PowerPoint - Jan. 1, 2008
January 1, 2008
For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
--1 Timothy 4:8
We all know that it’s very important to eat right and exercise. According to the Scripture, our bodies are temples God have given us, and we need to take care of them. But being spiritually healthy is even more important.
And to be spiritually healthy, you need to exercise your faith. Just as you wouldn’t expect to be able to run a marathon without any training, you can’t expect to face the trials and tribulations of life without exercising your faith in God.
Exercising your faith requires discipline, dedication, and determination, which means being in God’s Word, spending time in prayer, and obeying God’s will for your life. Each of these disciplines will help you endure and enjoy the road ahead.
Life is often described in the Bible as a race. Some of us run the race well, some of us not so well, and others don’t even finish the race at all! The goal as a believer in Jesus Christ is to run the race of life strong… and finish well. And you do this is by exercising your faith by spending time with God!
Now, there will be times in your life when you will be tempted not to spend that precious time with God. Things will come up, life will get in the way, and excuses will start to pile up. But if you make it a priority to exercise your faith and grow more intimately with God through reading His Word and spending time in prayer, you will be better equipped to face the problems of life. And when you have the appropriate eternal perspective that God wants you to have, your problems won’t seem as big as they once were!
So do yourself a favor and begin working out your faith in the new year. If you do, you soon will become a spiritual athlete who runs the race of life strong… and you will finish well!
Exercising your faith requires discipline, dedication, and determination, which means being in God’s Word, spending time in prayer, and obeying God’s will for your life.
