There are tons of valuable, worthy reasons to workout--
take care of our overall general health
cardio fitness--take care of our heart and make it strong
respiratory fitness--so that we might not get winded so easily
increase mobility and flexibility
gain strength
prevent injury
endorphins rush and release of dopamine
confidence and feeling better about yourself
ability to focus and think better
energizes us and helps us be more productive
We could keep going. There are numerous good reasons, and I hope that many of you experience those good reasons!
But like anything, we humans are very prone to take a good thing and make it a god thing. Anything that we think on too much or focus on might become an idol. I think that when you're pursuing good physical health--eating healthfully and exercising, there is a fine line where this might turn into focusing on the flesh. I found myself in this place in the fall of 2017.
A few years prior, I had finally got my act together and started back exercising regularly and started making small changes for our family to eat healthier. For the most part these things had always been important to me, but honestly, moving into a new culture, language learning, having a few babies in just a few years' time, and life threw me for quite the loop! As I was implementing some good habits, I started experiencing some of the many benefits of pursuing fitness. And, it wasn't long until I just started taking it too far.
In October 2017, I took Clare Smith's Living and Active challenge with a friend, and we began memorizing Romans 8:1-11. Specifically, Romans 8:5-8 says, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Thankfully, the Lord convicted me, and then I had a dilemma. These great habits of healthy eating and exercising regularly had come to be so good, and I knew they were good...but in taking it too far, I didn't know how to get back to good. Food and fitness can very quickly and easily turn into a fleshly pursuit! I didn't know how to focus on the Spirit and pursue health. Out of that challenge came such different results than what I expected! I began a journey of walking by the Spirit, and asking the Lord to help me get this right.
A few months later, in January 2018, I was listening to the Happy Hour podcast with Jamie Ivey, and I was introduced to Alisa Keeton and Revelation Wellness during this show. Whew that is a lot of links, but they are all so good. I highly recommend both the Happy Hour podcast and Revelation Wellness podcast--they are my favorites!!! Little did I know that later that year, I would become a Revelation Wellness Instructor and truly experience true freedom in food and fitness but also in other more important areas in my life! By the time I was introduced to Revelation Wellness, the Lord had already showed me so much about the importance of getting this right. Within just a few weeks, I was ready to be equipped to help others get this right too!
So, I ask again, why do you workout and pursue fitness? Does it come from a place of pride? Are you just looking at the flesh and ONLY wanting to lose weight or maintain a certain weight--which isn't all bad--just there is so much more to it? Are you working out because you fear what might happen if you don't? Do you feel like you "have to" work out and it is all drudgery or a burden you do not enjoy?
What if there was a different way? Well, yes, there is!!! You can workout in a way that focuses on the Spirit! You can workout with joy because you get to! You can workout in a way that is good for your body and helps you in so many ways become the better you! You can also workout as worship to the One who created you and sustains your life!
I sure invite you to ask me more about this. After experiencing such radical freedom and goodness, it is a passion and joy of mine that I love to share! Better yet, ask God about it. I know He will show you and lead you just like He did me! Click on some of those links above!