20 Lessons | Vince Miller

"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."—1 Timothy 4:8

Can you imagine pushing through a 25-hour-per-week training regimen of swimming, biking, and running for an entire year with no particular goal in mind? Why would a guy do that? Most wouldn't, I'm guessing. But anyone serious about competing in the Ironman Triathlon just might. When the day of the big event arrives, you're facing a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon run of 26 miles and 385 yards. That's the goal—to compete, finish the race, and possibly even win. Only one person can win, of course, but even to just finish would yield a moment or two of personal accomplishment and glory. Indeed, physical training has its rewards. But (there's always a "but") what about your heart, mind, and soul? What about the part of you that is eternal?

One | Right Comparisons in Training

"Bodily training is of some value," Paul writes to Timothy, "but godliness is of value in every way."

Don't get me wrong. I will always advocate taking good care of your physical body, practicing good health habits, eating right, and getting a decent amount of sleep and exercise. We come in assorted shapes and sizes and all manner of imperfection, but God calls us to be good stewards of everything He's given us, and that would include our "earth suits." After all, God's Holy Spirit dwells there.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."—1 Corinthians 6:19-20

It's not that we should neglect our bodies to focus our attention exclusively on spiritual health and growth. It is, however, a matter of priorities. Take care of our bodies, yes, but even more, nurture our hearts and exercise our minds to know and love God better and better. The benefit is long-term. There is real eternal value in a spiritual investment.

Two | Right Balance in Training

There is, in the comparison, some implied extremism. Caring only for the body and not the spirit is to miss the point of the passage. To be a fitness fanatic is to turn fitness into a god and to miss the real thing, God Himself. But caring only for the spirit and not the body is reckless and irresponsible. True, there are physical maladies, frailties, and limitations we can't prevent or control. But it just makes sense that we can maximize our effectiveness for Christ when we pay proper attention to our physical health. So how does one strike the best balance between physical and spiritual training?

It's a matter of daily discipline. We must do both. And if we're really creative, we can combine the two. Pray while you jog. Dig into God's Word while you rest. Share the Gospel over a nutritious meal. You get the idea. This is entirely doable, guys.

Three | Right Priorities in Training

It is possible to overdo almost anything, of course—be it food, friends, finances, fitness—the list goes on. It's all about our priorities. But there is one thing that is absolutely impossible to overdo. And it's the key to everything. Here it is—are you ready for this? The key to ensuring that our priorities are in order is our complete and total focus on God. Call it an obsession if you will. When we are meditating on God's Word or kneeling in prayer, He is our focus. And when our primary motive in going for a jog or lifting weights is the care and maintenance of God's temple, He is our focus. Why do we make it so hard when it really is as simple as that?

So we train both physically and spiritually. Both are important—both matter. If we err to one side or the other, let's err to the spiritual side. But through it all, let's keep the main thing the main thing. God must remain our focus. Period.

At the end of the race waits a forever paradise with the King of the universe. And the big win is not that we finish first. The big win is that we break that yellow tape arm in arm with as many fellow human beings as possible.

So ready, set, go—see you at the finish line.

Vince Miller is an author and speaker to men around the world on topics that include manhood, masculinity, fatherhood, mentorship, and leadership. He has authored 18 different books for men and is hosted on major video platforms like RightNow Media and Faithlife TV. He hosts a weekly podcast, writes weekly articles, and provides daily thoughts from God's Word all just for men. He is a 27-year ministry veteran and the founder of Resolute a Men's Ministry Platform that provides bible studies aimed at building better men found at www.beresolute.org. See his latest book and small group study Called to Act: 5 Uncomplicated Disciplines for Men.

Training-in-Godliness-a-blog-by-Vince-Miller

20 Lessons Fitness, Blog

Rest

Posted on 9 months ago03/24/2020 by Vince Miller

22
Apr

Rest

"I have the habit of attention to such excess, that my senses get no rest—but suffer from a constant strain."—Henry David Thoreau

"And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" —Exodus 33:14

Fitness experts tell us that regimens of physical training with no built-in breathers can counteract all of an athlete's hard work. Too little rest can make a man crabby; render him more susceptible to injury; induce adrenal fatigue, thereby increasing the production of the fat-storing hormone cortisol; hamper his sleep cycle (which then introduces another whole set of health problems); compromise his immune system; and mess with his performance level (and I don't mean just on the track, court, or playing field). Our efforts to serve God well and grow spiritually also must be punctuated by periods of rest. I'm not advocating laziness, but I also do not suggest that we emulate the guy who never sits down. Too often, we worship the god of activity rather than the God who gives us rest. In short, there are times in life that call for a little self-care.

One | You may need rest

Do not, and I repeat do not, wait to rest until you begin to observe the tell-tale signs that you need it. By then, you're overdue. I'm talking about things like physical fatigue, loss of passion for spiritual activity, feeling far from God, lack of the desire to serve—you get the picture. Indeed, when we are ambushed by a symptom or two, we should not hesitate to step back for a bit. But even better, we ought to anticipate our need for rest and make it a regular part of our routine. We do so at the invitation of Jesus Himself, as quoted in Matthew's gospel:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."—Matthew 11:28

Two | You may need relaxation

Meditation on God's Word is good for us all. Picture yourself stretched out on a poolside lounge relaxing with a good book. Why not make it The Good Book?

Any time we find a quiet place of solitude to lose ourselves in Scripture can be incredibly refreshing. We hear a lot about having a daily "quiet time" with God, and some of us have made that a habit, but just because it's become a bit of a cliché in Christian circles doesn't mean it should be dismissed out of hand. I highly recommend it. It's cliché because it works!

But there are myriad other worthwhile ways to relax as well. Putter in the garage, engage in a hobby, read the funny pages, doze on the couch—take a little time and do it. You may be so busy that you have to actually schedule it, but that's okay. Just make sure you don't neglect it.

Three | You may need recreation

Sometimes it is good just to play. And I do mean play.

There's some overlap with relaxation, I suppose, but I think of playing as something that requires a little more energy. Board games or card games with friends or family are great—even if they do sort of straddle the fence between relaxing and playing. If you're a dad, roughhouse with the kids. Play golf, or tennis, or softball. Go fishing or hiking. Take the family to a theme park—or to the splash pad just around the corner. I bet you could brainstorm a list of 20 fun ways to play in about as many seconds.

Rest, relaxation, recreation—all are forms of the kind of break from the routine we need for maximum physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The fitness experts are right. Rest is biblical. And it's essential. God set a precedent:

"And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done."—Genesis 2:2

And Jesus encourages it:

"And He said to them (His disciples), 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves."—Mark 6:31-32

So what should be our response? Get some rest!

Finding Rest a daily devotional by Vince Miller of Mens Ministry

20 Lessons Leader, Video Access

Effective Storytelling

Posted on 9 months ago04/20/2020 by Vince Miller

20
Apr

To access this post, you must purchase Sample Pack for Group Leaders, DVD's On Demand, Group Video Access or All-In Mentoring.