You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.(1 Tim. 4: 6-10, MSG, emphasis mine)

The previous post on spiritual strength-training didn’t include any practical aspects. This post will concentrate on ten spiritual strength-training exercises (or disciplines or Christian habits if your will) that I have found helpful in my Christian walk. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. Let’s work on this list! I hope that you will share your favorite spiritual strength-training exercises! But here are my top ten (not in any particular order):

1)    Prayer & silence/solitude
2)    Listening to God & spiritual journaling
3)    Private & corporate worship
4)    Bible-reading & studying
5)    Obeying God’s commands
6)    Loving (God, ourselves & our neighbors)
7)    Stepping out in faith when urged to do something
8)    Fasting (of TV or something else poisonous in your life)
9)    Service of others
10)  Fellowship of believers

Let’s exercise daily in God! Let’s be fit both today and forever! Let’s take it to heart!

Gracious God,
Thank you for inviting us to come closer to you.
Help us to love passionately your ways.
Guide us to truly get to know you.
Give us your grace to form new habits
to keep us safe from every evil
and make us fit for today and eternity.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What would you add/withdraw? What are your best strength-training exercises?

Be richly blessed as you exercise daily in God!
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