Getting Spiritually Fit

We hope you enjoy today's blog on getting spiritually fit! Our guest blogger, Wilna Van Beek, is the perfect choice to teach us how to get "in spiritual shape." While we continue to walk out our journey, let's keep the truths from this blog post in mind... 

Is getting fit one of your top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for 2014?

I was researching the 10 most popular New Year’s resolutions on Google and found that “getting fit” is at the top of the list.  As a former sport fanatic, getting fit and staying fit has been a daily priority pretty much my whole life. I have studied about all the benefits of staying fit!  One of my bucket list desires is to participate in the Ironman competition in Hawaii when I turn 50!  Well, 2014 is the year…and I am not ready!  Recently I was told that to qualify for this competition I’d be training until I’m 80. Oh boy!  That’s when I realized that I’d either have to put way more effort into this dream or cross it off my bucket list!  Then I read what Paul writes about physical and spiritual fitness in:

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7. …Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

8.  For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

Okay Paul, I get it. Working out has some value!  Thank goodness!  I will continue to practice this discipline on a regular basis...

Now we get to the other discipline, which seems harder work and more important than anything else. It’s that one thing that is useful in everything and in every way! Why? Because it will help me today, tomorrow, and forever, which means it has eternal value!

It’s disappointing to know that becoming spiritually fit is not the top of many New Year’s resolutions. Do we realize the value of this spiritual exercise? Could this be the reason we struggle in many areas? If we are weak spiritually, it will be easy to be taken out! Like a weak man is a much easier target to the thieves and robbers than a strong man.

Satan’s plans are to take you and I out. He wants to kill, steal and destroy, but when we are spiritually fit and practice the discipline of becoming spiritually fit, we will be able to live a life of victory!   You and I can do NOTHING unless we abide in Jesus daily. Jesus says in John 15:5 “…apart from Me, (cut off from vital union with me) you can do nothing!”  None of our New Year’s resolutions will come to pass when we try to do and accomplish them in our own power...

In order for you to be able to bear the fruit of the Spirit and stand strong in the faith, I want to encourage you to start a habit of making time for God each and every day.  Stop being lazy (oops, I said it!), set your clock for at least 15 minutes earlier, find a quiet place where you can spend time with God ALONE. Do this for 30 days and you will be amazed how your life will change. (It is a fact that to create a new habit you must do it for 30 days…and to remove a bad habit, stop doing it for 30 days!)

Don’t be surprised to find that in becoming spiritually fit, you are able to have victory over many aspects of your life. You will have the strength to face difficult situations on a daily basis, to be able to overcome and not give in to temptations, to go through trials and tribulations, and to receive power to witness and share your faith with others! You will be like the tree in Psalm 1:3  (Amp):  “ And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].”

One of many Spiritual fitness disciplines:  To habitually meditate, ponder and study the Word by day and by night (Ps 1:2)

May God bless you as you choose today to become spiritually fit in 2014! Let’s not merely put this on our bucket list, but let’s go out and get fit!

Wilna was born and raised in South Africa but later moved to Canada where she is now enjoying her dual citizenship journey!  She is passionate to  share  her story as a former homosexual,  and offers seminars on the topic of homosexuality, in order for people to understand, learn and show more compassion towards the gay community. Outside of her passion and call to speak and teach, she owns her own grooming business and is passionate about it! Though the rest of her family is living in South Africa, she considers her two dogs, Daisy and Thursdae, a part of her family. To find out more about Wilna including her primary speaking topics, Visit her website: Wilna Van Beek.

• To find out more about WJOF and our upcoming seminar on April 4-5 2014, "Sharing the Journey" with bios of all our recommended speakers, click here: WJOF/STJ.