Spiritual strength and conditioning
Did you know that many universities and colleges employ a strength and conditioning coach to train their athletes? His responsibilities include designing programs, teaching exercises, performance testing, teaching proper weight lifting techniques, among other tasks. They train rigorously and strive to foster a conducive environment to help them reach their optimal functioning capacity. There is a lot of thought and preparation time put into preparing your athletes. They support and recognize the need for effective training. A proper nutritious diet is also recommended. When properly grasped, the acquired skills are useful in strengthening and improving everyday life when implemented, as well as your overall playability.
Did you know that the Bible refers to life as a race? But this race isn’t about speed, it’s about stamina! Conditioning is an integral aspect of training for a professional athlete. Stretching and toning exercises are used to strengthen the body in addition to physical exercises and weight lifting. Flexibility, strength, and endurance are apparent components when one signs up for a disciplined exercise program. Additionally, a partner is used for stamina to further enhance one’s ability to become agile. The importance of implementing a daily adequate nutrition program is fundamental. Balance is the key. Knowing when, how much, how little and where to apply the acquired skills is crucial. But the main concept and principles should never be abandoned in order to achieve the desired goal. Always keep in mind that the main objective is first and foremost. The purpose is to develop a healthy and strong body constitution. Ultimately, this will greatly influence one’s overall success and staying power. The long-term goal is that everything will eventually, in due course, become a natural process incorporated into daily life. In this sense, his goal is not at all different from what God wants for us. Developing a strong body constitution is just what He wants. Perhaps if we kept in mind who the Body really belongs to, we would handle things quite differently? Perhaps the long term goal would be accepted instead of the temporary “quick fix” method? We must remember that resistance and embracing the Truth is the key!
The Bible is adamant in its position that the “Church” is the “Body of Christ.” It is very clear and tells us how important it is to be aware of the things we say or do. How we live from day to day, regardless of where we work, live, play, or attend worship. Daily personal Bible study and its application are important for spiritual conditioning. When Bible study in church is used to further strengthen one’s spiritual life, it is most effective. However, all too often it is used to condition one to think the way you teach. The Holy Spirit is our supreme Teacher. God’s Word screams out to us the importance of embracing and implementing God’s principles in our daily lives. Life is a race to live that has already been won by Jesus Christ! Did you know that he actually tells us to do whatever we do as “we do it for the Lord”? The wonderful thing about God is that He is Omnipotent; which means that He alone is all-powerful! It is through Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, that He spoke everything into existence. There is no power, authority, or principality on earth or in heaven that is greater. That’s heavy! However, God still gives us the freedom to choose. He has given us countless examples and statistics of possible options, including outcomes and consequences. The Bible is concise, and the Holy Spirit brilliantly illuminates the pitfalls and possible detours when one chooses to operate in their own strength. Proper spiritual conditioning is key to stamina.
How you choose to accept, embrace, or ignore God’s principles will determine your overall spiritual strength and endurance. The uses of the Fruit of the Spirit of him are the necessary nutrients to digest the “Spiritual Food” necessary for this path of life. Discipline is key! Proverbs 25:18 tells us that “as a city whose walls are broken down is the man who lacks self-control.” If you want a conditioning coach that is available 24/7, I highly recommend Jesus. I recommend that you really get to know him through his Word and begin to implement the principles contained therein. Galatians tells us that the Fruit of the Spirit are; “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Meekness, and Self-Control.” He goes on to say that if you belong to Jesus Christ, you have “crucified the sinful nature with his passions and desires.” If you keep reading he tells us not to give up! You have all the time you need to do the things that God has prepared for you. It’s not really about how things appear. Resistance is the key! Knowing God intimately is the key! Knowing that there is freedom in Christ is key. Jesus died to set us free. Sin brings bondage. He does not want you burdened by the yoke of slavery. “His yoke from him is easy and his burdens are light.” Will not obeying the Truth derail your ability to run gracefully? It will impede your progress.
God has given gifts to the Body of Christ to facilitate and increase its growth. It is his desire that we grow and mature. Spiritual conditioning is key! He does not want you to be “tossed to and fro by the waves, and carried hither and thither by every wind of learning and cunning of men in their deceitful intrigues.” Outline they will. Just know that this in no way impresses God. Know that in his time He will correct all evil. So I say, “Hallelujah anyway!” You can rest easy knowing that God knows what is really going on and also knows the Truth! Nothing escapes him! “Then we can confidently say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid!” Hebrews 13:6 Know the Word of God for yourself! God is a God of Light! When you speak the Truth in love there is power! But first you must really know what love is. You are patient? You are kind? Aren’t you envious? Don’t you brag? Are you proud? You are rude? Do you want your own way? Of course you don’t get angry easily? Don’t you keep error logs? Did you know that love rejoices in the Truth? Does he love not sometimes but always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always preserves? This is God’s definition of love! Do you think long and long before saying or using the word LOVE so loosely? God knows because He is TRUTH and He is LOVE! What He knows and thinks is the most important thing. It should be a daily prayer for God to fill you with “The knowledge of his will through all wisdom and spiritual intelligence. And we pray this so that you live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in everything, bearing fruit in every good work Growing in the knowledge of God, be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious might, so that you may have great perseverance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, because he has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Remember that conditioning I talked about earlier? The Word of God is so powerful! Remember that God’s Word says that “all things were brought into being through Jesus Christ”! God has a predestined plan for each of his children. Who is given the race? Do you really know what LOVE means? Do you know the difference between tolerance and patience? Be honest with yourself! Or just ask someone who really knows you, not someone you’re trying to impress or just see at a church meeting? Or how about asking that partner to help you test your stamina? “Don’t give in to temptation”? Did you know that God is the ultimate burden bearer? Did you know that it is through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ that we can be reconciled and presented holy in his sight? He canceled the code that was against us. God is great! Jesus really has a better way. The Body of Christ truly belongs to you. The Church is his Bride! Colossians says: “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the LORD CHRIST that you are serving. Anyone who does evil will be rewarded for their evil, and there is no favoritism”.
“We walk by faith, not by sight” To successfully run this spiritual race you must keep the faith! When your hope and trust are in the Lord, you are on solid ground. He will level your path and make sure he is on the right path. He will prune whatever it takes to straighten your path! Watch out for the wide path! Remember, “Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it!” Matthew 7:14. When your spiritual diet consists of the fruit of his Spirit and you digest his Word daily, you are on your way. It will keep you balanced. Learn to be patient. When you allow Jesus to be your strength and conditioning coach, you can definitely resist! The Holy Spirit will light your way. “Therefore, having such a great cloud of witnesses around us, let us rid ourselves of everything that hinders us and of the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that lies ahead of us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider the one who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you do not get tired or discouraged. “God is good! Meditate on his Word daily! James says:” But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then, lover of peace, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest in righteousness”. Brothers, consider it pure joy, every time you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the test of your faith develops perseverance………. ……… Is Jesus your strength and conditioning coach? Then you can definitely endure! In this spiritual race our prize is guaranteed. To God be the glory!