7 Biblical Truths to Keep You Motivated to Move

The Bible reminds you that your body is tremendously valuable because, if you have a relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives inside you. 

It points out in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” 

The Holy Spirit – God’s presence! – lives in you. Remembering that regularly helps you stay aware that your body is a sacred space. It’s not something to ignore, mistreat, or neglect, because doing so would be a sin against your Creator, who gave you your body and lives with you there. When you move your body, you’re not just working toward your health goals but honoring God by caring for a temple where God lives. 

Remember that you don’t have to look a certain way or meet the world’s fitness standards. You must do your best to care for your body by giving it the exercise it needs to function well. Your physical health is just as important as your spiritual health. God has designed your soul and body to be connected. 

So, you can honor God not only with your heart and mind, but also with your physical self. Thinking of this perspective on the importance of moving your body transforms it into a form of worship. Instead of seeing exercise as an obligation, you can see it as an opportunity to thank God for giving you a body that functions well and houses the Holy Spirit. Any movement you do – from walking outside to working out at a gym – can become a way to worship God with gratitude.

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You weren’t made to sit still passively. God intends for you to live an active life. 

Ephesians 2:10 declares: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

God has prepared specific, meaningful, good work for you; moving your body is part of how you carry it out. You are God’s handiwork. You’re not an accident or a mistake. God created you – including your body – for good purposes. 

Your physical capabilities aren’t random; they’re gifts from God that he wants you to use for good by living into your purpose. Your body enables you to live out your calling in tangible ways, for every type of service you do, every day. So, your body’s movement becomes a vehicle for your service. 

When you strengthen your body by moving it regularly, you’re preparing to say “yes” to God’s assignments when he calls you to help people in need. Those assignments will require you to have physical energy and resilience. So, instead of seeing physical activity separate from your spiritual calling, embrace it as preparation for what God calls you to do. You move your body to prepare to serve God and others well.

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Discipline isn’t fun, but it’s essential to how God trains everyone he loves. God wants you to live a disciplined life that helps you grow holily, including making physical activity a regular part of your life.

Hebrews 12:11 acknowledges that discipline is complex, but also points out that it’s worthwhile: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those trained by it.” 

It’s tempting to quit when something is hard, whether waking up early to exercise or sticking with a movement routine when results are slow to come from it. But consistency is key for physical movement, just like spiritual growth. 

Ask God to help you stay disciplined and empower you to maintain long-term faithfulness with your exercise routines. You're practicing obedience and developing endurance every time you choose to move, even when you don’t feel like it. 

Both of those are valuable to God. Not only that, but the more you show up physically, the more prepared you become to show up spiritually, in all sorts of ways, like building prayer and meditation habits you stick with, and trusting God through hard times. Discipline is training. Like any training, it requires time, effort, and commitment. But the results are worth it because they shape you into someone strong in body and faith.

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Jesus often walked from place to place. The Bible records in Luke 24:15 that Jesus walked even after his resurrection: “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;...”. 

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus joined his disciples in their journey, walking beside them, engaging in conversation, and encouraging them as they processed confusing events. This powerful scene reveals an incredible truth: Jesus meets you where you are and chooses to walk with you through any situation. 

Movement, for Jesus, was an opportunity to connect while taking good care of his earthly body. You can follow that example in your own life. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense or solitary to be meaningful. A simple walk can be a significant time to enjoy conversations with God, connect with other believers who walk with you, or enjoy God’s presence in creation. 

When you walk, you can invite Jesus to walk alongside you, just as he did on the road to Emmaus. Consider taking a prayer walk to pray for the area you’re walking through, or a wonder walk to look for glimpses of God’s work around you intentionally. Let your movement become both a physical and a spiritual practice. Turn your walk into worship by connecting with Jesus as he walks with you.

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Hebrews 12:1-3 describes living a life of faith on earth like a physical race where runners need to develop endurance to finish well: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

Endurance takes time, since it’s often developed through discipline and overcoming challenges. Every time you choose to move your body, even when you’re tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed, you’re training your soul to keep going when life gets hard. The race of faith is about faithfulness, not speed. So, do your best to stay faithful by moving your body daily. You don’t need to be perfect with your exercise routine; you need to be persistent and stick with it as much as you can. Remember, Jesus is cheering you on and ready to give you the strength you need!

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Psalm 150:6 encourages: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” 

One of the most joyful ways to praise God is through your gratitude movement. Every time you move – by walking, running, dancing, biking, working out at a gym, or in some other way – you can say a prayer to thank God for giving you a body that can move in ways you enjoy. Y

ou can also pay attention to your breathing while you exercise and thank God for giving you your breath, inspiring you to remember how God gave you the incredibly valuable gift of life. When your exercise is a way to praise God (instead of a chore you do because of pressure or guilt), you’ll be naturally motivated to move and enjoy the experience. So, build some praise into your movement whenever you can.

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Genesis 2:2 records that after the hard work of creating our world, “God rested from all his work.” Rest is part of God’s design for you. Jesus rested during his life on earth, often after he moved his body by walking long distances. Following Jesus’ example of resting regularly after movement can help you live with the balance God has designed. When you move your body regularly to take good care of it, your body releases stress, your mind clears, and your spirit renews. The more you move, the more you activate God’s design for movement to renew your body and soul.

Your God-given body needs regular movement to function well. Staying motivated can be hard if you’re trying to motivate yourself out of a sense of obligation. But if you look at regular physical exercise as an opportunity to honor God and receive strength from him, you can be motivated to move even on your most stressful days. As you take good care of your body by moving it daily, God will meet you where you are and make the process enjoyable for you!

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