Keeping a Clear Mindset in Regard to Exercise

Society, as a whole, often focuses on physical health as a priority for one’s wellbeing. In reality, we need to also focus on spiritual and mental health to ensure a healthy mind and overall wellbeing.

We need to have a healthy mind when we spend our quiet time with God because it is in that state where we are best equipped to receive His word with an open mind and heart.

Reading God’s word, painting, and even exercising are all ways we can keep a healthy mind. Exercise can have many beneficial effects on one’s mind. This includes, but is not limited to, decreased risk of memory loss, stress relief, and improved quality of sleep.

Exercise has been known as a contributing factor to help fight depression and anxiety. This is primarily because exercise can release endorphins which are chemicals released by the brain that work to alleviate pain and promote satisfaction. Ultimately, exercise is an excellent opportunity for one to focus on something productive as opposed to staying in a cycle of negative thoughts that will only bring more harm. Unhealthy stress could lead to insomnia, stomach-related issues, and overall wear and tear on your mind. However, including exercise in our daily routine can release built-up tension and stress.

Even though I play tennis weekly, I have challenged myself to be even more active. Some days I push myself to work out early in the morning after my devotion to help kickstart my day.

As followers of Christ, it is crucial that we reflect Christ in all areas of our lives including fitness and the gym. It can be very easy to get caught up in what the world deems most valuable when it comes to exercising, such as the perfect body type to achieve by going to the gym.

However, Christians must be careful to not allow Satan to creep into our daily lives. To do this, one must keep a clear mindset on what God says regarding our overall health in the Bible.

First Corinthians 6:19–20 says: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (NIV).

God asks that we take care of our bodies because they are essentially His, not our own. Just as one would take their car to get a routine oil changes or new tires to keep the car functioning at a high-performance level, it is vital that we take the same thoughtful steps to take care of our bodies through exercise as we are able. In this same way, we must take care of our own bodies for optimal mental health.

As Christians we must be capable of discerning worldliness versus godliness. We are not to “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

When we make it a priority to renew our mind through spending time in God’s word and focusing our health and wellness efforts on the glory of God, then we set ourselves up to grow spiritual fruit. When you take the initiative to do this, you will begin to see God work in your life like never before! You will also be equipped to grow in His truth and live out His plan for you, which may be missions!