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Working Out My Faith Muscle

Tonight, I was talking to God and He painted me this picture that I thought was so cool that I wanted to write about it. It's not like I hadn't heard it before, but in this season it hit differently.

I am a indoor cycling instructor when we are not in the middle of a pandemic. When all this began, I worked out at the gym. Not like a hard core health nut but enough to move my body and be healthy. However, the gyms are shut down now and who knows when everything will reopen. So, I hadn't been working out. 

Then last weekend, I made the decision to do some form of exercise everyday. Why? Well, I don't want to come out of this looking like a marshmallow, but I also really can't jump back into teaching a high, physically demanding class if I haven't moved my body in two months.

So, on Monday I did ab work. Tuesday, it hurt to breathe. Still I persevered. Then yesterday, I focused my exercises on my thighs. Today, it hurt to walk up stairs and I didn't really want to do anymore but I made the choice too; and it relieved some of the stiffness. 

Am I still sore? Absolutely. Did I gain a 6-pack in a week? Unfortunately, no. But did I quit because I was uncomfortable? Of course not!

That's where the picture came in. 

Our faith is like a muscle that we have to workout. Sometimes, we get lax in working it out. We stop asking questions. We stop allowing God to work in us. 

Why? Because it's uncomfortable. Being stretching, addressing things we have always done, and fine tuning is uncomfortable. Let me tell you, in this season I am FAR from comfortable. 

But our faith muscle is so much more important than our physical body.

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

And if, we experience soreness in our physical body when we workout, why would we expect to experience any less in our spiritual working out? The soreness is just an indicator that we are doing something right. That we are growing and fine tuning. Growth happens in discomfort.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3-4

I don't workout because I hate my body. I workout so that I become a better version of me. So that I am stronger and healthier. I workout because I love myself. So, why would we think any less of God pushing us to grow and mature? He loves us, after all!

For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:12

The only way we can keep working out that faith muscle is by fixing our eyes on the Author of our faith: Jesus.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:2

This working out is not just a mindless thing. It is with the purpose to confirm us to the image of Christ; and as we keep working out, it relieves some of the "stiffness" of our spirits and renews our minds. It becomes easier the more we practice and the stronger we get, but we have to do the work.

 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

You don't get a 6-pack overnight but through time and working it out. The same with our faith: It is a transformation process. A rewiring of our spirits and flesh. 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-23

There is a promise too:

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

With all that said, I am going to keep working out my faith muscle. I am going to keep pressing into God. I am going to keep seeking the Lord and His heart. This season will not be wasted! 








Comments

  1. Roger CarrApril 23, 2020 at 8:31 PM

    Lydia - Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this post. Like you, some of my routines had to change and I am struggling to build the new habits required. I am starting to experience the consequences. You have encouraged me to be more focused on flexing my physical and faith muscles to be a better person over time.

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