Our bodies
are designed for activity—physically and mentally. Activity keeps the cob-webs
at bay and helps us function more efficiently and effectively. Activity is to
our bodies and minds what lubricant is to machinery.
An article
entitled, “Why is Exercise Important”, on www.healthdiscovery.net, states if we
don’t use our bodies, our muscles become weak and flabby, our heart and lungs
won’t function efficiently and our joints will become stiff and more prone to
injury. An April 25, 2012 article from www.sciencedaily.com,
“Protecting Your Brain: ‘Use It or Lose It’, says “those who are more mentally
active or maintain an active cognitive lifestyle throughout their lives are at
lower risk” for dementia.
If activity
is of such great importance for the fitness of the body and brain, which have a
limited lifespan, then how much greater should be the attention given to the
spiritual fitness and well-being of the Christian life when the consideration
of time is eternity. What activities can we as Christians, undertake for
spiritual fitness?
Certainly, without
daily prayer it would be impossible to be spiritually fit. Paul admonished the
Thessalonians, “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, HCSB.
Through
prayer we commune with God; through prayer we offer praise, adoration, and
worship to our Lord; we thank Him for our many blessings; we make our requests
known to Him; and through prayer we confess and repent of wrongdoing, (Matthew
6:12). Dr. Charles Stanley has written, “Salvation makes a way for us to
enter God’s presence, while regular confession and repentance keep the pathway
well maintained and free of obstruction.”
“If I had
been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However,
God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. May God be
praised! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me,”
Psalm 66:18-20, HCSB. Daily prayer is certainly necessary for spiritual fitness
and our daily walk of faith.
Another essential
in pursuit of God and a life of spiritual fitness is reading the Bible daily. God’s
Word enables us to face the difficulties of life; it is our firm foundation in
all circumstances. Through the Scripture we learn about the character of God,
His will, His way, His promises—through study and application of Biblical
truths we gain spiritual maturity; godly wisdom, and spiritual discernment.
“How can a
young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word. I have sought You with all
my heart; don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have treasured Your word in
my heart so that I may not sin against You. LORD, may You be praised; teach me
Your statutes,” Psalm 119:9-12, HCSB.
“All
Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for
correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, HCSB.
Also crucial
to spiritual fitness is fellowship with other believers. “And let us be
concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not
staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging
each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near,” Hebrews
10:24-25, HCSB.
Through
unity with other believers we find support, friendship, encouragement, and love;
through fellowship with others we discover opportunities to share, serve, mentor,
and minister to others. We also have the opportunity to be ministered to and
the opportunity to learn from other believers.
While I
believe the above are absolute necessities to spiritual fitness, it is certainly
not an exhaustive list. Each of us has certain things we do regularly to
maintain spiritual vitality. My own routine each morning is to pray, read my
Bible, and then walk while listening to contemporary Christian music. I value
this time in the mornings alone with God; just praising and worshiping Him. It
sets the tone for my entire day.
I’d love to
hear what you do for spiritual fitness. Please share with me your favorite
activities for staying in good shape spiritually.
God Bless!
