7 Christian Fitness Tips: How to Honor God with Your Body
Are you struggling to find a workout routine that honors God? Today I’m sharing 7 Christian fitness tips that will teach you to honor God with your body and focus on eternal glory over worldly benefits.
Maybe you’ve heard before that the Bible teaches us to treat our bodies like a temple and though that sounds like a great Christian fitness tip, how do we do that and what does that mean for our physical health?
Specifically we see in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
By maintaining proper health and physical fitness, we are honoring God and treating our bodies with respect. This is Christian fitness to the core!
So how do we continue to focus strictly on the Lord and not focus on body composition changes like the world promotes?
Keep reading for more faith-based fitness tips and how Christian fitness will bring more joy and peace into your life than fighting for a worldly standard of fitness! Get ready to integrate spiritual principles to your fitness routine to promote a healthier physical well-being.
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This post is all about Chrsitian fitness tips and how to honor God with your body!
Best Christian Fitness Tips
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1. Understand the Biblical basis for physical fitness
The Bible tells us to renew and transform our minds, and that’s exactly what we are here to do. Did you know that honoring God with your body is a form of worship? We see this in Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship.
Taking care of our bodies is an act of worship and stewardship. We have to remember that these bodies are not our forever homes but we have been entrusted by God to serve these bodies with respect like we would respect our work and others.
Fitness is apart of our overall spiritual journey. Just as you would treat your job with respect and work hard to please God, you should be doing the same with your body. He has given you this body as he trusted you to treat it well!
This is why faith-based fitness is far more important than focusing on worldly values. Working out isn’t for us, it’s for Him.
2. Set faith-based christian fitness goals
Setting goals is an important part of any journey. If you don’t have goals, you won’t be able to reach for anything. Even with Chrisitan fitness, you can still create strong fitness goals!
Try setting fitness goals that align with honoring God rather than focusing solely on appearance. Our appearance isn’t going to make a difference in heaven therefore it shouldn’t make a difference now – regardless of what the earth makes you think.
Goals that promote better health, more energy and longevity to better serve God and others are more suitable for Christians!
Most importantly, incorporate prayer into your goal setting. Ask God how you can use fitness to glorify Him!
3. Prioritize consistency over perfection
Consistency is the cornerstone for any goal you want to hit. Just as we are consistent with prayer and reading the Bible, we need to have that same consistency with our fitness routines.
This news might be relieving – Christian fitness isn’t about perfection! God doesn’t call us to be perfect, he calls us to serve Him and a way we can do that is staying persistent in honoring God in our efforts.
Focus on creating a sustainable workout schedule that fits for YOU! Though the workout program you think will change your life sounds great, it might not be a fit for you and that’s a reason you aren’t staying consistent.
Start small by incorporating fitness into 15-20 minutes of your day. That can look like a brisk walk, stretching, doing core work, or a strength training workout.
There are so many free workouts at your fingertips. You don’t need anything crazy to honor God with your body!
4. Choose workouts that nourish the body AND soul
Choosing workouts that support and enhance how you feel spiritually should be incorporated into your day. Activities like walking where you can actively pray or listen to worship music or jogging where you turn to God to give you strength to finish are great options.
Whether you are strength training, walking, or stretching, you can take the slow/quiet moments and turn those into prayer or reflection to turn the workout into a spiritual practice!
If you really aren’t sure what type of workout you should be doing, try a few different types and see what fits! Try pilates, bootcamps, walking groups, or training for a 5K!
There are so many fun and dynamic workouts out there – focus on finding one that works for you!
5. Maintain a healthy diet (as a form of worship!)
Another way to honor God with your body is to maintain a healthy diet and I know, it’s definitely difficult in today’s society.
Food was designed to fuel our body and choosing nutritious options shows God he can trust you with your body.
It’s important to remember that eating a healthy diet as part of a Christian fitness routine should be seen as a form of stewardship rather than a strict diet.
The world will say you are dieting but Christians understand you are honoring God with your nutrition choices.
Reframing your mindset can take this from being a daunting task to an easy switch!
If you don’t already eat a healthy diet and this feels daunting, pray and do the next best thing. After you pray to God asking him for strength in eating healthier, choose 1 healthier swap in your next meal!
Take baby steps and watch the new habits become consistent patterns before your eyes!
6. Rest and recovery (as part of God’s plan!)
Yes, resting is an important part of God’s plan and a Christian fitness routine! Our bodies weren’t meant to run in overdrive and remember that on the 7th day, even God rested!
We see in Exodus 20 8-10, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh is a sabbath to the Lord your God…”
We are meant to have a day to allow our bodies to rest and recover. Incorporating a balance between work, rest, and fitness will allow you to not overexert yourself and also give yourself time to recover and reflect.
Try to focus on proper sleep especially leading into the sabbath, giving your body the peace and rest it needs!
7. Practice gratitude for your body’s abilities
No matter your fitness level, give glory to God and thank him for your abilities! There are days my body is just aching, feeling like it isn’t working properly and I choose to still thank God for the body I have.
In moments that it feels though to find gratitude, reflect on your body’s physical abilities during your workouts focusing on what God has given you – not what you lack.
Fitness is about glorifying God, not just achieving personal milestones. When we keep our focus on God throughout this journey, we prioritize gratitude over what we lack.
And one more as a bonus..!
BONUS: Pray for Strength and Guidance on Your Fitness Journey
The most important part of a christian fitness plan is to PRAY! We need to ask God for strength and guidance during our fitness journey.
If you are lacking motivation in your journey, turn to God! At the end of the day, he is truly the only motivator we need.
If you don’t know what to pray when thinking about your christian fitness journey, try this:
“Lord, I thank you for the body you have entrusted me with and I want to serve you by moving this body and becoming stronger physically and mentally. Please give me the strength and motivation I need to complete this workout. I give all the glory and honor to you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just focus on asking God for strength and he will provide!
I hope you found some information in this article on integrating christian values into your fitness routine and honor God with your body!
Apply these Christian fitness tips today and watch how God transforms your mind and physical image in His name!
Remember: a healthy lifestyle is not only about physical wellness but about honoring God with your body through intentional and faithful stewardship!