Exercise your Faith through Fitness

          Baseball was the one sport I lived for. Played all the way to age 20 since age 2. It was my life. Baseball taught me many life lessons. Maybe the biggest lesson was how to overcome failures time and time again. Unfortunately, not everyone plays a sport. Sports teach us cheat codes of life lessons that we can apply to our daily lives. Luckily, we all have a body that can be shaped.  Physical Fitness can teach us similar values to apply to our spiritual and mental well-being.  “For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].” 2 PETER 1:5-7 AMP           

           Exercising means “to use or apply; engage in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness; take exercise.” Keyword is to Apply. As we apply lessons learned we develop and become better. These lessons cultivate us into the person we are meant to be, so when real life challenges arise we can stand and stay firm. When we feel like quitting during a run. That same mindset will penetrate our minds when we lead our families or take on a project at work. Quitting should never cross your mind. Read more from a book called Seal of God but Chad Williams. “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 1:13 NLT            

             Physical exercise physically sharpens you, but our physical fortitude is the by-product of the solidity of our heart and mind. We can improve our faith through fitness by physically experiencing mini hardships and safe obstacles to teach us to endure. This builds our character and ability to be resilient. There are things in life we can only learn through physical  experience. Exercise is that gift to sharpen ourselves to be a better version of ourselves. We can take a stand and not allow temporary emotional feelings to drive our behavior. Instead, build a sound mind from lessons (wisdom) and understanding  to face challenges head on. “A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 MSG            

             Take on the Faith and Fitness challenge. Exercise your faith through fitness. When you go for a run. Pray to get through. Recite scripture in your head. When you feel afraid or intimidated before working out look to Him. The more we practice our faith in fitness. Then more we will be prepared to handle daily life.           

             I never met someone who regret a workout after they finished. I never met someone who regret a challenge they overcome at work. I never met someone who regret sharing the Gospel to people they come across. Yes, it sucks during. Though, it is a suffering we can endure, but we all know the reward is great! Check out our faith and fitness initiatives. Apply one today and see yourself take shape by getting into shape. The shape God desires us to be so we can life this life to the full and accomplish the purposes set before us. “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:18 NLT

• Physical Fitness can improve Spiritual Faith 

 • Endure short term suffering for long term gain