The Spiritual Gym

Last January, I decided that I was going to take charge of my health and my body. I wanted to start working out consistently, so that I can see some physical changes. Aside from walking, and light running, I’d never been one to exercise much, so I was taking on something very new and different. With this new found excitement and curiosity, I walked into Gold’s Gym, and signed up to become a member. Along with being a member, I was able to receive 3 free sessions with a personal trainer. Now I was really excited!!

Part one of my first session with my trainer was fine, she asked for my medical history, weight and measurements and we enjoyed great casual conversation. Part two of my work out session was brutal to say the least. Keeping in mind, my personal trainer was an ex-marine, she had me doing all sorts of boot-camp style type work out s for strength and conditioning, and boy was I hurting!! I’ll never forget stopping mid-way through the session saying “I feel like my heart is going to pop out of my chest”, and she smiled and said “The more you work out, the stronger you will become, and you won’t have that feeling”. I painstakingly made it through that first session.

Although, my body was hurting, and I felt sore in places I never had before, I signed up to with the same personal trainer consistently for the next year. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Each and every session she challenged me to work harder and push myself. I never thought I could get my body to do what she was requesting of it to do, but she did. My trainer knew my potential, and she pushed me to meet those goals. I on the other hand was very frustrated with working out 4-5 times per week, personal training, and after some time, not seeing any significant results. I wondered why I was even doing all of this. Even with my doubts and frustration, my trainer continued to encourage me to stick with it and not give up. I’m so glad I kept pushing, because a short time later, I began to see results. I was extremely ecstatic. I’d dropped ten pounds, and my Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly lower. All the pain, soreness, tiredness, frustration, was paying off.

One day while in the gym, I pondered, “If I’m always in pain, sore, and the work outs are hard, why do I keep coming back?” The answer is quite simple; I began seeing results, so I was motivated by that. The work I had to put in was necessary. As I thought this entire thing out in my head, the Lord began speaking to my heart. He said “Gym workouts are just like what happens in the spirit realm”. “I’m the one shaping and molding you to what I know you can be.” I was amazed. It was very true…the spiritual shaping that I was undergoing was equally as tough as the physical, and it didn’t feel good at all. I had to give up some old attitudes, and behaviors. I had to give up my old way of thinking, to be able to receive all that God has for me. Without the spiritual workout, I wouldn’t have been ready or able to receive the new and fresh things that were in store for me.

Everything that I experienced through my spiritual work out was well worth it. I’m a new person with new thoughts, new ideas and a new deeper love for Christ. The pain of growth of has strengthened me and has given me a new motivation to continue to work to be Christ- like. I know as I go through life, I’m going to have many more spiritual work outs but I’m glad to know the results that I will see will be well worth it; because I have the best spiritual trainer anyone can have….JESSUS!!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

**Thank-you Patricia Schaller for being an amazing personal trainer and friend!! God Bless You!!**