it, pray along with its truth, and live it out each day. Maybe that’s why Paul closes the Armor of God description with a call to pray. Or why scripture states to pray without ceasing and to meditate on His word day and night. Join us for our upcoming YouVersion reading plan, When Women Pray, that begins Monday, November 15. While the Bible is alive, let’s make it alive in our hearts, bodies, and lives as well!

‘To meditate on His word’ just means to contemplate, process, ask, listen, pause, breath, etc. It doesn’t have to be fancy or formal. But rather than just reading His word to absorb the knowledge, as if studying for a class at school or a business meeting, let’s dive deeper. For you it may be praying as you read or reading more slowly or picking one word or phrase on which to focus or just pausing and listening or singing along. The Spirit is alive and active as well and longing to connect with you through His Word. Hence maybe why the Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit.

As you read, meditate, and pray, I invite you to move as well. Whether it’s moving your heart and lungs with deep, deep breathing or it’s moving your body through stretching or even a workout. Engaging your body ignites your mind and heart, resulting in a fiery movement deeper than just calories burned.

I invite you to move with me through this simple scripture flow of Psalms 51:10-12. Or the next time you’d like to go on a walk or run or hop on a bike or elliptical, listen to the Revelation Wellness podcast. And Holy Barre and Revelation Wellness workouts are always available for free as well!

The result of reading, meditating, praying, and moving is worship! And as Alisa Keeton says, worship brings wellness! Let’s continue to burn bright, better together!

This Monday, November 15, join Revelation Wellness for night of Prayer & Worship! Click here for all the details!

My son correlates the Thanksgiving holiday with giving away his toys. Part of me giggles each time he says it, but I also appreciate the relationship he’s learned about thankfulness and giving. I’m sure his association is tied to the memory of my having both children donate lots of toys and such over a Thanksgiving break. While my main motive was to clear out space for the abundance of items they’d be receiving from family for Christmas, I did pray their seeing the excess of toys in our home and learning how many kids only have a few would initiate a child-level sense of gratitude. We also talk about how so much of this stuff doesn’t really matter or have value that lasts. Regardless, every Thanksgiving I now provide empty boxes and trash bags and ask my children to separate, sort, and release tons of toys. And it’s a time of thanks and giving.

In a recent Revelation Wellness podcast, Alisa Keeton challenged listeners to do the same thing. Yet instead of tangible stuff, she challenged us to take empty boxes and trash bags into our hearts and minds. Separate, sort, and release the items that fill our thought closets and feeling drawers and ultimately don’t have lasting value . . .

As we kick off a new month, which happens to contain Thanksgiving, let’s do some giving away (or even throwing away or maybe straight up burning at the altar) of worthless stuff that’s just taking up space. I’m not sure what junk that might be for you, but examples might be anxiety about holidays, feelings of not being enough, shame from past choices, worries about health issues, addictions to sugar or social media, obsessions with to-do lists, struggles in relationships, debates about masks or vaccines, desires to physically look a certain way . . . or maybe there’s too much ‘good’ stuff that it’s preventing any ‘great’ stuff from taking up space.

Let’s keep the Main thing the main thing. Let’s clean out our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds and fill them with everlasting truth of Who He is, Who we are, and Who He’s called us to be! As this month goes on, a simple soul check question is to ask yourself if what you’re currently thinking about will matter in 1,000 years. If the answer is ‘no’, take a deep breath, grab the trash bag, and throw the thought in! If the answer is yes, then keeping marching on and ask for His Spirit to help!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

When we breath out junk and breath in Jesus, we’re living equipped, empowered, engaged in the Armor of God. We are marching on as holy and victorious soldiers and moving forward in the powerful rhythms of His grace. We are armed and dangerous.

We are armed and dangerous in He alone. Ultimately, we stand firm in Jesus and are equipped by His Spirit. This month we are studying the Armor of God. I invite you to check out this page and follow along on Instagram.

Don’t believe the lies, which lead to shame, that you need a new plan or a new diet or a new exercise calendar or a new method to bring control or comfort into your life. Believe the truth that you just need Jesus and His Spirit today. Invite Him into your thought closets and feeling drawers.

For November, we get to thank God and give love! In response, let’s keep marching on, removing anything that hinders us, and keeping our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls free and firm in Christ alone.

Last week in our fall Wellness Revelation Group, one member mentioned how she met a professional athlete who said, ‘My body is like a Ferrari. I’m going to treat it that way.’ We all chuckled at his analogy and arrogance but then started discussing the truth in his statement.

What if we viewed our bodies as fancy sports cars? Or whatever ‘dream vehicle’ you love?

In the Wellness Revelation, we talk about how food is fuel. Literally the fuel that allows us to love and live healthy, whole, and holy lives. Our culture and generational struggles have screwed up that view. But our Good God designed food to be delicious, high quality fuel for our bodies while He is the Living Water and Bread of Life for our souls.

If we viewed our bodies as a Ferrari, we’d probably have a heightened awareness as to proper maintenance. We’d regularly consult the manual. And ultimately we’d put our value in the Maker and our unique model. I bet you’d enjoy driving your Ferrari, taking it for a spin but also letting it rest.

While my original response to this analogy was one of ‘wow, that’s bold’, I realized the Lord views us as beautiful creations and masterpieces. Not much different than the Ferrari’s place in the car world.

So what’s your ideal car? Try to find a gif of it and send to a friend to hold you accountable. Mine is a Ford Mustang with all the flare! 🙂

Fast forward a couple days from that conversation, and I’m home with my son watching the movie Cars. And there’s a statement Sally makes to Lightning McQueen when they are out for a drive. She’s referring to the impact I-40 made to Route 66. As a born and raised Oklahoman, I’m very familiar with both highways as they run right through our great state. But what Sally said about the shift in culture stuck with me. I’m unsure of the exact quote, but the gist was people started caring more about making good time on I-40 rather than having a good time on Route 66.

So I challenge us all with two things:

Let’s start viewing and treating our bodies like fancy sports cars.

Rather than making good time, let’s have a good time.

Cars & holy barre

Apply these ideas to our daily lives, our view of meals, and to our approach to exercise.  Beyond that, let’s apply it to time with our family and friends, our work interactions, or to-do lists. I love the pic above with my son as he’s growing fast and such memories are precious. But I noticed later that there’s a pile of clean towels on the counter in the background. Because I chose to have a good time rather than make good time that afternoon. I’m sad to say I too often lean toward the later, but I’m trying to enjoy the ride, trusting my Maker, following the manual, and taking care of my ‘Ford Mustang’.

Join me . . . because life is a highway! 🙂

Ladies, let’s get fired up! Seriously!

As with every Holy Barre session, I hope your muscles burn, but I more deeply pray the Lord ignites a fire in your soul! As we burn bright, let’s do so in our God-given strength, power, and beauty, with a fierce passion for unity and freedom! Let’s love bigger and pray bolder. Let’s be intentional with our rest as well as our work as we move about our days graceful and grace-filled!

Like in Alicia Keys song, be a girl on fire. Stand firmly on holy ground and keep your head in the heavenly clouds! Burn bright, Friends!

Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

My heart is on fire, boiling over with passion. Bubbling up within me are these beautiful lyrics as a lovely poem to be sung for the King. Like a river bursting its banks, I’m overflowing with words, spilling out into this sacred story. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭45:1‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I’m writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you. For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control. 2 Tim 1:6-7 TPT

This week, our focus in Holy Barre is unity. During our one hour together on Thursday mornings, I’m often overwhelmed as I see a diverse group of women moving their bodies in unison as we work out together and worship our Lord. Within Holy Barre, I also know we have a variety of beliefs on all the ‘hot topics’ of this season. And frankly, I love that. And I love that we chose to look past our differences when necessary as well as celebrate our differences to bring Him glory! 

Because at the end of the day, we’re better together. We need relationships that encourage, support, AND challenge us. Unity requires such humility and selflessness that it’s a daily choice to pursue His love rather than our love of being right.

I pray the unity we experience through Holy Barre burns bright and spreads into the community around us.

I highly recommend listening to two things:

This podcast episode with Amy Groeschel! So so good!

This beautiful song by Grace Willis called Moses! Remind us, Lord!

Last week we celebrated two years of Holy Barre! We had such fun celebrating ALL God has done and is doing through this faith-filled fitness ministry! We truly are better together, burning bright as we worship and workout each week!

As I reflect back on the past two years of workouts, Bible reading plans, friendships, celebrations, struggles, laughter and answered prayers, I keep being drawn back to the word ‘holy’. And why Holy Barre is called ‘Holy Barre’.

The word ‘holy’ means sacred, set apart, dedicated to God. And while Holy Barre does provide a full-body barre workout, we pray that it is so much more than just that. That it’s a sacred time, set apart from our normal weekly routine, and truly dedicated to God. We pray that it’s a special time when you truly worship and connect with our Heavenly Father as you move your body in response.

Through Holy Barre, we worship and draw near to our Holy God. Using the term ‘holy’ to describe our God seems to just scratch the surface of all He is, but throughout scripture, ‘holy’ and ‘holiness’ are used in attempt to articulate (or scratch the surface of – ha!) His power, love, omnipotence, and goodness.

Our Holy God sent His Holy Son to die for us to give us His Holy Grace, spend eternity together in His Holy Kingdom and to call us holy even here on earth. Read that again. Talk about our being set apart and sacred. May we in response be dedicated to our Holy God.

Not only this, He gave us a helper in the Holy Spirit to guide us on this journey to holiness. Lord knows we need all the help we can get and as we abide in the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to live as a Holy People in our own strength.

As His Holy People, chosen and dearly loved, we get to love each other in holy response. We get to approach relationships through a holy perspective, knowing we are here for a purpose and encourage each other as members of His Holy Kingdom.

Our Holy God has put us here for such a time as this, a holy time with a holy purpose. Let’s view each moments and interaction through a holy lenses, acknowledging the spiritual warfare at work. We don’t battle again flesh and blood but the forces of dark and light.

As we battle and march on, we stand firm on holy ground. We take care of our holy temples, our bodies which wear the Armor of God. We honor and arm our holy temples, remaining engaged in and ready with the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word.

Oh, but, Lord, give us a holy humility. Forgive us for our ‘holier than thou’ thoughts and may we grab hold of Your holiness in true humility. May we interact, march, stand, love and serve with a heart of holy humility. Thank you, Holy God, that Your mercies are new every morning and we get to move in the rhythms of Your grace.

Holy Father, may we offer ourselves as a holy, living sacrifice. Thank You for being a Holy Fire, a consuming, sacred, loving fire. Ignite a holy fire in our souls through Holy Barre so we burn bright for you. We celebrate snd savor the ‘holy’. Thank you, Lord, for making us holy and whole in Your holy name.

May God Himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He’ll do it!

I Thes 5:23-24 MSG

Ya’ll, this is a heavy season. Whether its rising Covid cases, the continued mask and quarantine debate, heart-breaking world events, or just the normal pain and strife of life, we are all probably carrying weight around each day.

My natural tendency to be positive, bubbly, and excited about what’s ahead can too easily be impacted by the heaviness around me these days. Even last week as I was thrilled to see a full room of women worshipping and working out together at Holy Barre, my joy too quickly turned to hesitation as I realized it was a full room of women gathering while ICU beds across the country are filling. The weight of juggling it all is too much at times!

Our next Wellness Revelation group kicks off at Labor Day weekend. (click here if you’d like to learn more and join us!). This study was originally called ‘Lose What’s Weighing You Down.’ Because while we may want to lose some physical weight, our bodies are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s weighing us down! There’s so much more to it, which this study dives into, but my question now is ‘What’s weighing you down today?’

The harsh reality is there is value in ‘heaviness’. Let’s not avoid or ignore it. Let’s find the purpose. Weight gets our attention. Heavy weight causes our arm and heart muscles to burn. Heaviness disrupts comfort, stirs our hearts, and hopefully draws us closer to our King.

I advise you to be careful to not hold onto the sin too long and try to carry it around on your own. The enemy will quickly add the weight of his lies to the weight of your sin and create an even heavier burden of shame. Put down that sin and shame in surrender and pick up His grace and peace!

Sin and shame weigh us down. Holy grace lifts us up and strengthens us! And the beautiful resistance of all this weight lifting brings growth! So stand firm on His holy ground, hold His grace and peace high, and keep your eyes on Jesus!

Join me in this full-body flow . . . ‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ – Hebrews 4:16

So I typically try to steer away from controversial topics, but when I saw this valuable article on my daily Skimm, it got my attention. Probably just like the title of this post got your attention!

Before you read this summary on the Fat Stigma provided by the Skimm, bare with me as I dive a little deeper into this topic. Or read the linked article and come back here. Whatever your preference . . . Just while I’ve also verified that the experts quoted in this linked piece are the ‘real deal’, I REALLY want you to hear the Truth about our bodies as well.

Let me pose a few related questions:

1. In your life, have you ever felt there was a link between one’s percent body fat and one’s faithfulness? Or what about a link between your physical health and your holiness?
2. How often has self-control and discipline been a topic of study and thus a trigger for conviction and shame?
3. If body shame is not your deal, have you ever thought about your body pride?
4. Even though we know not to ‘judge a book by its cover’ and ‘Jesus looks at the heart’, does someone’s physical body influence your view of them? Maybe even results in you judging them unfairly?
5. Do you find yourself defining beauty and health based upon what you see on social media, shows, and magazine covers? Or deeper yet, can you say your conversations about beauty and health with other women are God-honoring?
6. Have you ever wondered what God thinks about our weight, clothing size, BMI, food habits, calories burned/consumed, fitness routines, etc? Or more importantly, how He views health and holiness?
7. Do you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?

In all honesty, I can answer YES to all of these questions! What about you?

I approach this topic in prayerful humility because I’m on His journey of health and holiness myself. I’ve struggled with shame and pride about my body. I’ve judged and have been judged. I’ve put too much value on fat percentage and less value on evidence of faithfulness. And I’m tired of pursuing the world’s view of health and beauty and just want to pursue our good and holy God. But it’s all a struggle!

I’d also like to note that while we women can REALLY relate with all this, I’m learning more and more how much men struggle with body image and the fat stigma as well. Yes, it’s not the same, but it’s there. I’ve recently seen push-up shirts for men. Yes, you read that right. And sadly, men also struggle with eating disorders and such as well. I just have to laugh as other guys give my hubby a hard time about his defined and large chest. Partly laughing because our kids ask why Daddy’s chest is bigger than Mommy’s, but mostly laughing because my husband’s physique is courtesy of genetics. He takes good care of himself, but I live with the man, and his chest size is not his focus! Also, when you read this article that was the catalyst to this post, his BMI is closer to obese than those of you who know him would think! 😉

On a heavier note, can we just feel a gut punch in acknowledging we live in a country where we have the margin to worry about the appearance of our bodies, our view of the word ‘fat’, our pantry stocked with healthy food vs treats, a debate whether a gym membership or at-home YouTube workouts fit our lifestyle better, or how our freedom-of-speech media portrays beauty? Can those of us reading this just humble ourselves enough to realize we are spoiled, and other women in the world are praying they can keep their job, won’t be seen as just a body for use, or have a roof over their head and any food at all for their kiddos? Yes, I went there, but I feel like a little perspective can only add value to this topic.

,Okay, ya’ll still with me? Let’s get back to those questions and let me attempt to provide some answers . . .

1. In your life, have you ever felt there was a link between one’s percent body fat and one’s faithfulness? Or what about a link between your physical health and your holiness?
   • So here’s my question . . . did His Word teach you this or did your childhood church or social media or family or what? Because like me, you’ve had to dig deep and ask yourself that question about the ‘fat stigma’. I’ve had to think back and realize that my beliefs about fat and body image and all can’t be validated by scripture. Because when I go to His Word, I find stuff like this . . .
   • For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
   • Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
2. How often has self-control and discipline been a topic of study and thus a trigger for conviction and shame?
   • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
   • For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
   • I recently listened to a Revelation Wellness podcast about the Fruit of the Spirit. It talked about how there is purpose in the order of lists such as what’s described in Galatians 5. So when is comes to either scripture bulleted above, self-discipline follows ALL that other good stuff. So start at the beginning and seek His Spirit, His love, His joy, His peace, His power. Keep your focus there . . . the discipline is a fruit, not a goal.
   • Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5
3. If body shame is not your deal, have you ever thought about your body pride?
   • For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3
   • So if you consider yourself healthy, be careful. Stay humble. Pursue holiness. Seek grace. Love others. Don’t hold onto the false sense of control and pride . . . it’s fleeting!
4. Even though we know not to ‘judge a book by its cover’ and ‘Jesus looks at the heart’, does someone’s physical body influence your view of them? Maybe even results in you judging them unfairly?
   • When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
   • There’s really no need to add to this scripture in this content. I’ll just leave it there.
5. Do you find yourself defining beauty and health based upon what you see on social media, shows, and magazine covers? Or worse yet, can you say your conversations about beauty and health with other women are God-honoring?
   • Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
   • PSA – We ALL are aging! No one is perfect! So let’s show love, grace, and humility to all those around us. Someone got fake eye lashes – okay, how’s her heart doing? Someone put on 15 lbs – okay, how’s her heart doing? Someone ‘looks great!’ – okay, how’s her heart doing? A young girl feels good in her new outfit – okay, how’s her heart doing?
6. Have you ever wondered what God thinks about our weight, clothing size, BMI, food habits, calories burned/consumed, fitness routines, etc? Or more importantly, how He views health and holiness?
   • Before providing scripture, let me follow this question with a discussion about control and comfort. Typically when we speak of eating, exercise, and first impressions, we fall into two categories: CONTROL or COMFORT. Control could look like counting calories, following a fitness plan, weighing our bodies obsessively, having pride in our self-discipline, and judging those ‘who just can’t seem to take care of themselves’. Comfort could look like turning to food, exercise (or lack of), feeling shame when we look at ourselves, and not liking those ‘who just seem to have it all together.’ Regardless the camp you’re currently in or have been in in the past, I was to pose the same question Jenn Connelly posed in her book – ‘Why?’ and then the follow up to your answer is ‘Really?!’ I’m smart enough to not give examples here as I don’t know your story nor your struggles, but just want you to ask yourself some questions about your healthy habits, answer honestly, and then ask yourself ‘Really?!’ We all know the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but he easily attacks our reasoning and justifications for our behaviors. And Jesus came to give us abundant life. So let’s just be still in that for a bit . . . Now let’s get back to His Word because pretty sure we serve a GOD OF CONTROL AND COMFORT! Pretty cool, huh? So I’ll just provide the scripture and pray His Spirit explains the rest.
   • Wait for the Lord; be strong and take hear;  and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14. BECAUSE HE’S IN CONTROL . . .
   • Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3
   • “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:28-34
   • Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Luke 12:22
   • She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25
7. Do you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?
   • I totally get this is gonna sound churchy. But just stick with me, okay? So there was the Old Testament Temple, right? The Holy of Holies. Such a sacred, special place where one deemed worthy could connect with God. Then in the New Testament, there was the Temple where people studied and worshipped, right? Then Jesus died of the cross . . . for You . . . for US all . . . and the curtain TORE in the Temple. The curtain in the Temple was the barrier between people and God. So Christ’s death tore the curtain, symbolizing the removal of any barrier between us and God. Then in the book of Acts, it describes the Holy Spirit coming upon people. The scriptures below connect the dots as well as:
   • Old Testament Temple -> New Testament Temple -> Jesus Tears Curtain -> Spirit enters us as believers -> Our bodies are now temples.
   • Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19
   • If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:17
   • So let me expand further . . . throughout scripture we found evidence of the holiness and value of the Temple. Such a special and cool place, right? So after Jesus gave His life, died for us, rose again, ascended to Heaven, and gave us His spirit, why do we struggle to view our own bodies as such a special and cool place? Just think on that . . .
   • If we truly grasped the holiness and power of the Spirit within our bodies, wouldn’t we just want to honor Him, surrender our bodies, worship with our bodies, and take care of our bodies in response. And just let the Spirit guide how we care for and use our bodies for His glory. Not to mention my favorite questions these days is ‘what if fitness was just a way to get God’s breath in your lungs?’

As with all things Holy Barre related, I pray the Lord lights a fire in your soul. A consuming fire in your temple. A holy blaze upon your heart. As you move your body, you feel His power and presence. As you take care of your body, you seek the Spirit’s guidance and grace. As you confront the patterns of this world, you look up, Child. Love God. Love yourself. Love others. Love big. May the Lord clear your mind, calm your soul, fill your heart, and strengthen your body, as we burn bright, better together!

As you can tell, that initial article lit a fire in my soul to expand upon its valuable information and share what the Lord says about it all. There’s plenty of worldly info available to us – let’s focus on His truth! May He ignite a fire in your soul to burn bright!

Thanks for reading . . .if you haven’t yet, now go read the Skimm’s article I linked above. And if you really want to dive in deeper to this whole topic and what health and holiness looks like for you, join me for our upcoming Wellness Revelation group. Click here to learn more! Or just join us for any of these upcoming opportunities with Holy Barre. We’re better together, burning bright!