Physical of spiritual exercice ?

Friday April 21, 2023

Physical or spiritual exercise ?

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Physical exercise is useful for little things, while godliness is useful for everything, because it has the promise of the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4.8 S21 Version

At the time Paul wrote these words, people were walking several miles a day and were not sitting all day in front of a computer.

If he had written this letter to Timothy today, I'm sure he would change his point or at least devote a few more lines to the importance of physical exercise !

Indeed, the consequences are sometimes serious. According to "Santé Publique France", physical inactivity is thus responsible for 6 to 9% of all-cause mortality in the world, 10% of breast and colon cancers ; and 9% of premature deaths are attributable to the sole fact of being physically inactive !

Yet our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should therefore take care of it ! (1 Corinthians 6.19)

How ? You could practice a sport (for example I play tennis twice a week) or you could simply choose to walk thirty minutes a day instead of taking a bus, or take the stairs instead of taking the elevators or escalators !

The list of health benefits of physical activity is long : better functioning of the heart and blood activity, increased muscle mass, reduced fat mass, maintenance of joints and bones, reduction of stress, cancer risks, benefits for the brain such as improved sleep... Not to mention that you will pray more effectively and serve your Lord better !

So, physical or spiritual exercise ? It's my personal opinion that we should both have it. We must first glorify God in our spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, reading the Bible, but also glorify God in our bodies. In other words, let's all have "a healthy mind in a healthy body" !

Listen the voice of God

Does this text appeal to you personally ? Do you feel the need to be more active ? Let God put conviction on your heart, inspire you in silence how to glorify him in your body.

Praying is simple. Speak to God as you would your closest friend. He loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "Lord, your Spirit lives in me and I want to glorify you in my spiritual disciplines but also in my body. Please show me how I can do more exercises physical and improve my lifestyle."

Praise God

Today, praise the Lord because he lives in you. He allows you to glorify him through prayer, reading his word and obedience to his will. Also thank him for empowering you to take care of the body he gave you. Thank him because you can be a good testimony of him in this area too.

Act today

Following this message, you can write down on a sheet what you already do in terms of sport and physical exercise, then the ideas that come to you to do a little more each day. Then ask God for the strength to get on with it and persevere, starting slowly so you don't get discouraged.

Honor the Lord

Our journey for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Thank you Lord for allowing me to glorify you with my whole being. To you be the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

David Nolent

Source (The Thought of the Day)