Fear. Has anyone ever had any feelings of fear related to health and exercise? Afraid I won’t be able to handle the workout (aka afraid I might puke in public!) Afraid I won’t succeed in accomplishing my goals. Afraid of others’ comments and opinions. Yep, been there.
Fear slithers its way into our mind — simply because it is from Satan, not God. We can cast aside our feelings of fear knowing that Jesus loves us and He created us. Never were we intended to be afraid of taking care of our bodies. There is no need to be timid.
Instead, be assured that you have been given:
- Power – Let that inner strength shine. Be bold. Be strong. Be confident.
- Love – Show kindness and mercy to others, and to yourself. Don’t look in the mirror and cringe. Love what you’ve been given. Take the absolute best care of the only thing that’s been given to you and only you – your body.
- Self-Control – Know that YOU make every decision. What you eat. How hard you exercise. When you go to sleep. It’s easy to make excuses, but be encouraged by the fact that God gave you the ability to have self-control… you just need to use it. (Speaking to myself on that for sure!)
Paul’s message to Timothy may not have been directed towards exercising, but I think it can certainly motivate us.
Don’t be afraid – Use power, love, and self-control to achieve your health and fitness goals.
Everyday Faith + Fitness 