I may not get to the gym as often as I’d like to, and I have a hard time passing up an ice cream cone, but after years of competing in sports and thinking about health and wellness I’d like to think I know a thing or two. And as a pastor, one of the things I’ve noticed is how many similarities there are between physical wellness and spiritual wellness. Here are a few examples:
First, true fitness takes a combination of diet and exercise.
There’s a phrase I’ve heard over and over again from health experts and fitness influencers: You can’t outwork your diet. Some people think that they can get in shape by working out really hard while still downing a bag of Doritos every day, but unfortunately that’s not how it works. Physical progress becomes most evident when we combine a healthy diet and exercise, and the same thing is true for our spiritual walk.
Spiritually, we need to take in a healthy diet of Scripture, meditation, and Gospel-centered preaching, among other things. But if we truly want to be healthy, we need to also act on what we learn — that’s what it means to “exercise” spiritually. In other words, the spiritually healthy person isn’t the one who simply hears the word, but the one who hears the word and obeys it.
Second, healthy lives are an accumulation of good habits.
You can’t go to the gym once a month for three hours and expect to get in shape. It doesn’t matter how hard or how long you work out in one day; your fitness depends more on your consistency over weeks and months than it does on a single day’s efforts.
Similarly, hearing a sermon once a week is not sufficient to make us spiritually fit. We must walk with God daily — engaging with his word, connecting with him through prayer, and acting according to what he’s called us to do — if we want to be spiritually strong. We also need to regularly seek the company of other believers, because God has given us to each other to help each other grow.
Third, pain often comes before growth.
You know the phrase: “No pain, no gain.” While that statement can be taken to unhealthy extremes, it is generally true — growth happens primarily through discomfort and opposition. My understanding is that when you’re lifting weights you’re actually tearing down the muscle you have so that it can be rebuilt into something bigger and stronger. That’s a painful thing to push through, so why do you do it? Because you recognize that the product will be worth the pain!
The same is true of spiritual growth — sometimes it’s painful at first. It can be hard to understand the Bible at first. Prayer can seem boring or frustrating at first. Changing your life to align it with God’s word can be hard at first. But if you can focus on the end product — a life that accurately reflects the God who gave everything to rescue you — the pain becomes worth it.
Fourth, it’s easier to stay consistent when you have a plan.
Walking into the gym without a plan of what you want to accomplish makes it difficult for you maximize your time there. Do you need to work on cardio? Which muscle groups are you going to work out? Do you know which equipment you need to use? How many reps and sets of each activity are you going to do? I think a lot of people go into the gym and just sort of feel out what they want to do, but what happens on the days when you’re not feeling it at all? Do you just not exercise?
This is a really practice tip from my experience: If you have a plan for your own spiritual growth it’s easier to stay spiritually disciplined. For example: I’ve developed a routine that involves Bible reading in the early morning (before breakfast) and prayer later in the morning (after I drop my son off at school). I try to make these things a priority, and because they are such a part of my schedule I often do them even on the days I don’t feel like it. Don’t let your schedule dictate your faithfulness; let your faithfulness influence your schedule.
Finally, fitness is easier when you have a good coach.
When I used to work for the YMCA we had a program where we could set appointments for new members to meet with a fitness instructor who would teach them how to use the equipment. The thought behind this was some people come into the gym wanting to get into shape, but not really knowing how to do so. This program helped them get off to a good start by helping them evaluate their fitness goals and equipping them with the tools to get there.
Spiritually, these coaches can be found in the form of pastors and other mature believers who may offer good counsel from the scriptures. When we have questions or concerns, we know we can take them to these people, who have dedicated themselves to helping us become spiritually fit too. They are there to challenge and encourage us, and we should take advantage of their wisdom.
So how fit are you spiritually?
What do you need to do to become a healthier believer?
I hope you’ve found this helpful!
-Jeff Schapiro
Lead Pastor, Movement Church