Good Morning Ladies, "I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2 NIV)
"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." 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV
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How do you "exercise" your soul?
I am here to admit that I am an exercise junkie. I am also an ice cream junkie (Ben & Jerry's in particular). So far, the two have kept each other balanced out! I get up religiously 5 mornings a week to run and walk (just ask anyone who lives with me!). I love the fresh air, the alone time, and the added bonus of fitting into my jeans! But, here's my problem... I was reading "Flourish" (by the lovely Catherine Hart Weber p.23) the other day and she spoke about "spiritual carelessness"; the idea of neglecting to nourish our souls. Whoa, stop the treadmill! This concept jumped off the page and hit my heart! I need more "religious" exercise... I need more soul exercise! In caring so much for my body, have I neglected my soul? Exercise is good. In fact, God encourages us in the Word to take care of our bodies. My concern is, I have put so much more time and energy into my body that my focus has been off balance. It feels as if I am not "stretching" before my run! What about the other part of me? Do I neglect my soul simply because I can't see it? I am going to continue exercising, I love it for all of the above stated reasons. But, somehow in this new year, as I ask God to continue to "renew my mind", I have faith that He will show me what my whole body needs. Right now, I am doing daily devotions and my husband and I are also in the word together every day as we are in the middle of a 6 month Bible reading plan. But, I wonder what it would be like to get up in the morning and intentionally exercise my soul before I do any other exercises. I want more of God. With anything good, we always want more... right?
By the way, having the faith to believe that God will show me what my whole body needs is realizing that He already is... Be blessed! "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." 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV
Leave a comment and let me know...
How do you "exercise" your soul?
Hey lady! I have a morning 'soul exercise' time over coffee and usually save the running for the p.m. Our schedules are wildly different, but that morning reading (the Bible and a great book called "The Language of Letting Go) really starts the day off more peacefully and then you're not trying to fit it in later as things get more crazy. I love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI think for me at this moment in my life I have totally let go of the body exercising or the thoughts of body perfection and am focusing on my spiritual health. When I think of both in my life I know right now even though the number I see on the scale isn't what I want, I need to focus on God. One day they both will be in my life again :)
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