Exercising and Spiritual Walk
Can I say that those who are physically fit and also those who are spiritually strong?Based on my anecdotal observation, I really feel that there is a correlation between our physical health and our spiritual health.
This is especially true for working adults, when we have our daily work, sometimes we even have to work over time. How can we find time to manage our time between our work, our family, church, cell group, ministry, activities, leisure and part time classes?
Yet in all these, if we are able to juggle our time between the different tasks and still manage to dig out some time to do some exercise on a consistent routine, such as a simple sit-and-reach, or sit ups, gym, or even a trip to the stadium for a short swim, this is definitely no simple feat.
If you look at these people, they are usually very stable in their ways. And they are very self-disciplined. For most working adults, we would usually come back home and laze around on the sofa, watch TV after a sumptuous dinner, surf internet, play computer games,read magazines or newspapers. Not many will have the energy or motivation to go for a workout. Afterall they have to work the next day, thus the most important thing is REST.
The daily mundane activities of life sometimes overwhelm us. We find that we lack the persistence, energy and strength to do certain things which we desire. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” ? – this not only applies to our spiritual walk with God, but also in our very real life too….
To exemplify, we may make it our goal in year 2006 to be physically fit. And our action plan is to go swimming at least once a week. There are 52 weeks in a year. This goal to be physically fit requires us to go swimming at least 52 times in a year. But if we happen to be very busy this week, we may miss a workout this week. Then we procrastinate to next week. Then next week we need to attend some events, and we procrastinate to the following week. Weeks after weeks, this procrastination becomes something that is EXPECTED and there remains not much motivation to be consistent with the exercises that we should do to remain physically fit.
Pastor Kong preached last Sunday about this:
“If you look for the supernatural in the spectacular, you will miss God.”
He asked us a question, “Does transformation takes place during dramatic service or during the mundane activities of life?”
Amazingly, I really felt that this can be applied even in the realm of physical workout.
No matter how tired we are after a hard day’s work, if we continue to be consistent in our physical workout routine, we will continue to persevere irregardless of our fatigue, irregardless of our emotions and circumstances, irregardless of tomorrow’s enormous work load and problems. We learn to be self discipline and steadfast in our ways and never let emotions rule over the right things that we should be doing.
After a great physical workout, we are always strengthened, and refreshed in our mind. We will have greater joy and hope about our lives.
This is a research about exercise I’ve found:
“Exercise improves mood and reduces chance of depression….
Exercise is good for body and soul. Exercising improves mood and due to the chemicals it releases in the brain called endorphins, it gives you an overall feeling of well-being. This is the same chemical that being in love or eating chocolate induces!”
A few months ago, I was just chatting with Xiangcen about this. And with her having the same revelation as myself was the best confirmation God has given to me. Xiangcen is really a very physically fit person, and she always makes it a point to go for a good exercise. I think one of her favourite workouts is jogging / bladding in East Coast.
As for myself, I make it a point to practice my flexibility and muscle strengthening for my dance about 4 nights a week. Every workout needs about 1 hour. Though this may be a short session, yet every workout requires enormous strength from my body. Its like going to mountain climbing every time I work on my flexibility. I feel totally exhausted after my workout.
I have realized that when I am consistent in my workout, my spiritually walk with God will be very good. I will pray more, I will read bible more, I will be better in my character, I will have more revelation. The times when I am in the spiritual valley, are usually the times when I laze on the sofa and dread the thoughts of using a lot of energy for my dance workout.
And of course there are also people who are walking closely with God, yet truly do not have sufficient time to do exercise, or might be physically unwell.
Dunno if you feel the same way as I do, but one thing for sure:
After a great physical workout, you will feel even more refreshed and motivated to have a great quiet time with God :o)
Labels: Sermons and Revelatns
posted by Fleur De La Lune @ 3:33 pm
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