Today I went to the gym and, like I usually don’t, I didn’t warm up. I started right into a leg work out without waking up any of my tired muscles. Well, as you would assume, I hurt my back (this article helped).
I actually hurt my back as soon as I lifted the first dumbbell. I didn’t even get to start my workout this morning in peace. Because I don’t have a strong core and I don’t have a lot of hip mobility, this wasn’t my first rodeo. I knew what I had to do. I had to keep my back warmed up and do my best not to allow my muscles to stay cool.
I went right into some no-weight squats and no-weight dead lifts to keep my back from straining but also to keep it moving. I am not going to lie, I didn’t want to work out any more. My entire workout for the day was lost all because I didn’t warm up first. I could have stretched, walked, did some lunges or anything, but because I was in a hurry to get straight to the lifting, I ended up doing almost nothing.
As I am writing this my back feels much better than when I started, but it is still uncomfortable. It is still going to be a distraction for the rest of the day. But this feeling isn’t anything new. I have had this feeling in my life anytime I don’t warm up for my work day.
What I mean by that is, every time I don’t pray, read the Bible and worship God before I go into my day, I find my self distracted, uncomfortable, and I usually don’t accomplish what I had determined to get done. Just like at the gym, when I don’t warm up, I risk ruining the very thing I was there to do and it impacts the whole rest of my day, week or, if I am in really bad shape, month.
I want to encourage you to warm up today. Before you go out and start doing the heavy lifting in your work and home life, spend some time with Jesus. Before you go into taking care of your kids, sit with your Father. Before you start cleaning, open your Bible. Before you head into traffic worship our God. It will keep you from being angry, bitter and distracted from the thing that you are suppose to be doing, glorifying God with all that you have.
So take some time and warm up. You don’t want a hurt back. Trust me.
-Pastor Tommy