Strengthen Your Faith Through Physical Exercise: A Christian Perspective

Strengthen Your Faith Through Physical Exercise

As a Christian, you know the importance of both body and soul. We are created with these two interconnected parts, and the health of one can influence the health of the other. God made us as whole persons, and it's a Christian distinctive to care about both the soul and body.

However, the apostle Paul helps us understand the priority between the two. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul exhorts him to be "a good servant of Christ Jesus." He writes:

"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance." (1 Timothy 4:7-9, ESV)

Many commentators point out that "bodily training" is an athletic allusion, referring to the Greek athletes who trained for the Olympic games. These athletes trained physically to win a corruptible crown, but we train spiritually to win an incorruptible one.

So, while physical exercise is important, it is not as important as spiritual exercise. But that doesn't mean physical exercise is not important at all. In fact, physical exercise can help you strengthen your faith. Here's how:

Physical Exercise Helps You Cultivate Discipline

Regular physical exercise requires discipline. It's not always easy to stick to a workout routine, especially when you don't feel like it. But when you do, you develop the discipline that spills over into other areas of your life.

Similarly, cultivating spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible reading, and fasting requires discipline. Physical exercise can help you develop the discipline necessary to cultivate these spiritual disciplines. When you learn to push through the discomfort of a tough workout, you can apply that same discipline to your spiritual life.

Physical Exercise Helps You Overcome Obstacles

Physical exercise also helps you overcome obstacles. When you're working out, you may encounter physical obstacles such as fatigue, soreness, or injury. But you learn to push through these obstacles to reach your fitness goals.

Similarly, in our Christian journey, we will encounter obstacles. We may face temptation, doubt, or persecution. But when we learn to push through these obstacles, we become stronger in our faith. We learn to rely on God's strength rather than our own, and we grow in our trust in Him.

Physical Exercise Helps You Relieve Stress

Physical exercise is also an excellent way to relieve stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that help to relieve stress and boost your mood.

As Christians, we also face stress. We may worry about our future, our finances, or our relationships. But when we turn to God in prayer and trust Him with our worries, we can experience relief from stress. We can find peace in knowing that God is in control and that He cares for us.

Physical Exercise Helps You Practice Gratitude

Finally, physical exercise can help you practice gratitude. When you exercise, you become more aware of your body and all that it can do. You may feel grateful for your health, your strength, or your ability to move.

Similarly, as Christians, we should practice gratitude. We should be thankful for all that God has done for us. We should be grateful for our salvation, our blessings, and our relationships. When we practice gratitude, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness and contentment.

Conclusion

Physical exercise is not as important as spiritual exercise, but it can help you strengthen your faith. By cultivating discipline, overcoming obstacles, relieving stress, and practicing gratitude, physical exercise can help you grow in your faith and become a better servant of Christ Jesus.

So, don't neglect your physical health. Take care of your body so that you can better serve God with your whole self.

References

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27


• Hebrews 12:1-3


• Philippians 4:6-7


• Colossians 3:15-17