Good morning ladies!
It’s Fit Friday, and I’d like to start this time with 2 questions! Are you motivated about your fitness? And, what motivates you? As my sister said a few weeks ago, true fitness is a lifestyle and it includes all aspects of your life (physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally etc.) However, today I want to focus on, physically!
Most of the time when we read the 1 Cor. 6:19-20 it’s discussed in a spiritual sense. I’ve been in many conversations about how it so important to filter the kinds of media and music you consume, thoughts that you entertain, and to guard your time in prayer, study of the word, and fasting so you can be spiritually strong.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 "19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
But this verse also applies in a physical sense. With the time demands of ministry, the temptation of delicious Louisiana food, the convenience of being able to drive and sit down pretty much where ever we go and other factors, it can be difficult to maintain fitness. But, it’s critically important that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the way we eat, exercise, sleep, hydrate, and rest.
When I was in school I ran track, played basketball, and danced. But, once I graduated and went to college I had access to a full buffet in the cafeteria and started eating cake with every meal LOL. My work out habits suffered, to say the least! And, when I did work out it was typically because I didn’t like the way that I looked. Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with working out to make physical changes to your body. But as a daughter of God and as a temple for the Holy Spirit we have a much more significant reason to take good care of ourselves.
I saw a major change in my lifestyle when honoring God with my fitness became my motivation. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Now, working out and eating healthily is an important part of my life and it’s not so I can look fit (though it a great side effect), it’s so I can serve the Lord a long time. It’s so I can win more souls during my time on earth and so I have more time to make the name of Jesus known!
Unfortunately, there are amazing men and women of God who’s time on earth was cut short and/or seriously limited because of avoidable diseases and ailments. However, that doesn’t need to continue to be the case in the Body of Christ. We can, and should, set the example in the way we care for our bodies. But, we have to keep God's Kingdom first and keep our important role in it at the forefront of our mind.
I know a mighty woman of God, that at age 74 she travels, preaches with the fire of God, does prayer walks in her neighborhood and looks and seems years younger than she is. And that is a result of he being intentional about fitness. We can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Fitness Tips:
A morning run (a great time to pray and pray for your neighborhood!)
If you don’t like to run…walk!!
If you don’t like to “work out” start by doing small burst of exercises throughout the day (10 pushups here, 20 squats there)
Smoothies are a great way to sneak in lots of extra fruits and veggies (I love my nutribullet)
As you are reintroducing foods in your system after a fast, reintroduce healthy ones and try healthy food that you didn’t like before. (Fasting helps to change your palate and break food addictions that many people have to things like caffeine, sugar, salt, etc.)
Drink more water (about 5 years ago I started drinking pretty much only water and I almost immediately saw a physical change in my body and felt much better. It will also save you so money when you eat out! lol)
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