The Approach to Training

Crossover Effect

By tying our spiritual training with our physical training we can get a crossover effect. The spiritual emphasis reminds us of the proper priorities of fitness (physical is good; spiritual is better), and the rigors of physical training give us insight into what it means to “train” ourselves spiritually. As with most things, positive results and improvement in both types of training require three things: discipline, sweat, and time.

Discipline means a constant regard for correction and attention to detail.

Sweat represents the effort and sacrifice we invest into this endeavor. Intensity is the not-so-secret secret to improving physical fitness. It’s the same for spiritual fitness as well. We must push ourselves beyond what we believe we can do. One more rep. One more set. One more exercise. One more hour. One more chapter. One more step of obedience. This won’t feel easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

And finally, time means we get to our destination eventually, not immediately. Tomorrow will look and feel much like today, but over weeks and months fruit will begin to appear. You (and others) will notice a change. An understanding of the time it takes and the discipline to keep pushing forward is what it takes to get anywhere physically and/or spiritually.

The Plan

So what’s the plan? Thankfully God has beautifully laid out instructions and guidance through His word (the Bible) as to how to train ourselves spiritually.

Therefore, each day begins with a verse or two followed by a short devotion to give us some insight into what the verse says.  In addition, there will be a paragraph or two applying the scripture to our physical training.  Gain insight into the spiritual aspect of ‘training yourself’ from these thoughts about physical training.  And vice versa.

Following this will be a portion of scripture to be memorized during the week (broken down into daily nuggets). Carry these words with you throughout the day. Let them (cause them) to take root deep within your consciousness and become the foundation of your thoughts, speech, actions, and attitudes.

Next will be a prayer focus. Take the time to apply the truths we’ve studied to your life by speaking them out to God. Repeat them back to Him in your own words. He’ll clear up any questions, and show areas of application we may not see initially. Do this on your own and don’t rush. Sit with God for a while and spend time talking (out loud) about what He has said and what we are to believe.

After that there will be an ‘OutWork’ which will be a clear action to take during the week in order to begin to live out the words we’ve studied. This will be one of the more challenging aspects of this training. But just like with lifting weights or running, the discomfort is part of the process of growth. Commit yourself to the outcome of a new life. That means doing new things, saying new things, knowing new people, going new places. It may mean not going to some old places or not doing some old things. That’s part of the discipline we talked about.

Finally, we will have a periodized, weekly physical ‘WorkOut’ plan. Daily exercises will be given with an aspect to be recorded for tracking results.  For explanations or variations, shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to provide a more personalized option.

Our motto

The motto we’ll follow for this training is, ‘Do what you can, when you can’. That means if something feels too difficult, modify it so that it’s just challenging enough to feel like you’re pushing yourself one step beyond normal. On the flip side, this means stepping it up when it feels too easy.

As with any exercise program make sure you’re aware of any limitations or special circumstances you may have before you begin. Talk with a physician, get a physical, get a true understanding of what your physical condition is first. Remember, we’re looking to start at the (your) beginning, and we can’t know what that truly is without asking hard questions and honestly seeking the answers. You can’t find the end, until you find the beginning.

We’re here. We’ve got a goal. We’ve got a plan. We’re ready!

Timothy’s Workout Plan

“…Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, holding promise both for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7b-8

Intro

Over the next few weeks, I will be putting forth a workout plan that incorporates both spiritual and physical fitness.  If you need a little help getting in shape, or have wanted a deeper motivation for working out the following posts will be a journey toward godliness mixed with some ‘bodily training’.  It will be challenging on both levels.  Please join in and follow along.  Post comments and give some feedback.  More details on the plan tomorrow, but for now: the beginning…

Beginnings

When we begin an endeavor like this (fitness/rightness), it is always best to begin at the beginning. And there we typically find questions. Lots of questions! But questions are good because they can reveal what answers we’re looking for, and when we know that then we have a beginning.

“What is valuable?” “What value do I have?” “What is good?” “What is good about me?” “How can I get right/fit?” “How can I change this?” By looking at these common questions (and, yes, everybody is asking basically the same questions as you), we can begin to define what is our goal. We are looking for fitness. Rightness. Righteousness.

righteousness – acting rightly; according to what is right [Webster’s]

If we’re honest (and we must be or else our questions are useless), we recognize that something is wrong with the world, with our lives, with us. And it’s not just surface things like “I don’t like my job” or “I don’t like the color of my hair”. Those things are changeable. No, there is a deeper problem that we can’t put our hands on and change. It’s our hearts. Our nature. Not how we are, but who we are.

Caution!

This questioning can seem depressing. Both the answers we find and/or the absence of answers can lead us to a sense of despair. Worthlessness. Helplessness. But here’s some good news…that’s ok. It’s ok to make an honest assessment of the things around us and within us and come away with a bleak outlook. Because there is an answer that exists outside of everything we’ve ever known or been, and it speaks words like faithful, true, and righteous. The condition we find ourselves in (as revealed by the questions we repeatedly ask) is not unchangeable, and it is addressed head on by the only One who can do anything about it. God.

faithfulness – steadfast in affection or allegiance; firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty [Webster’s]

When we begin at the beginning we discover that we begin with God. And we find He is already way ahead of us on this road! God ALONE is faithful. God ALONE is true. God ALONE is righteous. God ALONE is every answer we desire to hear in response to our questions. Who He (truly) is, is who and how we (truly) want to be. And the road we are setting out on is the road that leads us to that reality. God’s likeness. Godliness.

godliness – devoutly conforming to the will of God [Webster’s]