Dry January. 75 Hard. Rucktober. Sweating for the Wedding. Whole30.
The list goes on. We love a good challenge when it comes to our bodies. We track our steps, count our macros, hit the gym at 5 AM, and push through grueling workouts in the name of health. And listen, taking care of our bodies is important. Scripture even reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
But here’s the thing—our bodies are temporary.
No amount of green smoothies, collagen, or HIIT workouts can change that fact. Yet, we spend so much time, energy, and discipline sculpting what is fleeting while completely neglecting what is eternal—our spiritual health.
What Does Spiritual Fitness Look Like?
For many of us, Sundays at church are a great start… but if we’re honest, that’s also where our spiritual workout ends for the week. Imagine if we treated our physical fitness the same way—one workout a week, maybe a quick prayer before a meal, and then expected six-pack abs and peak endurance. It wouldn’t happen.
Yet, we wonder why we feel distant from God, spiritually exhausted, or lacking peace in our lives. Maybe it’s because we’re spiritually out of shape.
Training for What Lasts
Just like a fitness plan requires consistency, training our spirit does too. Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If we need food daily to survive physically, then why do we think a once-a-week sermon is enough to sustain us spiritually?
What if we shifted our focus? What if we put the same energy into our spiritual health as we do our physical?
- Instead of waking up and scrolling, we start with Scripture.
- Instead of fueling our bodies with protein and greens but starving our souls, we make time for worship and prayer.
- Instead of setting physical goals, we challenge ourselves spiritually—memorizing Scripture, practicing gratitude, or fasting with intention.
The Eternal Perspective
Taking care of our bodies matters, but one day, these bodies will fail us. Our souls, however, are eternal. Imagine the peace, the strength, the transformation that could happen if we trained our faith with the same determination we give to our bodies.
So yes, do the workouts, drink the water, and take care of yourself—but let’s not neglect what matters most. Let’s put just as much (if not more) effort into growing spiritually as we do physically. Because in the end, the strongest body in the world means nothing if the soul inside it is weak.
