Spiritual Fitness

By Karen Barrett

Physical fitness and good health are major preoccupa­tions of many people in today's society. Do you want proof? Glance through the magazines near the check­out stand of your local supermarket. Almost certainly you'll see a feature on the latest diet. You might come across an article promoting an exercise program guaranteed to take inches off your waist in mere weeks. Another may give infor­mation on how many people died of heart disease last year. And in one publication after another, advertisers declare how using their products will benefit your health.

There is another type of fitness, however, that we don't hear much about—spiritual fitness! Developing and maintaining spirit­ual vitality is of critical importance to every Christian. In our physical bodies, fitness doesn't just happen. If we neglect healthy eating habits, proper exercise, and sufficient rest, we suffer the consequences. Our spiritual relationship with God will not thrive either if we neglect to maintain it. Actively seeking the Lord requires real effort. We have to pur­pose to draw closer to Him, and then follow through on that purpose in order to experience the benefits.

Why is it important to be in good shape spiritually? Per­sonal closeness and fellowship with God come by maintain­ing spiritual well-being. We can only be useful to God if we are spiritually fit to be used by Him. Strength and endurance are required to reach our final goal of Heaven. Finally, as Christians, we represent God to those around us, and we need to be positive examples of Christianity.

Start with a checkup

A complete physical exam is recommended before be­ginning a new diet or exercise program, and a comparable checkup of our spiritual lives might bring some valuable in­sight. The obvious first step in assessing our spiritual condi­tion is stated in 2 Corinthians 13:5. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." Have you had a definite experience of salvation—that radical change the Bible compares to a new birth through which "old things pass away and all things become new"(2 Cor. 5:17)?

If we know we are saved, we have made a start. But then we must determine where we need to gain greater strength in our spiritual lives. There are a number of specific areas to consider as we take inventory of our present spiritual condi­tion. For example, how strong is our faith? Are we seeing answers to our prayers? Do we have the zeal and power in our lives that we need in order to win others for Christ?

Proper nourishment is necessary

Proper spiritual nourishment is one of the primary ne­cessities for maintaining spiritual vigor and ensuring Christian growth. We find that nourishment through time spent in reading and meditating on God's Word. Job said, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). Is nourishing your physical body more important to you than providing food for your inner being? Skipping such "meals" is a sure road to spiritual malnourishment.

Spiritual sustenance also comes through fellowship with other believers. God's Word cautions us not to neglect as­sembling together. It tells of the benefits of sharing the things that God has done for us, and even says that a book of re­membrance will be written concerning them that speak of­ten to each other about the things of God.

Nibbling on snacks full of empty calories will ruin our ap­petite for a nourishing dinner. In like manner, a desire for the things of God quickly decreases when a person samples even a little of the pleasure of the world. Does your spiritual analysis reveal a lessening interest in spiritual matters? It's vi­tal to pinpoint the reason immediately.

Time out for spiritual rest

Adequate rest is necessary for physical well-being, and it is just as important in the spiritual sense. Quiet moments of meditation and communion with God should be a regular part of our lives. They bring inner peace, no matter how stressful or troublesome the outward circumstances may be. The Prophet Isaiah says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." In our day of action­ packed, high-powered living, what a wonderful promise! Some periods of rest in our lives may come during times of lessened activity caused by illness, injury, or vacation. If we use these times properly, they can draw us closer to God.

Spiritual exercise brings benefits

Regular exercise should accompany even the best diet, according to fitness experts. What role should exercise play in our spiritual lives? Begin by thinking about some of the attributes of a Christian outlined in God's Word. How great is our patience? Are we consistently kind and charitable? Do we always remember to be thankful? Are we trustworthy, considerate, and wise? Most of us would readily admit there are some areas where we need to improve. As in physical exercise, intermittent attention to one area will do little if any good. Regular, rather than sporadic, exercise brings the ben­efit.

Be careful as you begin your workout, though! Just as it is possible in the physical to exercise a muscle improperly, it can happen in the spiritual as well. Don't practice a certain virtue for a wrong motive—just to make a good impression, or to make yourself feel better. Be sure that a sincere desire to draw closer to God and be more like Him is your motive.

Steering clear of hazards

Avoidance of harmful substances or activities is an obvi­ous necessity in caring for our physical bodies. Of course the gross, out broken sins prevalent in society today will have no part in our Christian lives. However, we may be tempted to dabble with things that could be hazardous to our spiritual well-be­ing. These unhealthy influences could be loosely categorized by using the term "worldliness" to cover all of them. In I John 2:15, we are cautioned, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Consider the potential danger to our spiritual health in developing close friendships with non-Christians, going places that would have a negative in­fluence on our spirituality, or engaging in activities that would damage our Christian witness. These will certainly have a detrimental effect on our overall spiritual state.

Evaluating our commitment

It's time to assess our spiritual priorities. How much of a commitment can we honestly say we have made to develop­ing our spirituality? As we take this thorough look at our spir­itual condition, we need to analyze our day-to-day lives. Did we spend more time figuring out what outfit we should wear today than thinking about what we might be able to do for the Lord? More time planning how to spend our free time than studying our Bible? More time providing for our own needs than giving of ourselves for the concerns of others?

Beginning a physical exercise program or deciding to eat healthful and regular meals may not show immediate results. But if the effort is sustained, the results will follow! This is true in the spiritual sense also. Reading the Bible a little longer for one or two mornings won't make a lasting differ­ence. Spending an extra five minutes in prayer for two days in a row probably won't bring long-term results. But a whole­hearted, deep commitment to keeping spiritually fit will bring great dividends in your life!

Karen Barrett is Office Manager at the Apostolic Faith Church International Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.