Spiritual Fitness
by Diane Watson
As we need to look after our physical bodies by eating the right things, exercising, and protecting ourselves from harm, so we also need to become spiritually fit.
If you’re an athlete, you need to train your mind and body to endure the race, but spiritually all of us need to endure. An athlete wouldn’t run in a heavy tracksuit, but in clothes that are light. As Christians, there may be things that weigh us down, such as sin and wounds. The Lord wants to help us throw off these things that hinder, so we’re free, and spiritually fit to run the race of life.
According to Colonel Tobin Green to be spiritually fit is to: ‘Be right with God, be right with others, be right with yourself’. What does being right mean? It indicates that we’re comfortable and at peace within ourselves, and that we’re satisfied with our personal participation in the many relationships of life. This satisfaction includes having peace with God through our relationship with Jesus.
People who are right with God are happier and more satisfied with life than those who are out of step with God’s spirit, that is in rebellion to God. This ‘rightness’ is maintained through the relationship we have with God through Jesus. It’s reinforced through the spiritual disciplines, prayer, meditation on God’s word, worship, fellowship, reading the Bible and walking in the gifts of the Spirit.
In Scripture, Ephesians 6:11-18, we’re given a model for spiritual fitness. The different pieces of armour protect the heart, mind and soul of a person. We can put on and wear these pieces of armour, and we’ll be spiritually strengthened. We’re in a battle. We’re not civilians, if we’re Christians, and we need to be both physically and spiritually ready for the battle with the enemy of our souls, Satan. We need to train well, so we’re able to stand against the enemy in the spiritual realms.
Some questions we can ponder:
1. What does it mean to be spiritually fit?
2. What does spiritual fitness look like?
3. Who can be spiritually fit?
4. Are you spiritually fit?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to understand what spiritual fitness is all about. Help me to be disciplined in my spiritual walk by spending time with You and in Your word. Help me to draw my strength from You and to fight the good fight, and run the race of life with perseverance, without hindrances and entanglements. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Diane Watson is Deputy Centre Director of Ellel Pierrepont. Her husband Paul is Centre Director of Pierrepont and Regional Director of Australia Pacific and India. They have 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren. Diane had the vision for the first Australian Ellel Centre at Gilbulla, near Sydney, and was its Centre Director for the first 5 years.
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