8 Connections for Me between Physical Exercise and Spiritual Disciplines

I start out today’s article, the second one in this series about taking care of ourselves spiritually and physically, with this word: I make no claim to be great at either physical exercise or spiritual disciplines. No matter how old I get, I realize I still have much room to grow.

Nevertheless, I seldom miss a day working out at the gym or on the treadmill in our garage, and I work hard at my spiritual disciplines. On the days I walk a brisk pace at a high incline on the treadmill, I also use that time to read my devotional material for the day. If I am running or lifting weights that day, I use the time to listen to sermons, podcasts, books, or music. I’ve learned, in fact, that physical exercise and spiritual disciplines have a lot in common:

1. When I do both in the morning, my day starts off better. That’s the case for me physically as I get to the gym, and it’s also the case spiritually. I generally do my deeper study in the Word  later in the evening, but I also start each day with a “Verse of the Day” in my email inbox so I turn my heart immediately to God when I wake up. Just one verse has a way of directing the day, and prayer time as I walk or run is life-giving, too. I’ve learned the significance of meeting with God in the morning. 

2. If I don’t at least start them in the morning, it’s more likely they won’t get done. There are just too many distractions and diversions that get in the way later in the day. I walk or run in the mornings, though I might do other exercise later in the day. As I noted above, I at least meditate on my “verse of the day” each morning before studying more in the evening. My tasks are seemingly never done, and I’m often worn out before I get around to doing either thing unless I at least start them in the morning. 

3. Having a plan is essential to doing both well. If I don’t know my plans and goals for each day of exercise, I may not be as focused or intentional as I need to be. Or, I can simply postpone exercise for another day. Likewise, having no plan in doing my spiritual disciplines often leads to misfocused, half-hearted efforts. It’s just too easy to push away from spiritual disciplines if I don’t know exactly where I’m going. A plan, though, gives me both direction and goals. 

4. When I do both each day, I gain strength and increase stamina. There’s no question that weightlifting and doing cardio have helped me stay healthy as a 65-year-old. I may not be able to do as much as I used to do, but I can still do something. It’s also the case that daily time with God has strengthened my heart and grown my faith – so much so that I can press on even when my faith journey is difficult. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run to my disciplines because ministry is hard.

5. It helps me to have accountability for both. On one hand, working out with a partner or a trainer has pushed me beyond my perceived limits and helped me to grow—especially if my colleague is a believer who understands the importance of this commitment. At the same time, knowing how my spiritual mentors read the Word, pray, fast, and witness has challenged me to follow their lead. I want to walk in their long-faithful footsteps. I need all these folks to help me stay disciplined in both my physical and spiritual disciplines. 

6. The more I do both, the more they become part of my DNA. My body now naturally awakens early each morning to exercise (and, to be honest, that reality also drives me to bed earlier in the evening—which is also good for me). My mind then also moves quickly to my “verse of the day” and my scheduled Bible reading for the day. It’s almost come to the point, in fact, that I cannot imagine going through a single day without doing both. To be honest, it’s fun not to have to force myself in these directions. 

7. I pray others see my growth through these efforts. Only they can tell me if so, but I hope I look healthier because of physical exercise; at least, I hope they see me as a disciplined person in general. And, I hope my heart more reflects Christlikeness on an ongoing basis because of my spiritual disciplines. I know I have a LONG, LONG way to go in either case – I still want to lose some weight, and some of my disciplines are stronger than others – but I’m enjoying the journey each day.

8. It’s good for me to push myself in both cases. I generally push myself to some extent with physical exercise, but not nearly as much as a trainer does (and, frankly, I’m cheap enough that I want to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth when I pay a trainer!). I also try to push myself in my spiritual disciplines. For example, I’m seeking to strengthen my approach to Bible study, even though my current method has been really life-giving for years. I’m also trying to build more natural rhythms of prayer and fasting into my life. And, I’m pushing myself to incorporate more sabbath rest into my routine at this stage of my life.

How about you? Do you need to work on your physical exercise or your spiritual disciplines? Or both?