Get Fit Inside AND Out for the Ultimate Healthy Life

It is easy to look in the mirror and see what needs fixing. A hair out of place or extra body fat that needs to be worked off is easy to see. However, it takes more work to take the time to look on the inside to see what needs improving. I want to encourage you to take the same amount of time and energy it takes to work on your physical health to work on your spiritual health for the ultimate healthy life.

Look in the Spiritual Mirror

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. – James 22-24

In this scripture, James says the Word of God is like a mirror, revealing who we really are and what needs work. Most of us don’t look in the mirror once a week. A lot can go wrong throughout the day. How many times have you discovered you had pepper in your teeth, a shirt worn inside out or a zipper down? Seriously, the need to do regular checks is very helpful. Yet, that is how we treat God’s word. We do a weekly Sunday check up and forget what God revealed to us come Monday. It literally is like walking away from a mirror after discovering the pepper in your teeth and just pretending or forgetting it isn’t there. A response is required.

Clean the Vessel

Another way to look at our spiritual health is to compare ourselves to a vessel, which scripture often does. How clean is a vessel (a cup or pitcher) if you only wash the outside? Not so clean right? Well, isn’t that what we are doing if we just work on fixing our outer shell without taking care of what’s inside?

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21

We will never be at peace unless we take care of both our body and our soul. There is no exercise or diet in the world that can get our soul healthy. Only God can do that. I challenge you to explore ways to get as spiritually healthy as you are trying to get physically healthy.

Think of all the time we spend on ourselves; time showering, shaving, getting dressed, doing our hair, putting on makeup, brushing our teeth, etc. Doesn’t God deserve our valuable time too? Time with God gives us time to get to know Him better and keep our life in a healthy perspective in light of eternity. It’s hard to whine about our weight when we look at it in light of what is important to the Lord. Of course He wants you to be healthy and take care of yourself but, even on my worst day, I’m A-OK after spending time with Him. He reminds me there is much more to life than my silly petty woes or a day of feeling fat.

5 Ways To Work On Your Spiritual Health and Fit More Jesus in Your Busy Life

Here are some ways I fit more spiritual exercise in my daily schedule.

1. Invest in your relationship with the Lord by reading through the Bible (I use this guide). I listen to the Bible app while I do dishes, clean, fold laundry and get ready in the morning. (PS – you can choose any translation you want! I like NIV, NKJ, AMP, MSG and the new EASY version).
2. Improve your spiritual health by listening to Podcasts while getting ready and running (my favorites are Timothy Keller, Joyce Meyer, Daily Hope, Life Church and watching Calvary Chapel teachings). I have a rule. I don’t run without Jesus. I also don’t do laundry without Him or other common chores.
3. Listen to Christian Music (I love finding new stuff on Spotify) and listening to other people’s playlists. Here are some of our favorites on itunes.
4. Go to church (I go to Calvary Chapel Vero Beach – which also is online). This is huge for us. Without plugging in to a solid church, I’d have no accountability and would easily slip.
5. Spend time with other people who have the same priorities and want to talk about spiritual things. Sometimes just being around someone who is striving to grow spiritually is inspiring enough to hold you accountable.

Scripture of the Day:

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. – James 22-24

Mantra of the Day:

It would be a shame to work so hard on my body and neglect my soul. – Bonnie Pfiester

30 Days of Motivation