Become Faithfit: Invite God Into Your WorkoutSýnishorn

Day 2: Motivation 

What motivates you to exercise? For most people, the answer to that question involves some version of the following:

• “I want to lose weight.” 
• “I want to look and feel better.”
• “I want to be a better athlete.”
• “I just need ‘me time’ as an escape.”

Those answers aren’t all bad, but for Christians, there’s a concerning theme if they’re your driving motivation: they are all rooted in self. Honestly, it’s an easy trap to fall in. Most of the fitness and exercise goals focuses on glorifying our work ethic and image (post-workout selfie, anyone?). Whether it’s the desire to fit into your favorite jeans once again, feel more confident, or win a championship, we are surrounded by narratives that your next workout is all about YOU. This is the “pattern of this world” Paul is talking about in Romans 12:2. Do you recognize it?

Thankfully, God gives us a healthier, culture-defying alternative in Romans 12:1. The Message translation captures it beautifully: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”

If we view all our daily routines as offerings to God, why not our fitness? And not just the bookends of your workout; every pull, press, stride, and strain is a gift to Him. The motivation of being a living sacrifice causes us to keep going despite what the world says. 

Here’s the best news: doing something for a perfect, universe-creating God is far more motivating than fitting into a pair of jeans or getting a six-pack! When we are motivated by the desire to live, breathe, and move for our God, we get meaningful results that surpass anything the world has to offer. That’s better motivation than any pre-game speech I’ve ever heard. So keep taking this journey, inviting Him in, and focusing on using your workout to honor and glorify your Savior, not yourself.

Application

Get some reps! Grow in practicing proper motivation when things are hard. Try the 30-minute FaithFit workout titled "Motivation" found at the top of this devotional.