Every night as I drift to sleep I recap my day with God and talk to him about what lies ahead tomorrow. It’s mostly a vent session on my end where I tell him all the things I wish I had accomplished, done differently or am nervous about. He listens while I lay it all on the line then He gently redirects my thoughts and actions. He reminds me that he is in control and his plan for my life is so much greater than anything I could ever imagine, if only I will be bold enough to trust and follow Him.
Two of the things I was discussing with him tonight were the direction I am to take as a fitness professional and asking for wisdom on how to best fuel my body. In that moment he asked me a question, “What is your end goal?”
You don’t have to be a fitness expert to know that anyone who seeks advice in this area always tells their coach or personal trainer what their goal is. Common answers are “to lose weight, get toned, see my abs, run a race”. While I believe in setting goals I feel like the Lord was challenging me to reevaluate some of my goals I have set.
Why do we need to exercise and eat healthy? The core answer lying behind all the pictures of the beautifully sculpted bodies is simple: to be our very best physically so our body(the temple) is functioning in order for the Holy Spirit to live within us and use us for God’s kingdom. There is something so much greater going on then just our physique. Does God care about the small things we care about, like having a lean body or shaped arms? Yes he does but not at the expense of us selling our soul and forgetting why we need to take care of our body.
As Matthew 6:33 says:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
It’s easy for me to close my spiritual eyes to the bondage that takes place in fitness but when I think about my two daughters, ages 6 & 8, I am forced to reevaluate my decisions. I don’t want to train them to think the only reason we exercise and eat healthy are to look good. I want them to know that we do these things to honor the body God has blessed us with. God is not against exercise and meal plans but he does not want them to own us.
If I build my fitness platform(idol) on my own then I must maintain it on my own. If I partner with God to be the healthiest I can be, mind, soul, body and spirit, then I will not have to work to maintain anything. Let’s choose to partner with God today. Fitness is a journey, not a destination. He wants to set us free so let’s take this journey with Him.
