I despise exercise.
I absolutely dread it.
I know how important exercise is for my heart and my muscles. I know how necessary exercise is for effective body function. I know how crucial it is, and yet…
I don’t like pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I don’t like stretching beyond my limits. I don’t like being uncomfortable.
My battle for physical fitness wages on.
But I wonder how often you and I consider our spiritual fitness?
But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Paul urges Timothy to exercise himself towards godliness because godliness is valuable for all areas of life, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Godliness strengthens us, not only for this life, but for eternity.
While there are many similarities between physical and spiritual fitness, physical fitness only leads to a physical outward transformation. But spiritual fitness leads to a divine inward transformation which also shines through in our outward speech, attitude, and behavior.
Every person has the exact same number of muscles. However, some have exercised to develop, stretch, and enhance those muscles. Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given every believer a measure of faith. Like our muscles, we are able to exercise, develop, and stretch our God-given gift of faith. Even the smallest amount of faith is much in the hands of God!
Imagine God’s gymnasium. God’s desire is to train us, strengthen us, and grow us to become more like Jesus. God uses everything in life, every circumstance and every relationship, as the gym equipment to make us fit.
Our fitness trainer is the Holy Spirit. He knows us inside out – our strengths, our weaknesses, and our potential. He knows exactly how much weight we are able to lift and carry. He knows exactly how much potential we have to endure. He knows exactly how much strength we need right now in order to face the trials ahead of us. He motivates us when we are lazy. He encourages us when we are weary.
Our fitness plan includes resistance training. God places us in uncomfortable circumstances that shift us out of our comfort zone in order to purge us of pride, arrogance, and self-reliance.
He also offers strength training, strategically weighing us with burdens that force us to stretch our faith and seek Him in confidence.
God puts us through endurance training – encouraging us to run our individual race at our own pace. We need endurance to keep standing and pressing forward in faith when times are hard.
With diligence, effort, and consistency, in His time, we are being transformed. With physical exercise, our desire is to look like a better us. With spiritual exercise, our desire is to become more like Him. As we press forward, we gradually shed more and more of ourselves, while we gain more and more of Him.
Godliness does not come easily. It isn’t always comfortable. The path doesn’t always lead to instant gratification. It stretches us in areas we never expected. However, the reward for sacrificing everything for Jesus brings eternal joy and far outweighs the fleeting happiness of anything else this world offers.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31
A believer’s greatest privilege is to present our bodies and our lives to God to be used by Him. The key to victory is to simply surrender all that we are and all that we are not to God.
I despise exercise, but I love the Lord. So each day, I choose to surrender all my ‘can’ts’ and ‘won’ts’ to Him. In exchange, He lovingly equips me with new mercy, unlimited power, and increasing strength to remain in His will.
Our battle for spiritual fitness wages on.
In what circumstance is God exercising your faith? How can we pray for you as you passionately pursue godliness?
Peace and grace to you,
0 Responses
I seems for the past 15 years God has been trying to teach me patience. And , along with that patience, to trust in His plan for my life. To not run ahead but rest in His timing. You would think after 15 years of training in this area of spiritual growth I would have learned all the lessons. But my anxiety and need to be in control keep bubbling up to the surface. I am rpraying solving to add scripture memory to my current spiritual exercise routine.
Lacey,
I know exactly what you mean about patience. I have so little patience. I try, but always fail. I have been afraid to ask God for patience cause I don’t what He is going to do in order to do that. lol One of these days soon, I will work up the courage. H knows it’s on my heart. And the memory verses I also have trouble with. So we have a couple things in common. I will pray for you!
I love todays blog!! The comparison was beautifully written, spoke to my heart in a way I could understand!! Thank you! Have a beautiful day all!!!
Terria,
Your entry today spoke volumes to me, especially about the 3 different types of training. In 2015, I went through resistance training as I watched my church split. The Holy Spirit told me to stay so I did even though my flesh cried against it. One year later, in August of 2016 I went through strength training as our Interim Pastor who was also my co-worker of 5 years and one of my best friends, died in an ATV accident in the Colorado mountains. Now one year later after that accident, I can truly see the training the Lord has given me to keep up the good fight of faith. It is ONLY through Him that my faith stands for He alone replenishes it daily and I am so thankful He sees us where we are and gives us exactly what we need in His timing. Thank you so much for your entry today and inspiring me to continue with my training, because the battle is still not over. Much love- Leslie
Leslie,
Your response caught my eye because you mentioned resistance training. My church went through the same thing recently. The pastor of 10+ yrs who I loved and was used to left for a new church in California. It was devastating. I had to also make the choice to stay and stick it and see where this goes or jump ship and find another church. I decided to stay. I’m glad I stayed. Our new pastor, although quite different from the other is actually really good. I enjoy his sermons. Anyways, the reason I said all this was to let you know that at the time I didn’t even realize I was going through resistance training until I read it from you. So thank you!
This really spoke to me this morning:
“The key to victory is to simply surrender all that we are {and all that we are not to God.}”
The phrase “and all that we are not” is what tends to trip me up at times. Holding on to my weaknesses, my brokenness and my pain puts me into my own prison of victimhood, instead of trusting God implicitly for His work to be done in and through my life.
May my hands be open and lifted to Him for His glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Love these words of encouragement and hope today! Thank you for a great start to this week! (blogs stopped coming to my email last week and I have to google LGG to read them. I tried to register again but it said I was already registered. How can this be fixed? My sister and I study LGG together. Thanks!)
Hi. I have been following LGG for several years. I have always received emails Monday, Wednesday , and Friday. However, last week I received them all at least a day or more after, and as of this time, haven’t received today’s blog message Has something changed? Thank you.
Loved today’s post – thank you!! I feel like I have physical exercise down but this showed me spiritual exercise is much more important!! When I experience aches and pains from exercise I like it because I know it’s working, I can feel the change. I need to carry this into my spiritual life and when there are hard times I can have joy knowing I’m growing and becoming more of who god wants me to be. Thanks for this great perspective!!
Jessica,
I’m just the opposite. I hate to exercise and feel the pain and exhaustion and the sweating… yuck! But I am finding that I do not mind spiritual exercise. I am enjoying the learning, Especially when I am going through something, I am all stressed out and the Holy Spirit reminds me that I need to cast my worries on God and let Him handle it. Reading in the word and doing bible studies bring me joy now They are no longer boring and a burden, like I once felt. I look forward to my bible study/prayer time every day now. 🙂
I really enjoyed today’s blog a lot. It really hit home with me and made a lot of sense. I read it 3 times lol
In what circumstance is God exercising your faith? Well, I live in a very negative environment. My faith is tested daily. My strength is tested daily. My daughter and I both have filed for disability a year ago. We are definitely exercising our faith that God will grant us this money so that we can get out of the situation we are in and into a better one together. Another actual example would be Hurricane Irma. My best friend in the whole world and her family live in Orlando. I sat and watched the weather channel for HOURS. I was scared, I was crying, I was worried. I prayed and asked God to calm the storm but still worried. My adult daughter tells me, “Mom, have faith that they will be fine. Trust in the Lord.” I knew she was right. My friend and her family made it through with minimal outside damage to their house and their power is already back on! Praise God! I had to have faith and trust in God.
How can we pray for you as you passionately pursue godliness? I need prayer that I keep my hunger for the word and my enthusiasm to learn since I came here to LGG and started this bible study. I look forward to it every night. I have a very hard time with the memory verses. I just can’t seem to retain the verses, so I give up. Also, I need help with understanding how to “meditate on the word”. I’m not quite sure what that means or what to do.
Thank you and God bless!
As one who LOVES to work out!!!! ?, I was moved by your blog and how you broke down all the aspects of working out with a spiritual twist!!! Thanks for your insights and challenges….i need to grow my prayer muscles! That’s always been an area I’ve struggled to expand beyond a simple before meal or bedtime prayer.
Thanks again! Blessings to you!!!
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