I have just recently begun to work out again. I am taking
Cross Fit with my wife Sallie. I have not lifted any kind of weights for over
three years. Getting back in that kind of shape is extremely difficult after
such a long lay off. I have to gradually ease myself back into it. While I am
sore all over, I enjoy the workout and the way it makes me feel afterwards. I
ask myself why I ever quit!
Often in our spiritual lives we take time off, and it is
extremely difficult to get back into rhythm and shape again. Prayer and growing
spiritually is an ongoing effort that takes practice and commitment. When we
get out of sorts it is hard to regain the proper motivation to get back in
shape again. We have to be intentional about seeking God, and following through
with our spiritual disciplines each day.
Spiritual discipline is a demanding work out to some degree.
We are always striving to become better at communicating with God and living
out our spiritual lives in everyday occurrences. Rather than lifting more weight
to get into shape, we learn to dispose of some of the weight we all carry to
grow deeper in our relationship with Christ and our neighbors. When we stop or
become undisciplined in our prayer and church life our spiritual muscles become
weaker and grow in atrophy. God calls us to a life of daily prayer and to live
into our community of faith. By doing so we are much more prepared to face the
world in which we live. Chrissies cease to overwhelm us, and our anxiety about
life calms down. We live not just for ourselves, but also for the greater
purpose of the Gospel.
I encourage us all to develop and stay with whatever
spiritual discipline feeds our soul. By doing so our lives become much richer
and we become better servants of Christ. The quality of our spirituality
affects our whole being and the manner of life we live. Therefore it is
important to take time for those things spiritual, and thus we find ourselves
in excellent spiritual health.
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