Preparing for battle requires becoming fit – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. There are many helpful suggestions available online for becoming physically fit, including:
- Build Muscle through Strength Training
- Strength training benefits your body in multiple ways by building not only muscles, but also stronger bones. This reminds me of the following verses:
- Proverbs 3:7-8 (NKJV) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear [respect/revere] the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”
- Strength training may build physical muscles and bones, but trials and persecution build endurance of a spiritual, emotional, and mental nature – if we let them.
- Romans 5:3-5 (TPT) “…Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!“
- Strength training benefits your body in multiple ways by building not only muscles, but also stronger bones. This reminds me of the following verses:
- Change Your Diet to Lose Fat
- Eliminating unnecessary calories that bring a negative impact on your physical health is a proactive way to move toward a healthier lifestyle. In the same way, asking the Holy Spirit to burn the chaff/waste/baggage in your life rejuvenates your spiritual life (and has a positive impact on your emotional, mental and physical health to boot!)
- Luke 3:16 (NLT) “John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I – so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He [Jesus Christ] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
- Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV) “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
- Making sure you eat sufficient protein, moderate amounts of healthy monounsaturated fats, and varying amounts of carbs (carb cycling) are all considered to be advantageous to becoming fit physically. Similarly, feeding on the Word of God regularly, communing with Him through prayer and praise, and taking time to listen to Him are vital for your spiritual, mental and emotional health.
- John 4:34 (TLB) “Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work’”
- Eliminating unnecessary calories that bring a negative impact on your physical health is a proactive way to move toward a healthier lifestyle. In the same way, asking the Holy Spirit to burn the chaff/waste/baggage in your life rejuvenates your spiritual life (and has a positive impact on your emotional, mental and physical health to boot!)
- Control Food Portions
- Every meal brings an opportunity to exercise restraint in the amount we choose to eat. Regulating portion sizes reaps healthy benefits, but so does periodic fasting. Fasting helps not only our bodies to cleanse and detox, it can also refresh us spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
- Isaiah 58:6 (NIV) “Is this not the kind of fasting I [the LORD] have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
- Joel 2:12 (NIV) “Even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to me with all of your heart, fasting and weeping and mourning.”
- Every meal brings an opportunity to exercise restraint in the amount we choose to eat. Regulating portion sizes reaps healthy benefits, but so does periodic fasting. Fasting helps not only our bodies to cleanse and detox, it can also refresh us spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
- Build Stamina and Improve Heart Health with High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
- HIIT is alternating short, intense periods of exercise with lower intensity recovery periods. Thus, you tax your cardiovascular system, let it recover, and tax it again to build stamina and strengthen your heart. We regularly experience highs and lows in life. The art of living through this natural state of HIIT is to view every circumstance as an opportunity to grow or upgrade in your relationship with the Lord. He is revealing more of Himself and of His character to you through each experience of life. Look for the positive (such as His faithfulness, provision, protection, love – even if it is in the form of discipline!). He is in every situation with you and you will find Him if you take your eyes off of yourself, your hurting, and your wounds. Ask Him what He is teaching you and embrace growth!
- Hebrews 12:1 (TLB) “SInce we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
- ”Proverbs 4:23 (TPT) “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”
- HIIT is alternating short, intense periods of exercise with lower intensity recovery periods. Thus, you tax your cardiovascular system, let it recover, and tax it again to build stamina and strengthen your heart. We regularly experience highs and lows in life. The art of living through this natural state of HIIT is to view every circumstance as an opportunity to grow or upgrade in your relationship with the Lord. He is revealing more of Himself and of His character to you through each experience of life. Look for the positive (such as His faithfulness, provision, protection, love – even if it is in the form of discipline!). He is in every situation with you and you will find Him if you take your eyes off of yourself, your hurting, and your wounds. Ask Him what He is teaching you and embrace growth!
- Improve Your Sleep Patterns
- Proper length and depth of sleep is critical for every area of our health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Learning how to “rest in the Lord” is key. Jesus gives us insight in how to do this in the following verses:
- Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Your “soul” is generally considered to be comprised of your mind, emotions, and will. Anybody besides me ever experience unrest in those areas?!? I, for one, gladly take on what Jesus offers in lieu of being burdened with what wears me out and drags me down. I invite you to do the same.
- John 14:27 (NIV) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
- Put on Jesus and be at peace – not troubled, not fearful – and rest!
- Proper length and depth of sleep is critical for every area of our health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Learning how to “rest in the Lord” is key. Jesus gives us insight in how to do this in the following verses:
So, warriors, get fit and ready to battle!
Raising Warriors 