By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Benefits of spiritual training
Pastor's corner
pastor corner

Last week I took a cousin and her family, who were visiting, out to Ossabaw Island.

While there, as we were ready to leave, someone suggested we race back to the boat. I took off, in my opinion, like a speeding bullet but soon after suffered a severe pain in the back of my thigh.

I think I pulled a muscle or as some would say, I blew a tire. The problem was that I had not been exercising that muscle; it was not conditioned for that much stress put on it.

The same can be said when it comes to our spiritual life. When we face challenges, when tragedy strikes, when our faith is tested, our spiritual muscles need to be conditioned.

The Apostle Paul alludes to this in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where he said, "train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

If they are not, then we can experience defeat, sin and faithlessness. We can end up being bitter or we will come through the other side a better person.

We usually know how to become physically fit, things like running, walking, or a gym membership (actually going).

When it comes to spiritual fitness it is things like reading the scripture and prayer. It is regular activities that will help us grow in our intimacy with our heavenly Father.

When challenges come, then instead of being upset with God we rather want to get closer to him.

What if we have failed and have suffered pain? The good news is that physically there is healing that can take place and the same on a spiritual level. We also can change our habits from bad ones to good ones; we can get fit.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters