Most of us can imagine what a typical physical workout might look like. We’d first stretch
a little to warm up the muscles we would be using in the rest of our session. Then there would be some type of cardiovascular or aerobic workout - repeated, nonstop contractions of a major muscle group over a period of 15 to 60 minutes or even more that would elevate your heart rate to a level that is measurably above your resting heart rate. That might be followed by resistance exercises to strengthen the muscles. If you were in a gym you’d perhaps use some equipment designed for that purpose performing two sets of 10-15 repetitions of about ten exercises working the major muscle groups. To end the workout, you’d want to again stretch out the muscles that were used. The workout might last an hour or an hour and a half. If you were working with a fitness professional, he would consider the FITT principle in developing your workout plan. He’d want to determine the frequency(F) of your workouts, the intensity(I) or how hard you’d perform the exercises, the duration or amount of time(T) you’d engage in the various exercises and the various types(T) of exercises you should perform. These are all basic considerations when working out physically.
How would working out spiritually or working out with God look? First Timothy 4:7-8 says “spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.” ( First Edition of the New Living Translation of the Bible) In the context of how this word is used here perhaps your consider this as a definition of spiritual exercise - “It’s any belief or intentional behavior that helps one become more like Jesus, draw closer to Him, know Him better or that follows the principles or commandments of God.”
Over the course of the next several weeks, I’ll be writing more on this topic. In the meantime, I have a few questions for you.
What types of ’spiritual exercises’ are you including in your day to day activities to be spiritually fit?
What are you doing to work out your spiritual muscles?
Have a great week!
“… let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.” This is from the Message translation of this week’s scripture. 
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God’s spirit, in the form of the Holy Spirit lives inside you. Paul is urging us to live in a way that is honoring to God. We are called to be Holy as God is Holy. The way we live our life is a form of worship to God. As we attend to the health and well being of our body, this is a form of worship.
Anything that takes us aware from our relationship from God is a distraction or a defilement. Not only in our external behavior but in our thought life and “internal” life. What we read, watch on television and listen to on our Ipods and the radio has a potential impact on our relationship with God. It’s either a positive influence or a negative influence. It’s either building up your faith muscles or tearing them down. That’s why Paul urges us to ‘make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us.’ God wants us to be as fit as possible -physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Knowing that God lives in you can be a great motivator to live in a way that is holy and honoring to Him. How about it? Might you benefit from making a break from something that is a distraction in your relationship with God or that defiles His temple?
Want to learn more on Spiritual Exercises for a healthier life? Click here.
Hope you have an awesome day!
“We now have a critical mass available in which to generate a Gospel of Fitness with the best insights from all the helping professions.”
“The Gospel of Fitness is not a replacement for the traditional Gospel of the Newer Testament. Nor is it yet a formal theology. It has elements of both, however, for it is “good news” in a health-challenged society. And its rationale is based upon responsible disciplines of body-mind-spirit, respect for each other, and ecological stewardship.”
“For body- mind-spirit fitness is not about diet fads, exercise gimmicks, marathons, or beauty. Rather, it is about being the best that we can be.”
These quotes are taken from an article by G. Lloyd Rediger that appears in a column on his site. As it is not a short article, you may want to set aside time to read this when you can appreciate Rediger’s insight and wisdom.
Have an awesome day!
Many people follow a strict diet to try to lose weight. Most of the time this doesn’t work for them and it’s not surprising because according to this scripture, this strategy goes against God’s design for us.
Colossians 2:20-23 says “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
Diets are about rules. God is about freedom, grace and love. When we try in our strength to follow a set of rules, as we do when we follow a stringent diet, we set ourselves up for failure. These diets might seem to be wise, these rules are “of this world” and contrary to the freedom that we have if we have accepted Jesus in our heart. When we try to follow a set of rules associated with a diet, we are attempting to do this out of our own strength. I believe God wants us to abandon these “rules” and to look to Him for wisdom and power and the ability to eat well and to live a healthy life.
If you’re dieting in a formal sense consider this - surrender the “diet” and go deeper inside to God asking Him to help you eat in a manner that will help you lose weight. Make sure you’re getting in some regular physical activity as well. And don’t forget to ask God in prayer that He empower you, through His Holy Spirit to make the changes you’re trying to make. Then give God the glory when you lose the weight!
Take care!
Dale
