My dad taught me how to fish and hunt when I was just a boy. I liked it! Therefore, as I grew into a teen, I would purchase Outdoor Life magazine and read it from cover to cover. I learned many things about hunting and fishing from that magazine. I improved my hunting and understanding of outdoor living through it.
My dad taught me how to fish and hunt when I was just a boy. I liked it! Therefore, as I grew into a teen, I would purchase Outdoor Life magazine and read it from cover to cover. I learned many things about hunting and fishing from that magazine. I improved my hunting and understanding of outdoor living through it.
Then one day, I discovered an ad that touched on one of my insecurities of the time. It was a cartoon of a young, skinny lad who was being bullied by a strong muscular chap on the beach. That skinny kid was me. A true 90 pound weakling. The kind of kid a bully could kick sand in the face of. The ad’s solution was to buy a weight set and begin building your muscles till you looked fit and strong like the bully.
Well, the ad worked. I bought a set of weights and went to work in my backyard. I was disci- plined and exercised with the set regularly. I don’t think I ever got to look like the bully, but I did gain strength through that regimen. I honestly think it helped me perform better as a swim team member.
There was a booklet with recommended exercises that came with the set of weights. Some of the exercises were meant to build up your legs, others your torso, and others to build up your arms and shoulders. Those arm and shoulder ones were what I wanted after all, and what better way to demonstrate strength than strong arm muscles.
Like I said, I never did grow to look like Charles Atlas or some kind of He-Man. I did develop muscle, strength, and coordination. So, I believe they were worth the expense and effort.
Our spiritual life follows a similar pattern. When we first start out to follow Jesus as our Savior, we are often the equivalent of a ninety pound weakling. We need some muscle. What can we do about that? Well, buy a set of weights (the Bible), and start working out. Pray-daily, always, continuously! Attend study groups and church services where God’s truth is preached.
I always found the morning to be my most responsive time to exercise spiritually. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” In the morning, I can prepare and ready myself for the events I am going to face in that day. I find I am more alert, fresh, and that my mind is clearer and more receptive in the morning. Reading God’s Word, praying and participating with other followers is exercise that makes me stronger. Placing God’s Word in my heart prepares me. Praying builds my faith muscles. Attending study and listening to preaching and teaching expands my understanding. Through it all, my spiritual life is being developed. Over the years I have grown much stronger than I was when I first started out. I can now handle problems and difficulties that would have tripped me up when I first began.
Developing spiritual muscle is just as important as developing physical muscle. Dare I say, More so?
- Just a Thought Dale Fillmore is lead pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, Okmulgee.
