A friend of mine recently took a fitness test as part of his annual health check, and his results were an indication that he needed to get “back on track”. In all the chaos of 2020, he felt like his entire fitness routine had been thrown out of whack. So a few weeks ago, he signed up for a membership with one of those at-home, virtual exercise companies.
That got me thinking about another kind of “fitness routine” that’s been thrown out of whack for many believers in this season: our spiritual fitness routine. How many of us started the New Year with a Bible reading plan, a dedicated quiet time set aside every morning for prayer, and maybe even a nightly devotional program before bed? And then, as the stressors around us continued to mount, our best laid plans just fell by the wayside?
Hebrews 12 reminds us that “the race of faith” is not a sprint to the finish, but a marathon that requires continued perseverance with every step. We’re challenged to run with endurance the race set before us – to put aside the weight of this world and the trappings of our own sin, and to fix our eyes on the One who knew better than anybody what it meant to face trial after trial; the One who knew better than anybody what it meant to suffer; the One who knew better than anybody that “the race of faith” is not always short and sweet, but often, long and grueling. Jesus, who knew better than anybody what it meant to endure.
I think that’s why Scripture is so deliberate in reminding us that Jesus often took time to get away and be with His Father. Throughout the Gospels, we see account after account of Him teaching the Word to His disciples or to the masses, only to retreat afterward, either to the mountains (Matthew 14:23) or to the wilderness (Luke 5:16) or to a solitary place (Mark 1:35) to pray. Jesus knew that daily time spent with the Lord was His best defense against the struggles of this world.
If you or I were to take a “spiritual fitness test” today, what would our results indicate: spiritual health, or a soul in need of getting back on track? The Bible emphasizes our spiritual well-being not to guilt us into compliance, but to give us the best defense imaginable as we go out and daily endure the pitfalls of a broken world.
So, how exactly do we do that? Maybe it’s joining a small group, where everyone can study the Word together and encourage and hold each other accountable for their “fitness routine”. Maybe it’s having a Skype or FaceTime prayer partner. Maybe it’s sacrificing something in our current schedule in order to prioritize time with the Father. Or better yet, maybe it’s all of the above! Instead of writing off 2020 before it’s even finished, let’s commit to finishing this year with renewed endurance to run the race that’s been set before us. Are you ready to get (spiritually) fit?!
