Spiritual Fitness

“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.” – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

People where we moved from in the suburban south talk about losing weight; people in the Bay Area talk about being fit. Yoga pants are considered acceptable general wear. Gyms and parks are numerous and even within walking distance. The weather (and lack of mosquitos) enables an entirely new dimension of outdoor life. Healthy groceries and options for eating out are readily available. Regular exercise is normative behavior, and perhaps it is not surprising that, despite not having had a regular habit of it before, we all became more active after moving here.

But after the pandemic muted subconscious cultural cues and disrupted routines, I’ve had to think through how, and why, I exercise. I’ve relearned why getting my heart rate up is good for my mood. I’ve been reminded that cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength is something that either builds or atrophies over time; there is no middle ground. I’ve had to test my resolve by at times getting creative with workout equipment or online classes, or being disciplined about exercising outside even if I prefer the gym. 

Dave tells his patients that their goal, for improved health outcomes, should be to reach 70-85% of their maximum heart rate for 150 minutes per week. This is not something that happens without significant focus, flexibility, and commitment. It does not happen without intentional investment of resources. How much more so our spiritual health! Paul puts it plainly: spiritual fitness is more important than physical fitness. We should care about it more than we care about our physical health. We should invest more in it than we invest in our physical health. We should create more of a culture and community for it than we do for physical health. His reasoning is simple: your physical health lasts this lifetime. Your spiritual health will impact eternity.

Do you have a clear idea of what your spiritual goals are? Do you have a routine for spiritual fitness? Does someone close to you see measurable signs of spiritual growth over time? Train yourself for godliness, Paul urges Timothy. It holds promise not only for this life, but for the life to come.