Spiritual Exercise

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Around and around my nephew ran on his trusty stick horse. How cute he was—a little guy wearing his cowboy hat—running laps around the dining room table! He was not getting anywhere going in circles nonstop, but he certainly was getting exercise.

My “little” nephew is now nearly six feet tall. He is an athlete who does well in sports, especially baseball and basketball—two of his favorites. All that running he did as a child developed muscles that he has continued to build. He no longer runs in circles, but now has a visible goal for his strides. Whether across the basketball court or around the bases on the ball field, he is striving for victory in his sport. And the muscle he has built helps him to accomplish just that.

We are in a spiritual race, and the best “athletes” are those who have built muscle. This is not something complicated or difficult to do; it just takes patience and perseverance. Like my little nephew who exercised by simply doing what he enjoyed most, we can rejoice in the process of building spiritual muscle.

For instance, we will most likely read through the Bible more than once in our lifetimes. In fact, we will find ourselves reading the same passages many times over. That is okay! It is good to read Scripture over and over, getting it deep into our hearts. Memorize it! Find something new in it. Build muscle.

Sometimes when we pray, we may find ourselves praying for something more than once. God may not answer every prayer immediately. That is okay! Seek God's face. Search your heart. Consecrate your life. Build muscle.

Trials will come our way, like track hurdles to jump over. It might take everything in us to go on. That is okay! That is what builds muscle. God can take us through to victory. Let us strive, with patience, to be the best spiritual athletes that we can be!