Thursday Devotional - God of Grace – To the Physically Fit 9/1/2022

 Exercise is definitely a priority in my daily routine! I don’t always like the exercise, but the discipline and importance of exercise has been instilled in me since I was young. The importance of daily spiritual training was also modeled, practiced and supported from early on. I want to always make time for God, even if I don’t always get a physical workout for the day.

I Timothy 4:7-10       Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Being physically fit can be honoring to God. Being spiritually fit is always honoring to God. It means we are putting our full focus on Him, trusting the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe!

Are you and I putting more emphasis on our physical fitness or our spiritual fitness? The God of Grace wants to help us with our training in godliness, as He knows it has value for all eternity! 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - New Year Training

With the start of another year, I have heard many people indicate their healthy goals for this year. Some plan to watch carefully what they eat, some plan to be more committed to regular physical exercise and others plan to do both! I agree these are important goals, especially for believers, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 6:19-20  ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Taking care of our bodies through physical training is important, so how much more important is our spiritual training?

I Timothy 4:7b-16          Train yourself to be godly.⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

What goals for godliness do you and I have for this coming year?

How will you and I train ourselves to be godly?

Studying God's Word for life application is the best place to start.

We also learn more by teaching others, so who will you teach?

Our sincere pursuit of the eternal God will never be a waste of time or disappoint!

Alice