God is Telling You - I am Here, Let’s Walk Together
Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
Holidays over. Time to scale back on the indulgent behavior and get up and move more. I’m talking to myself of course. We all know the benefits to our health, both physical and mental, when we have good habits like eating sensibly and exercising regularly. God wants us to have a healthy life while we’re this side of heaven.
The verse here from 1 Timothy speaks to physical training as being important but Paul leans into spiritual development as being even more important. The verse does not negate the need for exercise; in contrast, it says that exercise is valuable while prioritizing it correctly by saying that godliness is of more importance.
Paul figured out that there were many benefits of staying spiritually strong. He developed habits in part to make sure he could stay strong when facing battles of the spirit but also to mentor and train leaders like Timothy.
There are any number of excuses to push away from our intention to invest time in our spiritual strength. We are the only ones who have control over the priorities in our lives. If we don’t set a value in making spiritual fitness – spending more time with God, then it won’t happen. And without that habitual spiritual investment, we can never be spiritually our most fit and strong.
While spiritual fitness doesn’t enhance or diminish our salvation, the more disciplined the habit the greater the tendency to motivate our outward actions that bring glory to God. Walking with God is to choose to imitate Him and glorify Him every day.
Lord, I pray that my time with You each day forms a habit that strengthens me spiritually and deepens my faith. I pray this In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.