Exercise Your Faith

** note: a friend of mine sent this to me. I am unsure of the origin, thus unable to say if it's copyrighted, but I wanted to share it with you all **

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Hoisting several hundred pounds of free weights over his chest, famous
49er Jerry Rice said, "I'm willing to make the sacrifices, to do the
work. There's not many out there with my endurance or my desire."

Some of us lift weights and burn calories for countless hours at the
gym. Do we display that same determination in our spiritual lives? Since
none of us can become godly by osmosis, we need to learn to exercise our
faith. It takes exercise and effort to achieve spiritual fitness.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). Can you
define faith and how it has worked in your life? Faith isn't just a
biblical term to study. It's a dynamic principle of living. If we
experience it regularly, we will find ourselves in the best spiritual
shape of our lives.

How is your faith exercised?

Sit-Ups
Sit under the teaching of the Word of God every week. In Acts 20:7 we
read that the disciples came together on the first day of the week to
break bread and hear the teachings of the apostle Paul.

100-Yard Dash
Be ready to run to the aid of a hurting soul and demonstrate God's love.
We were not created to live and function alone. We need one another for
help and support. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that "Two are better than
one, for if they fall, one will lift up his companion."

Push-Ups
A traditional push-up strengthens your chest and shoulder muscles.
Lifting up a person in need builds your spiritual muscles. The Father of
mercies "comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:4). Christians who have
been encouraged by God should be the world's best encouragers.

Deep Knee-Bends
If you want the Lord's blessing on your life, pray. Paul urges us to
"continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it" (Colossians 4:2).
It takes effort and commitment to confess your sins before God, and to
pray for guidance for yourself and others. Prayer is one of the most
difficult disciplines, but it leads to spiritual fitness and vitality.

Lunges
Lunge into Christian service. When God shows you a need that you can
fill, get involved and see the Holy Spirit work through you. "The
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all"
(1 Corinthians 12:7).

Stretching
Stretch out in faith. As I watched my father stretch his faith in moving
from a prosperous pastorate to an unpredictable presidency at a
struggling Christian college, I learned that faith is a life-changing
truth. As my father stretched way beyond his comfort zone in obedience
to God, things began to take shape.

Walking
Walk in the Word daily. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Reading the
Bible is like exercise. Some days you don't feel like doing it, but you
know it's good for you. Discipline yourself for godliness by making it a
habit to read the Bible every day.

Being consistent in practicing these moves of an active faith is key
because a "stop-start" exercise regimen rarely produces lasting results.
If you want to make a new start in your spiritual fitness routine,
consult your physician-the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Ask God to
help you practice daily spiritual disciplines that will increase your
faith.

Runners come to a point where they can hardly put one foot in front of
another. But as they press on, their energy is replenished, and they
finish the race with a great sense of accomplishment. Likewise, the road
of dynamic Christian living requires perseverance.

The Bible provides incredible incentive to persevere: "Exercise daily in
God-no spiritual flabbiness please! Workouts in the gymnasium are
useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit
both today and forever" (1 Timothy 4:7-8 The Message).

Unlike bodily exercise, the benefits of spiritual fitness last into
eternity.

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God Bless!!!

Adam