Time under tension
Time under tension is a basic principle for strength training. Keeping a muscle under a load or tension for a duration of time with no rest will cause the muscle to eventually fail. Over time the load has to be increased to reach the same point of failure due to the increase of strength and growth of the muscle.
God made our bodies to rise to the occasion. The harder the body works the stronger it gets and the better it performs.
There is no man made machine that can do that. Our bodies adapt, grow, and get stronger the more we subject them to time under tension and increased load.
Keep what I just said in your mind as you read this:
“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.””
Matthew 13:31-32 NKJV
The mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds. But when it has grown; or rather, as it grows the seed overcomes a lot of adversity (time under tension).
Birds will eat the seed, small animals will eat the tender shoots, and storms will come. Rain, wind, flood, drought, you name it. But if that little seed endures it will continue to grow and become a strong tree.
“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20 NKJV
In Matthew 13 we see the picture of the fully developed mustard seed as a tree. Time under tension and overcoming adversity, it grows.
In Matthew 17 Jesus brings us back again to the “smallest of all the seeds” when He compares the amount of Faith in God we need to do great things.
Mustard seed faith is only the beginning but we have to have at least that much to get growing. What does that even look like when Faith grows?
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
II Peter 1:5-8 NKJV
The Amplified Version says it this way:
“For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
2 Peter 1:5-8 AMPC
What is Faith then?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Faith can move mountains, faith can heal, faith can save, faith can strengthen, and faith casts out fear and doubt. Faith overcomes, faith endures. I urge you to read Hebrews 11 the Faith chapter.
“And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6 NKJV
Faith grows through adversity. Through adversity we see God move in our lives and Faith grows.
The more we are in tune with all the times God has blessed us, protected us, strengthened us, healed us and helped us the more our Faith will increase. “The evidence of things not seen” that’s God working in the background:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
Know that the adversity you face now, whatever IT is, God IS using it for your good and to grow your Faith in Him. God has a plan for you and your life. He IS preparing you for the next level and strengthening your faith.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;”
Proverbs 3:5 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
