Spiritual exercises
Just like we love to exercise our bodies for fitness, we should exercise our spirits for spiritual fitness.
1 Tim 4:8 says that physical exercise is of some value but spiritual exercise is much more important.
Look at the Four practices below to ensure that you are fit spiritually.
1. Meditation
When it comes to the Lord's word, you start by listening, then reading, then studying, memorizing and finally meditating on it.
There is therefore no meditation without the first four above.
In fact, we can't be doers of the Word, without being hearers first (James 1:22)
Rom 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
Meditation is what helps us keep the Word in our hearts.
Psalms 119:11 'I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.'
In Jer 15:16, Prophet Jeremiah literally ate the Word scroll.
Psalms 1:2 further reveals that a blessed man, is rather the one meditates on the Word of God day and night.
To meditate is also to;
- Ponder on the Word
- Dwell on the Word
- Chew on it
- Roll it - Roll it over and over in your mind to apply it in your life.
2. Thanksgiving
This is one of the most important exercises, and yet so rare. Genuine and consistent thanksgiving is powerful and effective.
Psalms 100:4 says 'enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.'
1 Thes 5:17 is a short charge, as simple as 'give thanks in all circumstances.'
In Job 2:10, we learn from Job to accept good and bad when they come our way.
2 Tim 4:2 talks of in season and out of seasons.
3. Praying
Prayer is a very important part of Christian fitness. A prayerful man will find it easy to perform the other exercises.
1 Thes 5:17 'Pray without ceasing.'
Rom 12:12 tells us to be faithful in prayers. It is unfaithful to not pray.
Therefore, pray persistently and consistently.
Phil 4:6 says that we ought not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving we should make our requests known to God.
1 Pet 5:6 -7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
4. Fellowship
Brethren fellowship cannot be overemphasized.
The Psalmist in Psalms 122:1 says 'I was glad with those that said unto me let us go to house of God.'
The Spirit of God dwells in the house of God and wherever He is there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:17)
According to Matt 23:19, the altar is so important that it has the capacity to cleanse our gifts/offerings. It is indeed of much value that we are connected to altars.
The Apostles and the prophets were together in FELLOWSHIP when the Spirit spoke concerning Saul and Barnabas. Acts 13:2
The best scripture yet concerning brethren fellowship is probably Heb 10:25. It says 'not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.'
5. Giving
Giving is a spiritual practice. It is also one of those practices that most believers don't take too seriously.
It has a direct effect on God's work. Pay your tithes. Give offerings as told in the Bible with a cheerful heart.
Prepare your offering before going to the house of God, not while there.
Giving is a very important part of worship. It is these givings that make kingdom work manageable.
1 Corinthians 16:2 says 'On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.'
2 Cor 9:7 'Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.'
If you practice the above practices consistently, your spiritual life will surely take a flight.
Remember, just like the human body needs exercise, the spirit man needs fitness as well. The Word says that Spiritual exercise is much more important.