1 Timothy 4:8
“for while bodily training is of some
value, godliness is of value in every
way, as it holds promise for the present
life and also for the life to come.”
ESV
A simple axiom is that good form on exercising equals good formation for your body. The common mistakes in bodybuilding are trying to lift too much, focusing on the wrong exercises, and doing exercises improperly that end up causing injury. The same axioms in weightlifting apply to the spiritual life. You have to find the routine that works best for the way God created you.
I’ll never forget when I was listening to a conference, and the speaker just stopped and looked at the crowd and said, “Whoa! When I told you guys the purpose of your devotional life is to connect with God, I saw the deer in the headlights look. The reality is that most people approach their prayer, Bible reading, and meditation as a daily discipline or something to check off their list, and then totally miss the point, which is: That time is to connect to God and draw your life from him!”
I was one in the crowd that had the deer in the headlights look. I’d gotten into rut of the ho-hum religious duty checklist devo-style with God. No wonder I wasn’t seeing the power of God in my life and that everything seemed like a struggle. The best devotional time for me is watching the birds feed in the morning sun with a hot cup of coffee, and slowly praying the Lord’s prayer. It’s better to bench fifteen pounds correctly than a 150 the wrong way. If you get bored reading a whole chapter of the bible, try meditating and praying on one verse every day until it becomes a reality lived in your life. Form-fit your devotional life to best connect with God and you’ll see spiritual formation.
By Aaron F. Jeffers
Free to Live Ministries 