I used to work out. Used to. I don’t anymore, not really. 

There’s something extremely frustrating about working out and exercising in general. We all know what it is. Just because you worked out for a few years and got into shape doesn’t mean you will stay in shape. 

The phrase “use it or lose it” is entirely accurate. Once you stop an exercise program, there’s a very good chance you’ll revert to your pre-exercise health. Not to mention, your same shape.

Shape Shifting

Staying in shape requires constant healthy eating and exercise. It’s not rocket science, and there’s no magic formula. And it’s not a secret—we all know what it takes to be healthy. 

I wish things were different. I wish I could exercise one day, get instant results, and keep those results for years. While I’m at it, it would be nice to pay someone to exercise and eat healthy for me or if my wife’s exercise program would benefit me. That’s not the way things work.

We know that we must do the exercises, be committed and constant, and see it as a lifestyle more than an action. 

This is also true of our big muscle, our brain. Our brains can stay in shape, too, being exercised by puzzles or learning new things. All of this is worked into the fabric of our universe, and we know it. 

While we may be looking for shortcuts, we often discover that shortcuts don’t work. 

Spiritual Shape

When it comes to our spiritual health, we have a disconnect. We forget everything we know in the other areas of our lives, or we may think this one area of is different from all the others. 

We believe that spiritual exercises aren’t needed, that they should provide instant results that last three years, or that our spouse can do that for us. I had someone tell me that.

For some reason, we believe our spiritual fitness or health will take care of itself. The evidence says otherwise. Like our physical health, our spiritual health doesn’t work on autopilot.

If we want to be physically healthy, we know what to do. If we aren’t physically healthy or fit, we have a good idea of why.

If we neglect our spiritual life, we shouldn’t be surprised if we aren’t spiritually healthy. 

Spiritual Health

When we are spiritually healthy, we have peace. Even during times of challenge, we experience less anxiety. We have purpose and meaning, joy, compassion, and love. The Apostle Paul writes that the fruit of the Spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control are the marks of a spiritually healthy life. 

While physical and mental fitness help us navigate life, spiritual health helps us face the challenges we face with grace, hope, and resilience. 

How do we get there? I think we kind of already know. It’s like everything else: commitment and consistency. 

We don’t lift weights but lift our hearts to God. We don’t run on a treadmill, but we do spend time turning pages of scripture and spending time in prayer. There are many exercises to strengthen our connection with God. There are many exercises. That will help us stay spiritually fit.

But we must realize it’s a lifestyle. It is daily commitment and consistency, but the benefits are amazing (I almost wrote, “out of this world” but didn’t). If you would like to explore spiritual health and flourishing, let me know!

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Tim 4:8 NLT)

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/