Read Philippians 2:12-13: Posture Changing

I have been going to a chiropractor for many years, and one of the things he’s always on me about is my bad posture.  Specifically, forward head posture.  My shoulders are typically rounded with my head forward and looking down.  This is how I’ve gone through my whole life.  Many times my chiro has tried to work at changing my posture.  Once I had to wear a belt thing on my forehead that had weights in it.  That was extremely uncomfortable (not to mention stupid looking) and it did not work!  Other exercises or weights or methods haven’t worked either.  Up until now.

Two weeks ago, my chiropractor told me about a new exercise.  His physio girl showed me how to do it. It’s quite complicated and there are many steps to remember.  It doesn’t take long and it doesn’t hurt (the kind of exercising I like!) and I must admit, I was pretty skeptical.  But I trust my chiro and his staff, so I went home and started doing it twice a day and only once at a time.  Easy peasy.

Well!  I noticed it working right away.  I no longer felt comfortable standing or sitting in my former bad-posture position.  I think this exercise re-trains my muscles to the correct position and as a result everything that used to be normal is now very uncomfortable.  Sitting in certain chairs aggravates my back terribly.  Driving my car, standing at the sink, taking a walk, bending over to read, even sleeping in my bed gives me a back ache.  Why? Because my posture is being corrected and I’m not used to it.

The spiritual analogy hasn’t escaped me.  For years I’ve known that God requires a different ‘posture’ from me. One of humility instead of pride, of patience and love instead of judgment and condemnation.  But just like the woman bent over for 18 years (Luke 13), I have to re-train myself in how to ‘walk’ differently.  This is nothing new, but it’s easier to say than it is to do.  It’s even harder to engage in consistent ‘exercises’ that will build new habits so that I’m no longer comfortable with the old way of things.  With the Holy Spirit’s help, I began to think through how this training will happen.

One thing I know is that I’m constantly engaging in what I call “silent slander”.  Especially with my husband.  I may not malign him with my mouth but inside I respond with sarcastic comments, or tirades of self-righteousness.  I roll my eyes, and even sneer or stick my tongue out behind his back.  That sounds so juvenile and it is so ungodly.  But I have let it creep back into my life so it has permeated my thoughts of him and undermined the respect I should have.  I expect bad from him, not good.  I catch myself criticizing him (in my head) and I’m sure it’s starting to show in my attitude, body language and facial expressions.  None of this honours the Lord.  How do I change this posture?

So far, this is what I’ve committed to do.  I’m sure God will show me other things as I get a handle on these.  As an exercise, I consciously think of things I appreciate about my husband.  I have asked the Holy Spirit to make me extremely sensitive to my negativity and other sin in this area of my life.  When I catch myself I ask for cleansing and forgiveness immediately, and then I think of two things that are positive.  As I start mentally preparing myself for the contentious conversations I expect to have with him, I stop it instantly and ask God to give me the “words and wisdom” He has promised when I need to speak.  I ask Him for strength to be silent when I should not speak, remembering that His word says wives are to win their husbands “without words”.

Re-training ourselves, whether It’s posture or inner attitudes, is hard work.  It takes discipline.  It requires focus and perseverance.  I must allow God to do His work, and I must do mine.  Not a new “self-help technique” but a Spirit-led humility that allows God to work within and follow His leading as I work it out.  In time, my outer life will show what my inner life has become; my new posture in Him.