Paul
said physical fitness is good and profitable. He also uses sports or
racing analogies several times. Whose responsibility is it that you get
fit or stay physically fit? Who sees to it that you get off the couch
and exercise? Of course, the answer it you. In our wildest dreams, we
can’t hope for someone else to make us exercise for our own betterment.
Even if you hire a personal trainer or go on the show “The Biggest
Loser” to “make” you work out, you still have to make the effort to show
up. You have to be motivated on some level to exercise.
I read and article called 5 Ways to Stay Motivated to Exercise Regularly http://life.gaiam.com/article/5-ways-stay-motivated-exercise-regularly
Personal trainers interviewed for this article recommended these steps to stay motivated to exercise regularly. Do you know what the number one step was?1. Change your perspective
Shift your thinking from the spectator that watches and expects other people to do it and start thinking as the athlete that gets it done. Committing to a fitness routine begins in your head.
2. Set a goal
There’s nothing more motivating than bold letters on the calendar. Make sure it’s realistic and that you actually adapt your life around meeting the goal.
3. Schedule a regular workout time
4. Think fun and variety
5. Reach out to others for support
That’s great advice. Not just for exercising but for anything that we try to stick with in our lives, like changing your diet or growing spiritually. No matter what it is, the task is your individual responsibility and no one elses. So how about Spiritual Fitness?
Spiritual fitness is mandatory. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – (2 Pet. 3:8) It doesn’t say, “if you feel like it” or, “if the church supports you” or, “if someone motivates me.” It just says - you - grow.
1. Change Your Perspective
- Matthew 5:6 – The Christian is pronounced “blessed” or happy by Jesus when he hungers and thirsts for righteousness and his longing is satisfied by God. It’s my job to get hungry, to change the way I think, to fight in my mind and in my spirit for that spiritual growth. “I buffet my body daily.” Grit your teeth and face the challenge.
- Look at it as the athlete, not the spectator. You are the racer that is persevering to the end. Philippians 3:12 – 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Notice that Paul takes that responsibility on himself and states “I press on” and “I lay hold.” He is not expecting anyone else to do it for him.
- Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul set a goal and pushed for the prize. Ultimately, our goal and prize is heaven.
- 1 Tim 4:13 “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. To give attention to reading means to make it a continual practice. It is not just an occasional reading, but a daily practice. If done habitually it yields constant results.
- “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and continue steadfastly in prayer” (Rom. 12:12) Continue steadfastly means to maintain the regular habit.
5. Reach out to others for support
- As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another
Galatians 6:1-5 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; (It says those who are spiritual. We have to focus on our spiritual well being first.) each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load.
It is my responsibility and it is yours.
