Exercise

I'm tired of exercising. Five times I week I psyche myself up to go downstairs, turn on the treadmill, and run three miles. Not as far as some of my friends run, but I'm not aspiring to run a marathon, or even a half-marathon. In fact, I don't even really like running all that much. It would be easy for me to give it up, except that I always feel so good afterward.

When I was taking a fitness class in college, our instructor had us watch a video of Jane Fonda (the fitness guru) giving healthy living guidelines. She said, "You have to eat right, exercise, and do it for the rest of your life."

I suppose that's the way it is with any form of discipline. We do certain things because we know they're good for us. If we stop doing those things, even for a short time, we notice the change almost immediately. Running gives me energy, helps my body stay healthy, and makes my heart stronger. That's why I make myself do it regularly. If I take a break from it for some reason, I notice a difference in the way I feel. I notice it even more when I start running again! It takes a few days to get back in step. And now that I'm over 30, my knees are quick to let me know I've taken too much time off!

So I make it a priority to run those three miles five times a week. I do it because I want my heart to be strong and healthy. I want to be able to run around with my kids and not have to stop to catch my breath - even when I'm in my forties. (Although they might not be so fond of Mom chasing them around by that point!) I've got two very active boys, and I want to be able to keep up with them. I also want to set a good example for them of living a healthy lifestyle so that they'll make wise choices when they get older.

The same principle applies when it comes to living the life of a Christ-follower. It takes discipline, and sometimes we have to make choices that we don't particularly enjoy, but we know they're good for us: skipping the Oscar-winning movie with all the swear words and unwholesome content or giving a tithe even when it means fewer groceries in the pantry. Sometimes it's hard, but the reward comes later.

It also takes daily devotion to reading God's Word and spending time in prayer. Following Christ requires us to live in contrast to our human nature. We can't choose a path of overcoming temptation without daily help from Him. But we have the instruction manual at our fingertips, if only we would study it and do what it says! And we have direct access to the Author of the manual whenever we need His guidance. All we have to do is ask.

I'm a busy lady (aren't we all?), and it can be easy to say, "I don't have time for that." But if I can make time to run three miles in the midst of a hectic day, I can certainly take the time to talk with my Father. After all, what good does it do me to have a physically strong, healthy heart if it's hardened to what God has to say?