July - 2009 Ty Extended Article


		Four Surefire Ways to Maintain High Energy - Extended Version -
		By Ty Gibson

In this message I shall preach to myself and let you listen in. Here’s our text, and it is an extremely practical and sensible one:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, NIV).

In their excellent book, The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz suggest that, “Managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance.” We all have the same amount of time each day, but all of us do not bring the same amount and quality of energy to that time. It is an observable fact that some people get more and better work done than others in the same allotted timeframe. One major reason for this is because some people are alive with more physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy that allows them to give focused and sustained attention to their goals, while others simply trudge through their days lacking usable energy and feeling like they are swimming against an unbeatable current. High-energy individuals crank along at a good pace with clarity of mind and consistent creative flow. Low-energy individuals find it difficult to concentrate, become easily fatigued and experience only spurts of creativity, always feeling like they don’t have enough time. The truth is they have the same amount of time as their high-energy coworkers, but they don’t have the energy it takes to utilize their time to great effect.

The goal, therefore, should be to maintain habits that yield maximum energy rather than frantically trying to get as much as possible done with a to-do-list in hand and an eye on the clock.

We are complex and integrated creatures consisting of four main dimensions: we are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual beings, and all of these aspects of our natures intersect and impact one another. Health, performance and happiness arise from the skillful management of these four quadrants of our lives in such a manner that the highest quality and quantity of energy is generated for our daily use. Paul likens our spiritual journey to a “race,” which indicates that it will require the application of some serious energy. This being the case, the apostle admonished us to engage ourselves in “strict training;” that is, to engage in the application of principles that will increase our strength and skill for the race. He says we should “run” our lives “in such a way as to get the prize.”

There are four simple yet extremely effective habits an individual must form in order to achieve and maintain high energy.

1. Good Food (emphasis on good) Nutrition is vital. This is common sense, and yet it is surprisingly uncommon. Our bodies want to be consistently fed with foods that contain high quality fuel, foods that are densely packed with nutritional sources of slow-burning energy. The goal in eating should be to consume calories that impart more energy than they expend in the digestion process. Said another way, we need to eat foods that give more than they take. And we all know what those foods are: fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. The energy content in these foods exceeds the energy required to break them down and extract their nutrients in usable forms. They impart more energy than they consume. On the other hand, processed and junk foods contain small amounts of energy (or usable nutrients) but are more difficult for the body to break down and digest. The body then has to work extra hand to extract these limited nutrients, the consequence being depletion and low-energy.

Most of us know what foods are best for us, but we tell ourselves that the other stuff (the low-energy junk food) tastes better, and, after all, we want to enjoy our food. But here’s the thing we need to understand: we don’t eat what we like so much as like what we eat. The taste buds adapt to the flavors they encounter most. Whatever you consistently eat, you will begin to like. So why not eat the good stuff and watch your energy levels increase and your love for highly nutritious food grow.

2. Consistent Exercise (emphasis on consistent) In a presentation entitled, Ten Bits of Advice to Amplify the Effectiveness of Your Ministry, I recently told a group of pastors that each of us should “exercise like an angel.” Then I quoted some verses out of context to support my admonition: the Bible says that the angels “[run] back and forth” among themselves and between heaven and earth (Ezekiel 1:14-16), and Jesus portrays these busy heavenly sentinels as “ascending and descending” on a “ladder” between heaven and earth (not unlike a mountain hike or a stair-stepper). Of course these verses are not at all about the cardiovascular exercise regime of angels, but they may serve to remind us that moving like the angels—back and forth, up and down—will serve our vital cardiovascular needs well. It’s this simple: by whatever means you enjoy or can manage, make sure you breath hard and sweat for a minimum of 30 minutes at least four days a week.

The most common excuse we offer ourselves for not getting physical exercise is, “I don’t have time for it.” But here’s the truth of the matter: you will get more done, with less time, and with greater ease of execution if your energy level is high. Look at it this way. Each of us has 168 hours each week. Take a mere three hours out of the 168 for physical exercise and you are left with 165. What a small slice of the whole! But then, watch what happens. The increase of energy you gain from devoting three of the 168 to exercise will invariably raise the value of your remaining 165 hours such that you can actually get more and better work done with less time.

The second most common excuse for refraining from physical exercise is, “I don’t feel like it,” by which is meant, “I don’t have the energy for it.” Of course you don’t have the energy for exercise. That’s the point: you lack energy. And if you continue in your motionless state you’ll have less and less energy. If you only do what feels good, you will cease to feel much at all. If you never do anything hard, just about everything will become hard. But doing hard things makes things easy. If you will exercise consistently, your energy levels will rise and your body will begin to crave the very movement you previously did not have energy for, and the vigorous movement of your body will become a delight. But to get there you’re going to have to bite the bullet until you cross the threshold where you feel like doing what you know you need to be doing. It doesn’t take very long, actually. For most people one month of a good exercise regime will take you over the threshold. Think of it! In less than a month you could be experiencing significantly higher energy levels, better moods, and higher productivity if you will undergo the not-so-terrible discomfort of forming the habit of getting daily physical exercise. Set the goal and go for it. You will be glad you did.

3. Positive Relationships (emphasis on positive) Resolve all conflicts with people. You don’t have the energy for it, literally. Nothing drains the vital current out of us like interpersonal conflict. Let everyone off the hook, whether they’re sorry or not. Forgive those who have wronged you just as the Lord has forgiven you. As much as lies within you, live at peace with all men.

Probably the deepest level of our dysfunction as fallen human beings is our compulsion to distinguish ourselves from others as if anyone has ever sinned against us more horribly than we ourselves have sinned against the Lord. If someone has wronged you, see that person through God’s eyes. Have mercy, not condemnation. By the grace of God, be free from the anxiety of unresolved conflict. Be free from anger, bitterness and resentment, understanding that as long as you hold an unforgiving attitude in your heart you remain under the power of the person who wronged you, and understanding as well that your forgiving spirit will be the strongest influence you can exert to arouse repentance in them. Forgive and move on, for their sake, for your own sake, and for God’s sake. And if you have wronged someone, make it right. If you don’t, the guilt will weigh upon your conscience and sap your energy. Apologize with no excuses. Set your conscience free.

4. Rejuvenating Rest and Recreation (emphasis on rejuvenating) Rest restores enthusiasm, recalibrates the emotions and arouses new streams of creativity. You need a good, sound six to eight hours sleep each night and regular intervals of enjoyable recreation. Do not imagine that you are actually getting more done by sleeping less and refraining from taking time off work for recreational activities. Downtime increases physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy. You’ll do your best work if you are well rested.

However, the fact is you can’t force yourself to get good, sound sleep. It is the natural by-product of the previous three factors. Good food, consistent physical exercise and positive relationships will, in most cases, yield sound sleep. Of course in some cases there are hereditary, illnesses or hormonal issues that must also be addressed, but in every case forming the first three habits will make resolving other issues easier.

Taking time for recreation is a matter that requires intention and planning. It won’t happen unless you make it happen. Sit down and write into your calendar year a good number of times to spend recreating with family and friends. The best forms of recreation are those that are physical and outdoors: hiking, biking, climbing, swimming, skiing, boating, surfing, diving, and the like. These are the four most crucial energy-maximizing habits you can form. Make the comparison and choose for yourself. Imagine waking up to meet your day after a poor night’s sleep. The alarm you hate rings. You slap it off and pull yourself out of bed as a sheer act of will and drag your body to the bathroom. You shower, brush your teeth and get dressed, watching the clock as you try to hurry. The clock is your master. You feel the pressure to get moving, but your body must be pushed. So you sip a cup of coffee to create a rush of false energy and eat a nutritionally void piece of white bread with butter, or, worse yet, a donut. As you drive to work you feel anxious, but not motivated. Upon arrival you try to exude a cheerful disposition that you don’t actually feel. You try to focus on work you don’t actually like, or at least you don’t really feel like doing it. Within an hour or two you feel hungry, very hungry, in fact, as well you should. But it’s not lunchtime yet, so you eat a candy bar to hold you over. For some reason, you can’t concentrate. It’s frustrating. Your thoughts aren’t flowing. After an unproductive few hours, you’re glad it’s finally time for lunch. You have a sandwich with a bag of thinly-cut potatoes deep-fried in saturated fat and utterly void of usable energy—and, oh yeah, a brownie. Upon returning to work your hunger is gone and you feel ready to tackle your current project, only to start feeling an uncontrollable drowsiness. You focus a little and drift a little, focus and drift, over and over again. The afternoon drags on like this until it’s finally time to go home. You’re wiped out.

You tell yourself, “Maybe tomorrow will be better.” Not likely.

But now imagine another scenario. You wake up feeling refreshed a few minutes before your alarm sounds. You stretch and begin to silently pray in your mind, giving your heart anew to the Lord and committing family and friends to His care. Eager for the day’s challenges and opportunities, you jump on your elliptical machine or your treadmill and run or briskly walk for 30 minutes. You have trained your body to crave movement, so it feels great. The book of Romans plays on your mp3 or CD player while you run, imparting vital insights to your mind and shaping your emotions in a positive direction. As your body in energized so is your spirit. To cool down you stand on your porch for a few minutes in the cool morning air, continuing your conversation with your Maker. After an invigorating shower, with a strong appetite you enjoy one or two bananas (rich in potassium and slow-burning natural sugars), a handful of walnuts (packed with omega 3 oils to feed your brain) and a bowl of oatmeal or a piece of whole grain toast thickly spread with nut butter and covered with apple sauce. Yum! On the drive to work you listen to an edifying audio book or some powerful sermon you download from Light Bearers’ website. You arrive at your place of employment with a cheerful attitude, because, well, that’s how you feel. You engage in your work with enthusiasm, focus and creativity, because you gave your body the needed ingredients to place that kind of energy at your disposal. Your energy sustains till lunch and you have already gotten a lot done. You feel good about your work. For lunch you eat an avocado, tomato and lettuce sandwich on whole wheat bread, and half a cantaloupe. And you love every bite because this is the kind of food your body craves and your taste buds are in agreement. You proceed to engage in your work again and find that your energy sustains, but you hardly think about it because this is normal for you. Next thing you know its time to go home. You are eager to see your family and have energy to spare for some quality time with them.

Energy, not time, is the currency we have control over. Manage your energy level with good habits, and you will experience the passage of time with greater alacrity, creativity and joy.

But we are not done with our exploration of energy.

There is a type energy that surpasses all others and is the most vital constituent of our lives. If allowed access, it floods our minds, our emotions and even our bodies with a strength more powerful than that derived from good nutrition, exercise and rest. The apostle Paul introduces this mighty power to us when he declares that “righteousness” is achievable only “by faith,” and that “faith…works by love” (Galatians 5:5-6). The Greek word employed by Paul, here translated, “works,” is energeo, from which we get the English word energy. Paul literally states: Righteousness is by faith and faith is energized by love.

The most important current of energy we need to maintain is the constant inflow of God’s powerful love into our hearts. Paul would have us understand that God’s love is our vital source of spiritual empowerment. In the spiritual and moral life one activity trumps, and actually carries, all others forward with it—applying the mind to comprehend and believe God’s love for us. Knowing God’s love to be our source of moral empowerment, Paul states:

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

If we distill Paul’s point to its basic essence, it is this: God’s love is “the power that works (or releases energy) in us” and this it flows into our lives as we come to “comprehend” and “know” its multi-dimensional height, width and depth.

John admonishes us to “behold” God’s love and explains that as a result we will be changed into His character-likeness:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3, NKJV).

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him… And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:7-9, 16, NKJV).

As we “behold” God’s love as manifested in Christ, John indicates that we will come to “know and understand” this amazing reality of the divine heart, and that the effect will be that we will be transformed to love like God loves.

The comparison between the physical and the spiritual life is striking and instructive. Just as physical energy is maintained by means of supplying the body with foods densely packed with high quality energy, so too spiritual and moral energy is maintained by means of supplying the soul with the nourishing realities of God’s love.
The false gospel of which Paul warns in the book of Galatians is basically a “gospel” that demands righteousness while supplying no energy, no power, no motive strength rising in the “inner man.” “Do this!” “Don’t do that!” “Overcome sin!” “Attain perfection!” “Try harder! You can do it. In fact, you had better do it, or you’ll be eternally lost!” Paul says this “gospel” is “really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:7, NIV). So let’s call it the “non-gospel.” Paul explains further that the non-gospel has a strange power over us. We are susceptible to its lies. If we allow it access to our hearts he warns that we become “bewitched” by it (Galatians 3:1). The false gospel of salvation by our performance, by self-generated righteousness, is mesmerizing because it feeds our egos. It casts a spell of self-reliance and fear over the mind. Apart from a deliberate act of faith energized by the truth of God’s love, the un-gospel will hold our souls in constant bondage with unrelenting dominance. I know many people who have spent precious years of their lives groveling in anxiety over whether or not they will be saved, all the while with an eye on the clock afraid that they won’t be ready when Jesus returns. In fact, I have experienced a few bouts with this self-centered non-gospel myself, and I can tell you from personal experience (as if you didn’t already know firsthand) that it is exhausting.

The true gospel is of an entirely different character than the non-gospel. The true gospel is extremely good, happy, glad news. Rather than demanding righteousness and not supplying power, the true gospel gives righteousness to us as a free gift, complete in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is secure in Him, to be received by faith alone apart from works of obedience to the law. And yet, it is a power-imparting gift. Once received, it causes us to live a whole new life of genuine righteousness by faith in the One who so loved us that He gave His life for us. Paul explains:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I, through the law, died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:16-20, NKJV).

Paul is clear. There is no salvation at all in obedience to the law. Period! But herein lies the wonder and beauty of the true gospel: while it requires no righteous deeds in exchange for salvation, the very freeness of the gift ignites in the human receiver a powerful new energy to live for God. The salvation we have in Christ as a free gift is not a sin-justifying arrangement, but rather is of a quality to generate a completely new life-motive. The free gift of the righteousness of Christ overcomes sin from the inside out rather than merely mandating outward conformity to the letter of the law. It changes our focus from ourselves to Christ, radically altering our very reason for living from personal preservation to living in trusting, affectionate, adoring response to His selfless love. The true gospel saves us from the premise of the love of Christ, not from the premise of personal salvation.

Therefore, it becomes evident that I cannot achieve salvation by means of law keeping because law keeping as a means of securing God’s favor denies the already-existing and active reality of God’s saving love. It slaps God’s grace in the face and exalts self to the higher position of being better in character than God. It assumes that “I can” in myself become morally elevated and that “He won’t” save me unless I do, placing God in my debt.

The true gospel, on the other hand, sees God in the elevated position He truly occupies—as our eager Savior, full of forgiving, empowering grace. He does not ask us to achieve the impossible, to manage our own righteousness and offer it to Him in exchange for a place in His eternal kingdom. What He does ask us to do is to behold the evidence of His love in the sacrifice of Christ and then to believe that it is true. He invites us to use our free wills, our minds, our hearts to allow the inflow of His power by granting access to His saving love. As we believe the true gospel, it will flood our hearts and lives with energy we have never known before, moving us to live for Him with eager joy.