I do a three-mile run five days a week. But don’t let that fool you. I’m no jock. I’m the slow old dude huffing and puffing up those hills. Sometimes I wonder how I’m going to make it. Truth be told, I wouldn’t make it—or do it—without my faith. Here some Bible verses I turn to for inspiration when exercising. Whether you’re doing a workout video at home, or running around the neighborhood, I hope they inspire you as well.
1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. (Luke 10:27).
God wants us to be strong and gives us that strength so we can give it back.
We exercise our spirit through prayer and Bible reading and worship. No reason we can’t do the same with our physical beings.
2) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1)
Research has shown that getting exercise is essential for our health. Even something as simple as getting out there and taking a walk can make a huge difference.
When I’m outside running in the park, no matter how much huffing and puffing I do, I savor God’s creation. The trees, the flowers, the grass, the squirrels, the birds. I also remind myself of how lucky I am to have a body that can exercise.
3) I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Hold on to a Bible verse while you’re doing that workout. I’ve been known to take a copy of a psalm and hold it in my hand while I run, planting a verse or two in my head, something to meditate on (and release me from the tedium).
God can give us the strength, but it’s a two-way street. We’ve got to call on Him.
4) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24)
The Apostle Paul often uses athletic imagery when talking about the spirit. I don’t think he’s telling us that we all have to be runners as much as saying it’s important to give yourself challenges. To reach higher goals.
Recently I’ve been trying to see how many push-ups I can do at once. No, I’m not going to tell you how many I’m up to. Nor am I going to tell you how many psalms I try to read a day. But the challenge is important—and dare I say, it’s fun (at least when I’ve finished that last push up).
5) But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary…(Isaiah 40:31)
Exercise is not an end to itself, but when combined with the spirit it does give us a chance to soar.
This verse is one my mom asked to be read to her in the hospital on what turned out to be the last day of her life. In her younger days she’d been an avid tennis player. She hadn’t played in years. And yet I like to think that the image of the eagle’s wings helped her spirit soar.
6) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…(Psalm 139:14)
We are all wonderfully made. That’s reason to celebrate. On a walk, a run, a jumping jack, a push up. They can all be opportunities to give praise.
