Flex Those Spiritual Muscles
by Tracy Gordon
“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 4:8
Well, the first month of the year has already come and gone. As many of us do, I spent much of January focusing on good health habits; getting better sleep, and trying new physical activities. My husband and I decided that rucking was going to be our new activity. What is rucking, you might ask? It’s a form of exercise that involves wearing a weighted vest or backpack and is a full body workout that builds strength, improves cardiovascular endurance, and increases bone density. So for my recent birthday I received a weighted vest, and it has renewed my excitement for exercising because I feel really good after using it.
We all understand what it means to be physically fit. It requires intention, discipline, and consistency. Muscles don’t grow by accident, endurance isn’t built overnight, and strength fades when training stops. In much the same way, spiritual fitness does not happen passively. It is cultivated through daily choices that shape our hearts, minds, and souls toward God. Spiritual fitness is not about perfection or performance. It is about readiness and being prepared to trust God in difficulty, to love well under pressure, and to remain steady when life feels uncertain. Just as a physically fit body responds better to strain, a spiritually fit soul responds with faith rather than fear, and hope rather than despair.
In 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul writes to Timothy, “For the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Paul understood this comparison when he wrote to a young church pastor, Timothy, to encourage him and give him guidelines for strong spiritual leadership. Paul had learned the importance of staying spiritually strong and the benefit of developing spiritual habits in his life like spending time in the Scriptures, prayer, and daily worship. He knew this would be good advice to a young man like Timothy who had little experience leading a church. Paul understood the importance of staying spiritually fit, especially in the face of opposition, and he wanted to make sure Timothy understood that as well.
We can exercise our spiritual lives in the same way we do our physical ones. It looks different as the methods are different. But it is still a practice of daily surrender and adherence to a plan. Spiritual exercise trains our lives to avoid sin, gives us the ability to discern God’s will, and helps us weather life’s storms, all of which have eternal consequences.
A fit spiritual life begins with the heart. Scripture reminds us to guard it carefully, because everything we do flows from it. When we regularly bring our hearts before God through prayer, confession, and worship, we allow Him to strengthen what is weak and heal what is strained. Prayer is not merely an exercise to complete, but a lifeline that keeps our hearts aligned with God’s will and presence. Just like an athlete can’t thrive without proper nourishment, the soul is no different. God’s Word is spiritual food that sustains, corrects, and strengthens us. Reading Scripture daily, even in small portions keeps our perspective grounded in truth rather than circumstance. Over time, the Word shapes our thinking, renews our minds, and trains us to recognize God’s voice amid the noise in the chaos of life.
Spiritual fitness grows through obedience, especially when obedience is costly. Moments like choosing integrity when it would be easier to compromise, extending forgiveness when bitterness feels justified, and trusting God when answers are delayed all build spiritual endurance. They stretch our faith muscles and deepen our reliance on God’s strength rather than our own. Physical fitness also requires rest and spiritual fitness is no different. God Himself established rhythms of rest, reminding us that our strength is limited but His is not. Sabbath moments and intentional pauses to reflect, worship, and be still all restore our bodies and souls and prevent burnout. Spiritual rest teaches us to depend on grace, not constant striving.
Getting spiritually fit is not a short-term goal; it is a lifelong journey. There will be seasons of progress and seasons of struggle, days of discipline and days of fatigue. Yet God meets us faithfully in every season. He is both our Trainer and our Strength, guiding us patiently toward maturity. When we form habits in our spiritual lives that help us stay strong, we’ll have the inner motivation to live out actions that glorify God. So friends, as the Lenten season approaches, will you join me as together we give our spiritual muscles a flex and prepare ourselves to receive all the Lord has for us? Be blessed!
Lord Jesus, help us to make spending time with You a habit we stick to every day, one that motivates us to live the way Your Word trains us. Strengthen our faith, feed our souls with Your Word, and help us grow in obedience and trust. Teach us to rest in Your grace and rely on Your power. Make us spiritually fit to walk with You in every season of life. In Your precious Name we pray, Amen.