SPIRITUALLY FIT?

Spiritually Fit?

by Janis Cox 

Kimberley Payne, from Fit for Faith, always has a focus on fitness. She reminds us to eat properly, get the right amount of exercise and take time with God.

Yes, taking time with God is spiritual fitness and should be at the top of our list.

When we start our days in prayer (talking with God) we are building a firm foundation.

Oswald Chambers compares this time to a workshop. He tells us we can be the real thing before God.

Why you ask? Why do we need to be spiritually fit?

“When the crisis comes instead of being revealed as fit, you will be revealed as unfit.”1

But if we have built a good private relationship with God then:

“when the strain comes you can be relied upon by God.”2

When we do physical exercise we build heart muscles, lungs and bones – and probably a lot more parts that we don’t even know.

The same is true in worshipping God. As we read the Bible, study, pray and listen to Him we are building spiritual muscles. When we are in a crisis mode we will call upon those muscles, and all the other underlying parts we don’t know about, to help us stand for Christ.

Don’t think that in a crisis we can start developing spiritual fitness. It starts today – no excuses. Here are some of the excuses Oswald Chambers relates:

“I can’t be expected to live the sanctified life in the circumstances I am in; I have no time for praying just now, no time for Bible reading, my opportunity hasn’t come yet; when it does, of course I shall be all right.”3

and Oswald answers these excuses:

“No, you will not. If you have not been worshipping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.”4

 Take the time. Make the time. Build a relationship with God. Be ready. Be fit. Fitness is a continuing process. But we have to start somewhere.

1, 2, 3, 4 – Quotes from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, September 10, 2011.

Prayer:

Help us, Lord, to take the time to know You better. Help us to come to You and talk it out. Help to build this relationship and grow spiritually. In Jesus’ name. AMEM

My Gratitude List for this week:

  • babysitting our two youngest grandchildren with my hubby
  • walks to the beach, the park and the canal
  • explaining the lock system to a 4-year old
  • watching a boat descend in the lock from the eyes of a 4-year old
  • a visit to the Peterborough Zoo
  • camels, monkeys and llamas
  • train ride through a tunnel with screaming kids
  • great visit with friends

Jan Cox

Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.



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