encouraging each other to care well for the bodies God has given us
“…train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7b,8
It is good to care for our bodies, the earthly homes God has given us. It is good to eat well, exercise consistently, and relax regularly, but it is more important to be godly, focused on loving and serving God.
After all, our bodies will eventually decay, although they will be raised again in a new form when Christ returns. But our relationship with the Lord is fundamental to our existence, now and forever.
So, how do we obey that command to “train yourself to be godly”? Countless sermons, books, and meditations have dealt with this question and they agree on three things:
- Read your Bible and think about what you read.
- Pray, either in words or song, with praise, thanksgiving, and requests.
- Obey God’s Word, beginning with what Jesus identified to be the greatest commandment: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,’ and continuing with, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
You will find that God uses all three of these together as you train to be godly.
As for physical fitness (caring for the body God has given me) which is of some value: this week I did my eye exercises faithfully, walked some, ate vegetables, enjoyed yoghurt, did some physio and organ exercises, and relaxed. It was not the best week in terms of physical fitness, partly because I spent my exercise time in the garden.
That is not all bad, though. Gardening is mild exercise. Furthermore, it allows me time to pray, to meditate, and to understand how to obey. It is part of my spiritual fitness as well as my physical fitness. But it takes time.
I do not yet understand how to fit all my current commitments into my day. Determining that is part of training in godliness, I guess, and God is the one who directs the training program.
I wish you a blessed Easter weekend as you ponder what God has done for you and consider how you can train yourself to be godly as he commands.
And, if you have time, let’s encourage each other. Please link up your health and fitness post in the comments below, and don`t forget to link back here from your post. Then enjoy visiting and encouraging other Fit Mommies just like you.
Note: Fit Mommy Friday is the Health and Fitness Check-In column of The Christian Home Carnival.
I love when the Lord does this. My entry this week isn’t listing my goals either, it’s what the Lord has shown me about my walk with Him and where my focus should be. http://wgcreates.com/josjourney/my-food-desires-fit-mommy-friday/
I like your post a lot. Thanks for the encouragement to remember our life is truly about the Lord. 🙂
You’re so welcome. Now I can’t wait to pop by your blog to be encouraged by you! 🙂
Great encouragement!
Wonderful thoughts today, thank you. I too love my gardening time for thinking and listening to podcasts. I also struggle with getting all of my goals in each day. I think sometimes I need to reevaluate and drop a few or maybe do some a few times a week instead of everyday. I’ve slacked off on my back stretches and now I’m paying with pain. Oh, well, someday I will learn the lesson once and for all.
Have a blessed Easter.
http://briana-icantdecide.blogspot.com/2012/04/yeah-baby.html
I think it’s a lesson that needs to be relearned every time our life changes…and with growing kids it changes a lot.
I love this honest and thought provoking post, Annie Kate. If all we do is work on our physical bodies, all is really not well. I need help in this area, to get things in balance. And gardening is great exercise. When I pull weeds, I am always sore in different places. Not that I am pulling weeds as much as I should.
Yes, it’s a balance…and that balance can be hard to find on a day to day basis.
Caring for The Temple of the Holy Spirit in all ways is something that God planted firmly on my heart. Recently, I have been reflecting more upon it and doing my best to make changes that honor Him and help me honor the body I was given. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and linking up with The Christian Home magazine.
[…] and Fitness Check-in Featured Columnist -Annie Kate presents Fit Mommy Friday: The Best Fitness Training of All posted at Tea Time with Annie Kate. I really appreciate how she encourages her readers to aim […]
This is so true. No matter how well we take care of these earthly bodies they are only going to last so long and before you know it they are all worn out. It is so much more important to concentrate on our spiritual side. That is the part of us that will not die. Thank you for the encouragement in this post.
Blessings,
Charlotte