{Faith and Fitness}: Are you Prepared?

Imagine going to work out and you forgot one of your shoes. Imagine being asked to run a marathon with only 1 day of training. What if you are like me and your "white girl moves" are not cutting it at Zumba?  What if you tried to jump into a CrossFit work out when for the last five years your idea of "working out" is walking to change the TV channel? We have all been in that place where we think, "I am NOT prepared for this type/length/level of activity. You are bound to feel unprepared, lacking and a bit overwhelmed. There are basic things that we need in order to work out and get in shape and feel prepared for the battles you are about to take on. We need shorts, shirt, tennis shoes, water, a purpose and goal, & persistance.  Many of us stop before we get very far because we have not armed ourselves with the equipment needed, both physical and mental, to pursue and fight the battles and achieve the end goal. We must also stop and realize that we will not accomplish our goals in one day. Just as eating one good meal wont make you healthy, working out once or twice wont help you cross the finish line to that marathon. In preparing for a marathon or a physical activity that seems outside of our limits or abilities there will be blood, sweat and tears and a day after day discipline to better yourself and push forward. There is no way around it. Not doing these things will leave you stagnent and weak.

Now lets transfer that to our sanctification. What if you go into life, the battles that are around us, unprepared? What if you are shoeless? What if do not have the endurance, the focus? What if you are presented with a huge obstacle and have not trained or prepared or are lacking the essential things needed to proceed and succeed? Are we aware of the battle that is going on around us? This is a battle that will last our whole life long. Do we have the end goal (eternity with Christ) as a focus? Are we trying to take on this life, this "activity" or "challenge" without being fully prepared? Life and our walks with Christ are no Zumba class. Our ability to move our hips are not going to bring us through the battles that rage around us. So if we know what is needed to pursue fitness physically, are we aware of what is needed to pursue fitness spiritually? 

We need to be clothed and prepared to grow and get "fit" and fight these battles. Ephesians 6:14-17 speaks to us about preparing and having the correct equipment as we train and pursue the end goal and fight the battles along the way. If we go into this world without one of these it is just as if you go into the gym wearing only one shoe; you would be unprepared for what you are about to encounter. 

Just as you would pursue and work towards you end goal in physical fitness day in and day out the same is true for spiritual fitness. If you are not wearing and using the correct equipment designed to strengthen you each and every day then the process is strained and you become weak or stay the same. This is not going to push you forward. 

So wether it is running the Boston Marathon, starting a new weight lifting routine or growing in the Lord and being used by him daily, the same things are needed; the correct equipment and focus. Discipline yourself today to seek hard after the Lord and the things he has set in place for our good and our growth and our protection and lets get ready to fight and move forward! Remember this will not happen in a day... but in the end it will be worth it! 

 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Ephesians 6:14-17

Go here to see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness} series.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower