“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

I’ve recently pondered the term “conditioning,” as in (per Webster) the process of training to become physically fit by a regimen of exercise, diet, and rest. One fitness center described sports conditioning as “an all-year round commitment for athletes that usually includes pre-season, in-season, post-season, and off-season. … Once the athlete is in the right fitness state, they can start doing advanced exercises to help improve performance in their specific sport.” Okay, that’s a bit intense and over my head, but I think I get the general concept.

The reason this term has interested me is because I believe it to be a key to strengthening my relationship with Jesus. I’m sure that is what Paul had in mind when he wrote the verse above as part of a letter to the Corinthians.

In the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8 (which we just studied in the Thursday Bible Study), Jesus explains that the key to understanding this teaching is that the seed is the Word of God, and the key to its effectiveness is the condition of the soil for the seed and the condition of our hearts for the Word of God.

I am a gardener, and I very regularly work in my garden, conditioning it to keep it as productive as possible.  I keep the soil worked up, fertilized, watered, and mulched so that it can produce strong roots and plants. I remove the weeds as they make their appearance so that they don’t steal precious nutrients from my vegetables and choke them out. I am on the lookout for critters – hornworms, squash beetles, birds, deer, and squirrels – that want to devour my plants and vegetables. As a gardener, I love Jesus’ use of agricultural metaphors to explain his biblical principles. I can really relate. I know that if I don’t constantly work on my garden, and my heart, it will quickly revert to its natural state. It might look okay, but it will not be productive.

The same concept is true of physical fitness. I ran a marathon twenty years ago. I had been a runner, but it was a big jump to go from 3 miles a day to 26.2 miles. In fact, it took me nine months in a consistent conditioning regimen including running and cross-training to prepare. I was faithful to my training plan, and I met my marathon goals. However, I haven’t run much since, and I imagine it would take more work and time to prepare again than before because I haven’t kept up. Conditioning implies a concerted effort to gain strength, stamina, and/or knowledge. One of my sons played football. A commentator attributed their team’s success (they won the state championship for his high school division) to their conditioning and strength training. My son lifted weights, but he didn’t start with the heaviest weight; he had to build up to it. We can’t do it all at once, or even on a schedule that is convenient to our own whims. We can’t pick and choose activities because we like them more than others; we must choose activities that are designed to help us grow in our intended areas.

We know it takes appropriate and consistent conditioning to stay in shape and to improve our performance. We know it takes constant awareness to keep enemies at bay, whether it be crows or the opposing football team.  Our spiritual health is no different. We need to commit to a plan that is designed to help us meet our objectives of a deeper relationship with Christ. Here are some conditioning tips:

1. Start with the basics: reading and meditating on the Scriptures and prayer. David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Paul included the Bible as part of our offensive and defensive strategy when describing the armor of God: “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). We must read and medicate on the Scriptures. Jesus prayed regularly.  ^“Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer.“ (Mark 1:35). “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18). There are additional spiritual disciplines; however, the Bible and prayer are foundational. Let’s start here.
2. Set aside a place and time to devote to your spiritual exercises. I have dedicated garden space. I have a gym membership and a schedule for doing workouts. And I have a space at home that I use for my Bible study and prayer time. It’s easier for me to get my mind and body prepared when I am in my space and on my schedule. I try not to be “religious” about it, but I do try to be faithful. I find that my phone is my biggest enemy, so I try to leave it in another room.
3. Start small and manageable. If you are planting a garden, start small and increase your space a little every year. Likewise, start at your current fitness level and gradually increase your time, distance, and weight. If you try to read your Bible and pray for an hour a day, you may get discouraged and off track. Start with five minutes and add five minutes every couple of weeks. As you are increasing your “stamina” you are also solidifying a habit. People who work out and run regularly can really feel it if they miss a day. It’s the same with prayer and Bible reading.
4. Look for ways to engage others and share the harvest. The Parable of the Sower leads into the Section called A Lamp On A Stand which is the passage in the Bible that tells us not to hide our lamp under the bed. This passage tells us to consider how we listen; that if we share what we hear, our spiritual blessings will increase, but if we keep it to ourselves, our spiritual blessings will decrease. “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
5. Lastly, be obedient to what you learn from your prayer and Bible study. For anything to be long-lasting, we must be changed, transformed. When Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were waiting for him, “He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). When Jesus raised people from the dead, they got up and walked.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

In Christ,

Judy