Today, we hear a lot about how we should be physically fit. Just what does fitness mean and how does it relate to our faith?
Being fit means that we are healthy and in good physical condition. Which encompasses every area of our lives including eating and drinking healthy, getting enough sleep at night and exercising. Because the more fit that we are the better we will feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When we are physically fit it makes it easier for us to do our daily task at home or at work. And it is especially beneficial to be physically fit for the special work that God has assigned for us through the exercising of our special talents and spiritual gifts.
God sends missionaries to foreign countries where they have to walk for miles and miles before they reach the next village. If they are physically fit then their legs and feet will be strong enough to keep mobilized for the long journeys ahead. Pastors know that preaching is not only spiritual, but it also involves a lot of physical work to stand up and deliver a sermon. Which is why many pastors take Mondays off after preaching on Sunday to rest and get refueled. Therefore, ministers have to take care of their physical health to continue to be used of God. Those that God has graciously bestowed upon the spiritual gift of helps may require a lot of hard physical work. And without being physically fit most of the task that they are assigned will never be accomplished.
A weak physical condition can also cause depression as in the case of the Prophet Elijah who was running for his life according to 1 Kings 19:1-4. After a day’s journey he was hungry, exhausted, and wanted to die. When our physical state is depleted things have a tendency to seem worse than they really are. And we feel helpless and our faith in God fails. And if we act on our feelings in a depressed state, we will regret it when we are revived. But thankfully Elijah’s wish was not granted and after he nourished his body with food, water, and rested, he was no longer depressed, his faith in God was renewed and he was able to fulfill what God wanted him to do.
Prayer is an activity that takes us into the spiritual realm, but it involves a lot of physical work. Prayer warriors know that they have to be physically fit just to stay awake in order to pray for hours in intercessory prayer for all of saints. Especially when they add fasting to their prayers along with the agony and travailing that accompany extremely intense prayers for more serious situations. In fact, operating in the spiritual realm can sometimes ware down the physical body more than any other activity. Especially our spiritual battles against the devil and his demons (Ephesians 6:12). This is why we must take the time out to keep ourselves physically fit so that we do not become vulnerable and susceptible to yielding to the temptations of the devil. And fulfill God’s calling for our lives.
Published 6/8/2011 for: http://fitforfaith.blogspot.com/
