7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health
by Kimberley Payne
WELCOME
Fit for Faith is a unique workbook program. In addition to
learning about the three components of fitness – cardiovascular exercise,
strength training and stretching – your relationship with God will be
strengthened through daily prayer, Scripture reading and daily journal writing.
God created you as a whole person, therefore take care of
your whole self, not just the individual parts. A direct relationship exists
between physical, emotional and spiritual health. A healthy body gives you the
energy and enthusiasm to carry out the purposes that God has for your life.
Practicing healthy living glorifies God.
This workbook is an invitation for you to discover for
yourself the joys of treating your body with respect, learning to love yourself
and connecting with God on a deeper level. You are invited to take a fresh
physical and spiritual attitude on a daily basis.
You will learn that God truly cares. He is personal and He
is intimate. God does listen to your prayers and is there for you. When you
rely on God totally, for everything – including such things as losing a few
pounds – He will bless you. God loves you and He wants you to love yourself. He
did not create you to look at your body in disgust, but rather God saw all that
He had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)
Each day, follow the outline provided and start with a
simple prayer. Read the question in the reflection section and write your own
response. At the end of the day, answer the three questions about your activity
and healthy eating habits. Test your knowledge with the myth. Finally, close
each day by meditating on the scripture verse.
The Fit for Faith Review is a personal record of your week.
It is a self-evaluation tool that reflects your strengths and defines areas
that need improvement.
You need to be faithful about doing something each day in
order to realize the full potential of God’s plan for you. You are invited to
develop physical well-being and grow spiritually to deepen your relationship
with God. Prayer, Bible study and journal writing are to your spirit what
exercise, healthy eating and stretching are to your body.
Blessings on your journey to health!
ACTION PLAN
Cardiovascular exercise &
Strength training + Prayer
Think of exercise as either cardiovascular activity or
strength training. Cardiovascular activity helps you to increase energy and
keep moving. It is good for your heart, lungs and circulatory system. Strength
training (also known as weightlifting) helps you keep your bones and muscles
strong, reduces bone loss and improves balance and posture.
Prayer helps you to enter into a spiritual communion with
God.
What cardiovascular exercise and strength training do for
building a strong body, prayer does to build spiritual strength. Your body
requires exercise and food, and it needs these things regularly. You cannot
just take care of it at the beginning of the week and forget about it. Your
spiritual life is similar to your physical body in that way. You cannot pray
just once and have a healthy, growing spiritual life.
In strength training, you start by lifting small weights,
and as you grow stronger, you can lift heavier weights. It is the same with
prayer. You start by praying a short amount of time, and then as your desire
grows you can spend time in prayer every day.
Just as exercise strengthens your body, prayer strengthens
your spirit. Similarities between exercise and prayer include:
To be physically and spiritually healthy requires
discipline. You need to practice both daily and use this strength or you will
lose it.
The effects can be both immediate and/or long term. You may
see the results right away or the effects can be cumulative.
Both exercise and prayer improve balance in your life,
improve your quality of life and boost your mood.
With a pure motive, both delight God.
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