Spiritual Training Cycle: Connection (wk. 9/13)
My favorite clients to train aren’t necessarily the fittest. In fact, some I started training had never stepped foot in a gym before. Can you relate? Remember those days when the thought of walking into a foreign warehouse filled with oddly shaped metal equipment and cheerful, sweating smiles made you anxious? If that’s not a familiar memory, it might be the time you knew you needed to make a change in your life and all you had was a free membership to an outside walk down to the end of the street and back.
When your beginning starts there, any progress made toward improving your health is incredible. Getting your running shoes on is a win. Reserving your class ahead of time is a win, and so is showing up the next day.
If we’re careful not to discredit the days of humble beginnings, we can find more to be grateful for along the way. It is when we "get grown", as my grandmother liked to say, that we start to forget. Suddenly, our discipline is expected of us. We’re disappointed when we only back squat 10 lbs. under our personal best, even though we know we’ve done more in the past. Our gratitude turns into grumbling.
If you want a lesson on humble beginnings, look no further than the Apostle Paul. One of his most quoted verses from the Bible comes from the book of Philippians. You know the one that’s in Instagram bios everywhere? “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This book is often seen as the book on joy, yet we forget Paul was writing it from prison.
Paul found every opportunity around him as something to praise. He didn’t miss a chance to thank God in every season of his journey. Good and bad, rich or poor, in sickness or in health (that quote might also sound familiar from Paul).
I believe there are two things Paul did to get more spiritual reps of gratitude daily.
Number one was his gratitude to the saints. Even in prison, he counted others as more important than himself. He says, “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases your credit (Phil 4:16-17)." The “fruit” he mentions is the outpouring of his ministry of the gospel. He’s teaching generosity in the church by modeling it himself. More than anything, he wants the church to grow in these virtues to reflect the free gift of Christ Jesus and his rescue.
Number two was his gratitude in the scriptures. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:9).” We cannot forget where we came from. The same light from the Son of God that shines on a heart of clay that hardens can shine on a heart of wax that melts. The scriptures can’t just exist in our heads; they must reach our hearts, moving us with compassion for others because Jesus made the first move for us.
As we reflect on our journeys and humble beginnings, let’s remember that every small step forward is a gift guided by God. Whether it’s finding time to work out through busy schedules or sending a sincere text to a friend when the thought passes by, these moments are growing opportunities for gratitude. Just as Paul found thankfulness in every situation, we too can cultivate a grateful heart in our daily lives.
Let’s embrace gratitude for those around us and the wisdom we gain from God’s word. By valuing the ministry of saints and the sacrifice of Jesus, we align ourselves with a heart of gratitude. Practicing this daily opens us to the joy and peace found only in Him. May our gratitude reflect His love, shining brightly through every trial and triumph.
Questions for Reflection:
What was the beginning of your fitness journey like? Who encouraged you along the way?
What was the beginning of your spiritual journey like? Who encouraged you along the way?
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