In the fourth grade, I learned my schoolteacher had bicycled across the United States.
Ever since then, I have dreamed about doing the same thing someday.
In high school, I took a biking trip with a small group from St. Francis, Kansas, to Estes Park, Colorado, and back.
I trained for this trip by riding ten miles every day for months, leading up to our departure.
My best day on the trip was the day we did a century ride.
Naturally, the day after, I was exhausted.
When I heard a companion from behind me say she wished our leader would let us stop and rest for a bit, that’s what I did. I stopped and got off my bike with tears of exhaustion streaming down my face.
Thankfully, there was a park ranger with a pickup that our leader talked into taking our four-person group up the mountain to our campsite for that night.
How did James 1:19–27 remind me of this experience?
As I read this passage, the verse that prompted my biking memory was verse twenty-two.
Before I sat down to work on this post, I spent a brief time planning my 2023 exercise goals.
Over the years, I have not been consistent in my pursuit of physical fitness. Some seasons I have been overzealous, resulting in injuries. In other seasons, I chose other activities at the expense of even basic physical fitness maintenance.
So, as I planned my exercise goals for 2023, I sought to guard against my tendency towards going either “all in” or “all out” to find a “wise medium” to rebuild my fitness at a sustainable pace.
Although this verse reminded me of when I was in much better shape than I am now and encourages me to not just “plan” my goals, but “follow through” on them as I did for my high school biking trip, physical fitness is not what James is writing about.
James is writing about spiritual fitness.
Take a moment to describe what being spiritually fit means to you.
Now consider verses 19-20 of this passage.
What elements of spiritual fitness do you find in verse nineteen?
How can being quick to hear and slow to speak help us be slow toward anger?
What is the risk when we allow ourselves to be quick to anger?
Compare the following verses.
How do these three verses support each other and instruct one toward spiritual fitness?
Review verses 22-25.
Describe the difference between a hearer of the word and a doer of the word in your own words.
Compare the following verses.
Why should we be careful with our words?
Where in your spiritual life are you a hearer or talker instead of a doer?
What steps do you need to take today to enhance your spiritual fitness?
Just as I heard about an amazing bike trip in fourth grade and then later prepared for and enjoyed a smaller bike trip of my own in high school, I need to make sure that my spiritual fitness training is not just one of hearing and talking but of doing.
Some ways I train for spiritual fitness include daily scripture reading, studying and writing this blog, praying for others as well as myself, driveway firepit nights for friends and neighbors fellowship building, smiling and having a good sense of humor, tithing, etc.
How are you training for spiritual fitness in 2023?
Keep the conversation going by sharing in the comments section.
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:19–27.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:22.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:19–20.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:21.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 8:15.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 8:21.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:22–25.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:26–27.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 12:36–37.
[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 4:6–10.
Being spiritually fit is so important. I need to work on reaching out and being friendly to my neighbors. It’s such a challenge in our busy world. Thanks for the reminder.
I am trying to spend more time being spiritually fit this year. Thanks for the encouragement Barbara
Some of the same strategies we use to achieve physical fitness apply to achieving spiritual fitness–commitment, dedication, self-discipline, and consistency. We use those actions to study God’s word, establish Bible study and devotional time, prayer and meditation time, and actively worship and praise. We use the same actions to commit to physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, thus we honor God with our bodies and can better serve Him.