My word for May 2^nd is EXERCISE

Anna has always been my work out child she loves to exercise.  Her body is naturally muscular, so she doesn’t have to do very much.  I, on the other hand, laugh at the thought of me being muscular, not me.  Anna, however, has gotten me up and exercising.  At 5:30a.m. every morning here she comes down the stairs, “Mom lets go”.  I feel much better when I get up and going and yes I will say it the dreaded word, “exercise!”

There are many different types of exercising.  You can run, jog, walk, ride a bike, lift weights, do aerobics, zumba and many more.  You can even run in a marathon or do a triathlon.  No matter what your preference you must have a plan.  You can’t jump in and run 13 miles, it takes time.  You must train yourself.  You have to lead up to the end result.  You must have patience for your body to adjust.  And “yes” there is pain involved, no pain no gain.  It also helps if you have a partner, a motivator, someone to push you one step at a time. 

Begin with your plan.  The only difference in God’s plan for us and our exercise plan is that Gods plan isn’t written in black and white where we can see it, however if we follow Him and His word we are following His plan for us.  All of our exercise plans aren’t the same, what works for some won’t work for others.  This is the same with God’s plan for us.  Our plan isn’t the same as someone else’s we are all different.  Time is a factor.  We must make time for God just like we make time for exercise. Our faith, just like our bodies, takes time to shape.   Then we must be patient to see the results, it doesn’t happen over night.  No exercise plan is free from pain and hurt.  When we are getting our bodies in shape we will have pain.  God doesn’t promise us that we won’t endure pain and suffering.  It is through the uncomfortable we become comfortable.  Just as when we exercise our bodies become stronger, when we exercise our faith we become stronger.  It helps to have a partner in crime, someone who will motivate you and lead you step by step.  We do have a partner, that partner is God.  He is here for us with every step, whether it is a jog or a walk He is cheering us to the finish line. 

Absence of exercise is one of the risk factors in leading to diseases.  When we are without God, when He isn’t present in our lives, we are at risk in walking down the wrong path and setting our bodies up for failure.  Add exercise to your life, exercising your body and your faith.  Train yourself to walk everyday with the Lord.  If you do this you will finish the race and finish strong. 

Dear Lord be with us as we work out with your word.  Get us spiritually conditioned, pushing our mind, body and spirit to its fittest.  We know that we may have pain but we know through the pain we gain strength.  Teach us how to exercise your word so that it will build us up.  During this journey of 2012 help us to train to be in the best shape we have ever been in. 

I Timothy 4: 8

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 Corinthians 6:19-20(NIV)

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.

Continue reading with this article:

http://www.mtio.com/articles/aissar104.htm Do You Need Spiritual Exercise?, Issues, Etc.  Don Matzat