Fit 4 Life

Physical fitness is a perennial resolution for many. One reason it tops the list again and again is a failure to make exercise a permanent addition to one's lifestyle. Exercise has many documented benefits. It improves circulation, increases muscle tone and strength, invigorates the body, feeds more oxygen to the brain, and increases overall feeling of well-being. Yet these advantages will not manifest until the mind and body are trained to exercise automatically.

Becoming a better Christian tops Sister Spiritual's resolution list. She says she wants to pray more, read the Bible more and spend more time working for the Lord. The clock alarms at 5am, she slides sleepily from her bed to the floor near by. "Dear Lord', she mutters. There is a draft, but she wants to follow through with her New Year's resolutions. Her knees begin to ache, her thighs start to cramp, even her elbows stiffen as she rests them on the bed. "Why don't I just pray lying in the bed?" she says to herself. And so begins the end of the keeping of resolutions.

On to number two on her list. She takes her Bible and stumbles into the dining room. She sits at the table and tries to focus on the words. She thinks, "A cup of coffee would be nice."
She leaves the Bible on the table and goes to the cupboard. Then she remembers,
"We're out of coffee. I guess I'll just have some juice. Maybe a piece of toast and jam......"

Dear reader you know how the rest of the story goes. One distraction after another. Soon it becomes too much trouble to pray and read in the mornings. So Miss Spiritual decides to do these things at night before going to bed. This effort also fails, for many nights she is just too tired to follow through. After a few days of these frustrating efforts, Baby girl just quits. She says to herself, "I'll do better next year." Thus spiritual exercise becomes a perennial resolution.

Spiritual training supplemented with the power of the Holy Spirit and working out in the gym of God's presence is key to transforming into the likeness of Jesus.

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly, For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." I Timothy 4:7,8 NIV

Verse 16 adds; "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Praying for your continued success as you train in His Service, PT2006