How many of us have started a workout routine only to let it fall by the wayside? (I’m raising my hand)
What the heck happens, I ask you? There are probably a hundred or more reasons, but I want to share with you a few that I have discovered. There is one that I believe is most likely at the root.
MOTIVATION. . .or lack thereof.
What really motivates us to do anything? I’d venture to say these are probably at the top:
Necessity and payoff.
Let’s face it, we do what we really want to do. And we do what we really need to. You know— I go to work because I need a paycheck. I watch TV because I want to.
In my last blog, I wrote about incorporating my daily prayer time into my workout routine. My motivation was to get healthier physically and spiritually. I think that’s a pretty good motivation.
But I found that after awhile, there were days that my “motivation” waned. I started dreading workout time. We’ve all been there! That brings me to what I have found is another reason for workouts to fall by the wayside.
LOSING SIGHT OF MOTIVATION.
When I began to notice that I was dreading my jog/prayer time, I decided to talk with God about it. I mean, He already knew anyway. God lead me to the following scripture from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT:
²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
The apostle Paul (author) is telling us the key to staying disciplined with our spiritual workout is to remember our motivation which is:
Run to win the eternal prize!
We must keep the finish line in our minds in order to stay motivated. My mom use to bribe me to finish my vegetables by telling me I would receive dessert afterward. I tell you what, I gagged those veggies down for ice cream and cake!
As an adult, my motivation lies in knowing that my finish line is in heaven where I will meet my Savior face to face! It will be ice cream and cake like I have never tasted!
Notice that in verse twenty-seven it states that it takes discipline. Oh, that dreaded word!
WE NEED MOTIVATION PLUS THE DISCIPLINE TO CARRY IT OUT.
If you are lacking in discipline, (and who really isn’t?) I have good news for you. God will help you with that. Take a look at Philippians 2:13 NLT
^” For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Amazing! The God of the universe is working in us. Even giving us the desire and power to do what pleases Him. And we know that taking care of our bodies physically and spiritually pleases Him.
1 Timothy 4:8
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
One final thought. I’m not telling you that this is easy. Few things worth working for are. But I will tell you is this. If you set a goal to “workout with God” on a daily basis, the rewards are beyond what you would expect! And I’m not just talking about the finish line in heaven. I mean here and now.
I will tell you more about that in my next blog. Until then, enjoy your workout!