Exercise: Physical, Mental and Spiritual Training for Holistic Health and Kingdom Purpose

Exercise encompasses physical training for bodily health, mental exercises for renewed thinking, and spiritual disciplines for spiritual growth, creating a comprehensive approach to whole-person wellness and stewardship of God's temple. As Scripture reminds us, "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1 Tim 4:8). We are multifaceted beings created in God's image, requiring development in our physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions to fulfill our divine purpose. Physical exercise strengthens our earthly vessels for service, mental exercises transform our thinking to align with God's truth, and spiritual exercises train our spirits to walk intimately with the Lord, love others deeply, and advance God's Kingdom on earth. The integration of all three forms of exercise produces balanced, effective believers who can impact their world with vitality, wisdom, and spiritual power.

The Importance of Physical Exercise for Health and Vitality

Regular physical exercise is essential for living a healthy life to keep excess weight off, increase blood circulation that aids the elimination of waste material from the body, reduce fatigue and prevent many ailments. Living an active lifestyle makes one energetic, youthful and fun to be around as vitality and endurance are increased while tension is reduced. Discipline is needed to maintain an effective program, yet have a balanced approach to fitness, so it doesn't become an idol.

Without good health, it is impossible to achieve all the Lord has for you, or enjoy life fully. Exercise doesn't need to be costly or elaborate to be beneficial – doing it regularly is the key, with the whole body being exercised, not just exclusive areas. Be it natural muscle, skills or spiritual ability unless we use it, we lose it! We are to be good stewards of our bodies – the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

The Integration of Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Development

Physical body exercises are largely for our own personal advantage, developing and using our worldly marketplace skills benefits society while spiritual exercises profit the Kingdom of God. By addressing each of these interconnected areas, we will become whole, balanced, growing believers. This holistic approach recognizes that we are multifaceted beings requiring development in all dimensions to fulfill our God-given purpose.

Mental exercises are crucial for transforming our thought patterns and aligning our minds with God's truth. Scripture commands us to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2). This requires intentional practices that stretch our intellectual capacity, strengthen our focus, and deepen our understanding of spiritual realities. Mental exercises include memorizing Scripture, meditating on God's Word, studying theology and biblical principles, engaging in thoughtful reflection and journaling, learning new skills that challenge our cognitive abilities, practicing mindfulness of God's presence throughout our daily activities, solving puzzles and sudoku, and other activities that sharpen mental alertness. These disciplines help us "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor 10:5), replacing worldly thinking with godly wisdom and perspective.

Bodily exercise is beneficial, being spiritually fit is more so (1 Tim 4:8). Godly exercises or spiritual disciplines that develop us include self-control (denying the flesh and obeying the Spirit), regular prayer, Bible reading and study, fellowship with other believers, living with a tender clear conscience before God and others, fasting, tithing and doing good works by being other focused. We should see God in all aspects of our lives enabling us to live with purpose and make our lives count for His Kingdom as we face reality with Jesus.

Do I exercise or just think about it?

Spiritual Exercise: Training the Spirit for Kingdom Impact

We need to exercise our spirit to seek after and contact the Lord in the Word of God and through the Holy Spirit's enabling live by the new man, turning from our natural mind to our spiritual dimension of who we are in Christ. We connect and encounter the Lord in our spirit as we worship Him, read the Bible, and set our mind on the Spirit (Rom 8:5; Col 3:2). This spiritual training is essential for living effectively in God's Kingdom and fulfilling His purposes for our lives.

We need to intentionally put off the old man and put on the new man, and do all things by this new man nature. Even though we are believers and lovers of Christ, we still do not live consistently in and by the new man. The old way of life has been so deeply engrained that it is a challenge to grasp we are new creatures (2 Cor 5:17). We have a choice to be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Rom 12:2). The only solution for the old life is death to its carnal, sinful nature, so do not attempt to improve the old man (Mt 16:24; Rom 6:6, 8:13; Col 3:5; Gal 2:20).

Connect with the Lord and live in the Spirit

May the Bible become a book of life, a life-giving and life-dispensing book of spiritual nourishment and spiritual enlightenment enabling the tearing down of our self, the breaking of our natural man and the supply of our new man with the Spirit. We need to learn to exercise our spirit to contact the Lord in His Word throughout the day by means of our new man and live in the Spirit to effect our world.

Reflection and Application:

Evaluate your current exercise habits – both physical and spiritual – and identify areas where you need greater consistency and intentionality.
Consider how you can better steward your body as God's temple while maintaining a balanced approach that doesn't make fitness an idol.
Reflect on which spiritual disciplines you need to strengthen: prayer, Bible study, fellowship, fasting, or serving others.
Commit to one specific action this week to exercise either your body or spirit more faithfully for God's glory.