Spiritual Workout!!!

It's been a month or so since my last visit to the gym. And i think many gym goers can attest to the difficulty in cultivating that discipline of achieving a 20min workout 3 times weekly. Unless you are a gym freak, you'll fail miserably. You would think that the rm175/month commitment would strike one guilty of their absence.. Well it does work occasionally but not always. The core of the matter is Discipline. It's a skill we must develop in all matters of our life. Discipline in studying. Discipline in spending. Discipline at work and home. Disciplining our thoughts and tongue. Discipline in devotions. Discipline in praying. etc...

But since young, we've always had someone to do the job of disciplining us. At home, it is our parents. In school, the disciplinary teacher. In church, the leaders/pastors. However, as we grow older, we assume those roles and take on our own responsibilities. We have undergone training under different 'regimes' and now we are to take the helm of the Training centre. Notice mom & dad lecture you less if at all? Surely your boss at the workplace doesnt administer any discipline? In church, you wouldn't be penalise if you failed to remember the memory verse that week. We are supposedly more mature and wiser, and have the ability to act responsibly. But Ahah.. As mentioned, Discipline is an art. It is not an overnight creation. Which explains why we struggle in this area. At least i do.

My trail of thoughts then lead me to ponder Paul's admonition to train ourselves in godliness, and asking whether as a people we are equally concerned about our spiritual conditioning.

On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things.1 Timothy 4:7-8

NOw, That isn't just "of little profit." It's of eternal importance. And as such, i fear greatly. If i'm already having problem disciplining myself in smaller matters eg physical workout.. how am i able to tackle this discipline of godliness, the spiritual workout?

I know, i'll fail on my own accord. But in wanting to cultivate this discipline effectively and desperately, i realised there's 2 Ps i must and can do. Firstly, it is to Purpose it in my heart. Secondly, Pray. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. Truly when i'm weak, He is strong.

I've extracted the below from Family Life.. Read it and hopefully you'll embark on a Spiritual Workout if you're not already on one or have failed to be discipline in doing so.

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I'd like to invent a spiritual workout system with machines similar to those in health spas that can zero in on specific muscles you want to develop. My spiritual spa would be a place with individual stations where muscles of the faith would be purposely developed, a place where we could be intentional about cultivating spiritual stamina.

My first station would help bridle the tongue when it is tempted to say harsh words, and toughen it up when it needs to speak out boldly for the Lord. It would build control of our gossip muscle, and teach us to clean up our language.

I'd have a station that addresses the faith muscles of the eyes. Above this machine would be pictures of biblical heroes whose lives were ruined when they lost control of their eye muscles-Samson and David, who were deceived when they allowed their eyes to gaze too long upon the opposite sex.

I would also have a machine that works on the spiritual muscles of the neck. It would increase flexibility in those who have become "stiff-necked"-especially those who are too proud to admit mistakes, too stubborn to ask for forgiveness or too arrogant to admit they need to depend upon God.

I'd have an exercise that would require a person to be on his knees, with neck bent downward in prayer. Prayer loosens muscles that are tied in knots by worry, pressure or long hours of hard work.

Sweating yet? Any increase in your heart-for-God rate? Out of breath? Sore? Like any good workout, it wouldn't be good to overdo it the first time out...or can it be overdone?