For most of my 20s my number one resolution each year was to become fit. Actually, it was to hit my ideal body weight of 70kg. Being 5ft8 and weighing 52kg at the age of 23, I had enough of being underweight. I started working out, I joined a gym and became invested in my physical appearance. I was at the gym nearly everyday, some days morning and night, and eating 6-7 times a day. Over a period of a few years I gained nearly 20kgs. At this point I felt like I was on top of the world!
While it may have been of some benefit investing in my physical health, all those years my spiritual health became weak. I was so obsessed with gaining my ideal ‘weight’, that if I saw my spiritual self in the mirror, I would have seen a weak and undernourished reflection.
Fast forward to today, being a husband and father, my priorities have changed. I no longer obsess over my weight and exercise regime, but I now find myself considering other New Year’s resolutions that include my spiritual health. This led me to invest in reading the Bible.
For a lot of us, the last thing we may think about at the beginning of a new year is our spiritual health. In fact, Google tells us the top three most common New Year’s Resolutions are: to exercise more, eat healthy and to save money.
However, I was reminded of a verse in the Bible where the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 4:8 that 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.
The word “training”, or in other translations “discipline”, is actually the Greek word “gymnasia”. It is also interesting to note that this word is only used once in the New Testament. In comparison, the word godliness is used 15 times in the New Testament, thus showing the importance and value of godliness over exercise. In my early 20s I had it the other way round. I placed a higher value on what I did at the gym over godliness.
Today God’s Word has become my daily bread and water. I now prioritise and value His Word above physical exercise. What was so undernourished has now become something that I work on daily, just as I did with my physical training. His Word gives me a divine strength that nourishes and feeds my soul.
Now, as another year begins and we all think about our New Year’s Resolutions, what changes would you like to make? Will you prioritise your spiritual health over your physical health? Why not try reading the Bible for 10 minutes and then spend five minutes in prayer each day? Or try different approaches to find out what works best for you, and what is good for your spiritual well-being.
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