“...train yourself in godliness. For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.”

1 Timothy 4:7-9 CSB

Watching these athletes at the NCAA basketball Final Four is incredible. These kids have practiced their legs off for the last almost two decades of their lives, and have reached the pinnacle of their sport. What would practice like this look like for a Christian? I sometimes wonder if we expect that the relational aspects of salvation and therefore friendship with God are just granted to us with no effort of our own. If I only talked to my wife, or my child once a week, am I building a relationship/friendship? If I only shot free throws or worked out once a week for an hour or two, could I become a basketball player? Why do we expect anything different for our spiritual life than is true for our physical life? And the huge benefit of this training, as Paul says, is not only for now, but for later as well. 

What if I put as much effort in working my spiritual body as an athlete does his/her physical body? What might that look like?

I was in the best physical shape of my life from 2006-2009 when I worked out with a personal trainer from the church I served at in Wisconsin. It was a focused, hard, and exerting 30 minutes. But my cardio, my skating (I played hockey at the time) and my basketball playing all improved— from 30 minutes A WEEK. What if I took 15-20 minutes a day to hear from/talk to God? Would I better be able to hear from God/know His heart/understand His Word? ABSOLUTELY.  Would that ‘practice’ help me work out my spiritual muscles? Set my mind in a proper direction? Strengthen my life? Paul said it would. Here’s a couple of resources: 

1. So often Christians just say “read your Bible” with no direction or help. I say open your Bible in the middle, and begin — begin with the Psalm of the day. 150 Psalms, divided by 30 is 5. Five psalms (with the exception of 119!) take about 12-15 minutes to read. Today is the 10th - read psalm 10, 40, 70, 100, 130. But don’t read for quantity - read for quality — read until something “sticks out” to you (that’s probably the Spirit!). That might be a phrase, a verse, or only a paragraph. And then think on what that “stick out” means for you today, how it might shape your thinking, your view of God, your serving others, etc. Work out with it a little...maybe even all day.
2. Use an app like the Bible app by YouVersion (click HERE). Make an account, find a devotional plan, and “work it out” regularly-to-every-day — the great thing about the Youversion app is you can partner with friends and see/read their inputs too! It’s a great place for a married couple to interact with what God is teaching over dinner or before they go to bed.

What’s the point of all this? WORK OUT spiritually like we work out physically. And see if we aren’t stronger in our faith-walk in a week — just like we would be physically if we did the same thing. 

Train yourself...we have a choice— what will it be? I want to be stronger— let’s do this!!! Email me if you want some help or some more direction/input — glad to be a small part of your spiritual journey, and glad to be a “spiritual trainer” as needed!