Recently, I have been going to a fitness class at the church I attend, and they are talking about how you can incorporate spiritual disciplines from physical disciplines. Some of those disciplines encompass strength training, cardio, mobility, and even fasting. Working out has been something that the Holy Spirit has been pushing me to do since I first started talking to Him. Now I understand why it’s so important to work out. It’s so cool how God works.

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

            This class has taught me that physical training can also be spiritual training for godliness itself. Working out crucifies the flesh and gives room for your soul to get stronger and your spirit to align with Holy Spirit easier. Personally, for me, coming out of addiction left me weak-minded and depleted every single time I stopped. God was merciful enough to build me back up every time I slipped and fell.

            Strength training in the physical helps you to carry heavier loads in the spiritual. God can and does use any means necessary to help us get into shape mentally so that we can bear the load of the calling He has placed upon us. For someone like me who has been worn down by the enemy and filled with lies that I’m weak-minded, strength training is a good way for me and anyone to push themselves to the limit and show themselves that they’re capable of anything.

            Cardio is a way for us to push past our limits and keep going even when we feel like quitting. Running a mile is quite difficult for a lot of people, but it is something everyone would benefit from being able to do. God might eventually call you to run a few miles to learn endurance and how well your body and mind can perform under pressure. It’s not about sprinting miles in the spirit but learning to pace yourself so that you can finish the race well. However, an all-out sprint is physically beneficial for increasing HGH and improving your cardiovascular health.  

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

            Whether we are talking about a physical race or a spiritual one, I truly believe running in the physical helps prepare us for running our spiritual race too. It is so important to have the discipline of running a simple mile just to maintain some kind of athletic and spiritual fitness. After having successfully ran a mile today and did some sprints afterwards, I’m going to go for 2 miles in a couple of days and then for 3 miles. Eventually, I plan on getting to run 5 miles or more. I used to be able to run 3 miles in high school and I know that my body is more than capable of doing that again. It just takes time, practice, and belief.

            Mobility like stretching and yoga is so good for your body to get limber and not be so tight. Not only that, stretching and/or yoga helps to release trauma and tension from the body that you have been holding onto, stored memories in the body that you have no idea about. Some research suggests that most events get in stored in the brain by the hippocampus, but the most traumatic ones get pushed down into the body and stored in the fascia. This is why some people have no recollection of the traumatic events they’ve been through, but ultimately, the body keeps the score.  

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

            God can and does use many ways to help restore and heal us back to wholeness. With the help of the Holy Spirit, He takes the broken soul we come to Him with and repairs it back to a completeness that can only come from knowing Him. Yoga and therapy can only go so far and sometimes even make it worse if not done properly. You can become dependent on yoga and/or therapy can open wounds that your mind wasn’t ready to process yet. This is why it is so important to let God lead and guide the healing process. If you will let Him and don’t try to rush the process like I have done, He will redeem the trauma and pain that you have been through and make you a godly man or woman of God.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8, 9

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23