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Developing Our Spiritual Fitness

Just as our physical fitness requires practice and discipline, developing our spiritual fitness requires the same. Like our muscles, our spiritual fitness can be developed and strengthened, leading us to find a life full of joy and purpose.  We are all at different stages in our spiritual journey, so we can’t compare ourselves to others.  We have to look at where we are and then begin improving from there.

Hitting the gym is high on the list when physical fitness is our priority. I’d say for many people, it’s usually a goal but hardly a reality. Many of us have good intentions, we start strong but often fizzle out and don’t stick to a routine. For those who are successful in maintaining some level of fitness, there is consistency in their physical activity. The level of activity might be light, moderate, or vigorous but the key is always consistency. 

We should do our best to live a healthy lifestyle.  Our bodies are at their best when we strive to be consistent in our practice of healthy habits like eating the right foods and developing a good exercise routine.  We can also practice healthy habits when it comes to our spiritual lifestyle as well.

 Becoming spiritually fit is not achieved by giant goals that are hard to reach. It starts with small consistent steps that lead to a healthy spiritual lifestyle.

 “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.”  1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

Developing our spiritual fitness with practice and discipline

Four Steps to Improve Your Spiritual Fitness

Four Steps to Improve Your Spiritual Fitness

Share your journey with a friend or mentor

Just like getting into physical shape, getting into spirituality with a friend or mentor is that partner that will help you stay on track.  You might attend a Bible study or commit to a reading plan together. Working with someone helps you stay motivated and committed, you’re more likely to follow through and reach your goal.

Pray and Fast

Prayer and fasting help to deepen our relationship with God.  Fasting and praying will help you position yourself for breakthroughs and spiritual growth. Spend this time focusing on God and worshiping Him; it allows you to hear His voice and gain understanding.

Developing our spiritual fitness with practice and discipline. 

Use Your Gifts and Talents

God has given us all unique gifts and talents. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) says “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms…”  We may not have realized our gifts or maybe we have neglected using them.  Understand that God has given gifts to help advance the church.  Use your special gift and ability.  Start with your church to find a place to serve. Finding opportunities to serve within your church and out in the community will help keep you spiritually fit.

Practice Gratitude

Every day is a gift from God; start each new day with a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude. Also, end each day with a prayer of gratitude.  Even on rough days, we can find something to be grateful for. Reflect on the events of the day, both big and small; you’ll find signs of God’s presence.  Think about those moments of joy, friendship, safety, and guidance. All of these are worth being thankful for.

Make Spiritual Fitness a Daily Priority

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.  I Corinthians 9:24-27

Achieving the Goal

In Corinthians, Paul speaks of the dedication of an athlete seeking to win the crown; but he tells believers, to seek that lasting growth of salvation.

Athletes are disciplined in their behavior. They are disciplined in their physical training, their sleep schedule, and their diet. They sacrifice and give up things that could impede their progress and prevent them from achieving the goal of winning.

Increasing our spiritual fitness takes practice. Just like when we are trying to eat healthily and exercise daily, it can be hard.  Sometimes there are enticing distractions and we fall short…like skipping the salad for that juicy burger or getting so caught up in our busy schedule that we don’t take time to commune with God. There may be times when we fall short of our spiritual routine but the more we practice the easier it is; it becomes part of our lifestyle.  It’s important to remember that if we drop a spiritual habit for a time, through Christ, we can pick it up and start again.