30 Nov 2009
Anyone who is even approaching that magical number “40” knows that you have to reevaluate your diet and exercise unless you don’t mind the pounds piling on non-stop. I don’t know about you, but I want to be fit
trim and have energy and vitality. I’ve made some changes that have shown some remarkable results.
SPIRITUAL BODY-BUILDING
Besides fine-tuning my diet, I’ve learned that the older we get, the more important it is to do weight training. I never had much interest in lifting weights, even though I’ve always exercised. Strength training was just for men or serious body builders – or so I thought. However, when I learned that our muscles atrophy and shrink as we age unless we exercise them, and that the more lean muscle you build, the more calories you burn, even at rest, I was sold!
The Lord showed me that it is very similar in the spiritual realm. In fact, there are quite a few correlations. Our spiritual “muscles” become weak and ineffective unless we exercise them daily. The stronger and more developed they are, the easier it is for us to consistently and successfully walk in a way that pleases God. The question remains, exactly how do we exercise them?
Just as we have different physical muscles – hamstrings, deltoids, biceps, triceps, quadriceps – and different exercises which work and develop each of them, the same is true spiritually. Our spiritual “muscles” – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control – each need to be exercised and trained in order to grow and become strong and effective.
VARY THE ROUTINE
I’ve learned that in weight training it is critically important to vary your routine. I vary the weights, using light weights one week, medium another and heavy weights still another. I do a different number of repetitions or I use different exercise equipment. If you do exactly the same routine in exactly the same way each and every time, your muscles get used to it and they stop growing and developing. Similarly, variety is a key to effectively developing and strengthening our spiritual muscles.
While my 5, 8 and 10 pound dumbbells, exercise bands, medicine ball and weight vest are the methods I use to vary my physical strength training routine, my spiritual tools are a little different.
Just as in physical exercise, proper form and breathing are essential, spiritually, prayer is the foundational element. Consistent, daily prayer is the foundation to spiritual health. I spend the first part of every day in prayer and devotions. While early morning prayer sets the tone for the day, I find I desperately need to be in touch all throughout the day, as well as being sensitive to His voice at odd moments during the day. I've begun to purposely add variety to my prayer life. I pray before meals, before a shopping trip, when I hear an ambulance siren, as I pick up the telephone, silently during a conversation, as I cook. Well, you get the idea. No activity is off limits. Don’t limit yourself to just one type of prayer or one time for prayer.
TAKE OFF THE LIMITS
Prayer is simply communicating with Father God. You can intercede for others, you can sing songs of praise and worship, you can offer a prayer of thanksgiving, you can go to God in petition for your needs. Stay aware of His Presence throughout your day. Consult Him with questions, decisions, needs and problems as they arise. Share praise and thanksgiving with Him as it comes bubbling up out of your spirit. Your prayer life will become rich and satisfying. Your spiritual foundation will be strong and secure.
Obedience is also a very powerful tool in your spiritual exercise routine. For example, if my devotional reading includes 2 Corinthians 10:1, I go through that day looking for opportunities to exercise my gentleness and to be aware of God’s gentleness toward me. Perhaps the next day God impresses upon me the need to develop my faithfulness. That is my focus for that day. Each opportunity I get to exercise one of my spiritual “muscles,” it gets stronger, more flexible and easier to use the next time. Variety enables me to develop endurance, sensitivity to His voice and to remain well-balanced.
KEEP IT INTERESTING
There are many creative ways to vary your spiritual workout routine. Studying certain passages in depth, such as 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Galatians 5:19-25 and Ephesians 4:1-3 or books such as Proverbs or James is certainly one great way. Those are literally loaded with spiritual exercise material! Using my concordance and listing the particular “muscles” I want to be sure to exercise, together with several pertinent verses for each allows me to create my own tailor-made, personal spiritual workout routine. (See below)
If you have children, choosing a quality to teach them is a very effective strategy because you necessarily focus on it yourself as well. Several ministries have teaching tape sets on the fruit of the Spirit, Proverbs or the qualities of 1 Corinthians 13 love. Listening to a tape a week and focusing on that quality will give you a wonderful workout. For instance, you become very aware of just how many opportunities you have each day to exercise kindness and you also notice when other people are kind in trying circumstances. Everything becomes an opportunity for growth. Just be sure to keep varying your routine and you’ll find yourself developing evenly. Just as you would look out of proportion if you only exercised and developed your thighs or biceps, concentrating only on kindness but neglecting self-control leaves you an out-of-balance Christian, as well.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
Oh, in case you are thinking you’re too old or too flabby or it’s been too long since you last exercised, I have good news. Physically as well as spiritually, it is never too late to begin. Studies have shown that even people in their 80’s and 90’s who hadn’t exercised in years saw increased strength and flexibility when starting on an appropriate exercise regimen. Your spiritual Trainer, the Holy Spirit, is ready and waiting to help you get back in shape. Take the first step and I guarantee He will meet you more than halfway.
All it takes is a sincere desire and firm commitment to work at it consistently. Before you know it, you’ll be trim and strong, physically and spiritually, and in the best shape of your life.
Exercise One
Here is one way to create an individualized spiritual workout routine that will carry you almost through an entire year. Simply list the “muscles” you want to be sure to exercise, one each week for ten weeks. I find it
helpful to list the quality on my daily planner or calendar so I am constantly aware of it. Then use your concordance and list five verses that reflect an aspect of each one. Focus on one verse each week. After week ten, start at the top again only this time focus on the next verse in each group. Note opportunities in your journal you find to exercise each one or when you observe them being exercised by others. I’ve found this is a wonderful way to stay focused, and allow God to speak to you about how to strengthen yourself spiritually.
Week One – Love
1 Cor. 13:4 1 Pe. 4:8 2 Cor. 5:14 Galatians 5:6 1 John 4:8
Week Two – Joy
Prov. 12:20 Prov. 15:23 Prov. 15:30 Hebrews 12:2 James 1:2
Week Three – Peace
Psalm 29:11 Prov. 14:30 Romans 12:18 Colossians 3:15 Hebrews 12:14
Week Four – Patience
Prov. 19:11 Prov. 25:15 Ecclesiastes 7:8 Colossians 1:11 Hebrews 6:12
Week Five – Kindness
Prov. 3:3 Romans 2:4 Romans 11:22 Colossians 3:12 Ephesians 2:6, 7
Week Six – Goodness
Psalms 23:6 Psalms 33:5 Romans 14:17 Romans 15:14 Ephesians 5:9
Week Seven – Faithfulness
Joshua 24:14 Psalms 57:10 Psalms 117:2 Hebrews 3:14 Proverbs 16:6
Week Eight – Gentleness
2 Cor. 10:1 Philippians 4:5 Colossians 3:12 Gal. 5:23 1 Pe. 3:4
Week Nine – Self-Control
Prov. 25:28 1 Pe. 5:8 2 Pe. 1:6 1 Thess. 5:6 2 Timothy 1:7
Week Ten – Integrity
1 Chronicles 29:17 Psalms 25:21 Prov. 10:9 Prov. 11:3 Prov. 13:6
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