Body Image God's Wayናሙና

Moving My Good Body

I absolutely love a good, intense workout. Give me some beaty music at a ridiculously high volume and I’ll be in my athletic clothes and shoes ready to crush it in ninety seconds flat. 

No seriously, I will give every ounce of myself during that workout, and by the end I’ll be lying in a pool of sweat on the gym floor and then wobbling to my car on jelly legs.

I love the endorphins. I love the throbbing muscles as they break down and then rebuild. I love feeling strong. I love challenging myself. Pushing harder than yesterday. Going a little further. A little faster. Enduring a little longer. 

Working out is something I’ve become accustomed to and something  that I actually cherish as a part of a well-lived day.

What I don’t love is feeling like I absolutely have to do some Hulk-like workout every single day of my life to chisel myself into the “right” body. 

Been there, done that.

But there is a beautiful balance we can find in our relationship with exercise. It’s found within the sweet spot of moving our bodies in ways we enjoy while not being overly consumed with rigid physical exercise.

In 1 Timothy 4:8 we see an interesting parallel. It says, “Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart” (MSG).

In this passage we’re reminded that exercise is definitely profitable, but there’s more to us than tending to these physical bodies we live in. 

Strengthening our physical bodies so we can move through life at an energized and steady pace is a great idea. But we have to remember that there is more to us than our physical bodies. 

So take a breather, my friend. Give yourself permission to move your body in ways you enjoy, to rest when you need to, and to prioritize a disciplined life in God over anything else. 

After all, 2 Corinthians 4:16 says that while our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed day by day. 

God gave us the incredible gift of living in a good body. We get to care for this body with gratitude and zeal. We get to move, breathe, walk, and talk. But so much more incredible than that, we have a spirit that is being renewed day by day. We get to tend to our hearts, and draw near to God, and walk through this life with Him.

It’s all about keeping things in perspective, loving our bodies well, and watering our hearts with worship and the Word of God.