- Andy Neillie
- Dec 29, 2025
- 3 min read
Spiritual Essential: Transformation
Renewal is a physical concept. It’s also a spiritual one.
I’ve been doing CrossFit for more than five years. I have a local gym where I’ve done much of my training over these 60+ months. I also travel a great deal for work and have visited to at least 40 other CrossFit boxes since my CrossFit journey began. As a result, I have some good insights into what is quality coaching and what isn’t.
The good news for me: the coaching team at our local box is full of highly trained, deeply tenured coaches with a lot of initials behind their names who are also competitive athletes themselves.
As I began to see my physical transformation take place and the weights I lifted grow, it became increasingly important to have coaches who could work with me on correct form and posture. They helped me with my foot placement, my back alignment, my shoulder positioning and significant other “fine-tuning.” Despite being close to 70 years old, their direction helped transform me from an out-of-shape well-past-middle-aged former-athlete into a strong, solid, competitive CrossFit disciple.
The bad news? I’ve also had mediocre coaches at gyms around the country who tried to correct my form or “coach the old guy up” when I dropped into their gyms. (I’ll always remember the inexperienced coach at a gym I dropped into in the Chicago area who spent at least 10 minutes trying to completely rebuild my rowing motion with a number of horrible coaching cues.)
How we work at transforming ourselves physically is important. Renewing my body with the right direction and coaching has given me energy and strength that I haven’t had in years. At a time in life when most people are increasingly stiff and sedentary, my wife – a consistent CrossFit athlete as well – and I have added strength and health to our bodies and years to our lives.
The same is true for spiritual transformation. In the twelfth chapter of Romans, the apostle Paul “coaches” his readers by challenging them to be transformed by the renewing of their minds:
“Do not 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.”
His challenge comes at the end of a lengthy discourse where he reminds his readers of all that God has done for them. Now he challenges them to “lean into” becoming the best version of themselves by renewing their mind with the awareness of God’s work in their lives.
What needs renewal in your life? Maybe there’s a strained relationship that needs renewal. Maybe you have some deep seeded feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt that need renewal. Maybe reading this reminds you that your fitness training needs a renewal.
Wherever you’re needing renewal, ask God to coach you. His training plan is simple, yet effective. As He changes your thoughts and beliefs and actions, rest in the confidence that you’re not His first athlete. It’s time for a new year – a year of renewal.
Questions for Reflection:
What needs renewal in your life?
How does God change the way we think and see the world?