Regular Exercise

My gym has recently changed management, and they have refurbished all the equipment. Its all brand new, looks great, and it works! While the old equipment was adequate for the task, some of it was getting well worn and there was generally at least one machine out of order at any one time.

The main positive of the new equipment is that you are able to exercise more easily and work more of your body, therefore reaching your goals quicker. The down side is you ache a lot more the next day!!

  

Keeping fit by regular exercise is something we all know is good for us and we should aim to do. Unfortunately, not many of us do all we should. While I’ve been talking about the gym, I’ve not been very often in the past few months.

But with the new equipment, I’ve recommitted to trying to go to the gym every few days for at least an hour. For the past week, that’s been going well. But I will need to remain motivated and focus on the end result if I want to stick to this commitment.

It can be the same in our spiritual lives. We all know daily prayer and Bible reading is good for us, but how many of us manage to do it? I’m talking about a quick daily verse off the internet and a quick ‘Hi God’ prayer in the car, but the real, deep searching for God’s voice and spending a significant amount of dedicated time in prayer. I know I don’t.

Often we will buy new Bible reading books, or download flashy Bible reading ‘apps’, but how often do we manage to stick with them to the end? And even if we do, how long is it before they become just a quick 5 minute activity in-between rushing from one thing to the next?

Just as with committing to regular physical exercise, we need to commit to regular spiritual exercise. The same motivation and focusing on why we are undertaking the activity can help us keep our commitments in the tough times.

Some days, I don’t want to go to the gym as I feel too stressed or busy, but I remember that by exercising I work out those issues as I work out my body and feel better at the end of it.

Some days, I don’t want to read my Bible for the same reasons, but by remembering that through prayer and study I am inviting God to make a difference and speak to me that I will be in a better state of mind and know God’s presence with me, I am able to focus my mind on Him.

As I’ve mentioned above, there are lots of aids to help us read our Bible and pray regularly. These can be great helps, and a great place to start! But remember we must commit and motivate ourselves in those tough times to stick with it, and we will see results!