4 Ways to Honor God Through Your Fitness Journey
The gym needs more Jesus.
Exercise is a holy act. You choose to experience a few moments of discomfort in exchange for a healthier, stronger you. Perseverance, hope, and a future-focused perspective are all things that the gym and the Christian faith have in common.
In fact, Paul uses exercise as an example for the Christian life in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27:
“Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
We live in a sinful world, though. Which means it’s easy for holy acts to become distorted. Today, gym culture centers around things like self-obsession and body dysmorphia. How can we ensure our holy act centers around the God who created us?
The good news is, the Holy Spirit provides us with all the tools to redeem the brokenness around us. Here are some ideas for how you can worship God during your daily workout.
4 Ways to Honor God with Your Fitness Journey
1) Complete a Bible Study Program While Exercising
Draw your attention away from mind-numbing TV commercials and into the Word of God. Your morning workout session is a great time to dive into the Bible before your day officially gets started. There are tons of Bible studies available as audiobooks that you can take with you from the treadmill to the weight racks.
2) Encourage Others Along the Way
The way you speak to others matters! By cheering on those around you, you may have an opportunity to spread God’s love and share the gospel. Try complimenting someone on their form, cheering for a runner, or chatting with a new friend during a stretch session.
3) Reverse Self-Hatred
You didn’t just decide to hate your appearance. Over time, outside influences told you that you’re not enough. Movies, music, and friends’ hateful comments slowly chipped away at your self-confidence. This isn’t what God wants for you. When He created you, He said you are good. Stop allowing self-hatred to steal your time and your peace.
4) Choose an Outdoor Workout Activity
Skip the gym and choose an outdoor workout activity. This could include biking, skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, and anything else that gets you out in God’s creation. Connecting with the earth is a great way to connect with the God who made it. You can make your outside workout your daily prayer time—or go with friends and create your own mini Bible study.
Resources to Help You Grow in Faith During Your Workouts
Did you know? There are a lot of Christian resources out there to help you focus your exercise time on God. Here are just a few we love:
Revelation Wellness
This amazing resource for active Christians will help you prioritize Jesus during your exercise time. Revelation Wellness has dozens of Bible study resources, blogs, programs, and events—all focused on how exercise relates to Biblical principles. You can even look for Christian classes in your area.
The Bible App
If you’re the kind of Christian who loves to open up a physical copy of the Bible, you may not know about all the amazing resources on the Bible App. With just a quick download, you’ll have access to thousands of devotionals and Bible reading plans that you can do at home or at the gym. Browse through videos and teaching clips that are easy to listen to when you’re pushing your body to the limit.
The Grace Filled Plates Devotional
Need more grace when it comes to your eating habits? The Grace Filled Plates devotional encourages you to find food freedom through God’s grace. Stop obsessing over meals, and spend more time enjoying the presence of God.
Our Favorite Christian Workout Clothing Options
As a Christian clothing brand, we get excited about all the ways you can share your faith by wearing Christian workout clothing. While you’re optimizing your Bible study time at the gym, you may also be sharing the gospel—without even realizing it. Christian workout clothing is a subtle way to make Jesus a conversation starter.
Christian T-Shirts
Our Christian t-shirts are 100% cotton—making them a great choice for sweaty gym sessions. Our personal favorite is the Prayer Hotline Tee. Anyone who sees this Christian t-shirt out in public can call the number to receive prayer.
Christian Hoodies
We all have days when we need a little extra coziness and comfort. Christian hoodies are just the thing. They’ll keep your muscles warm during stretching routines and subtly let your workout pals know that you’re a safe person to talk to about Jesus. Our personal favorite Christian hoodie is the Always Praise hoodie.
Christian Sweatpants
Sweatpants are underrated. They are really the MVP, especially for outdoor sports. Cold weather is coming—and even here in Los Angeles, we’re gratefully embracing the Christian sweatpants lifestyle. Try out our brand-new prayer pants on your next morning run.
Let Faith Center Co. Build Your Wardrobe of Christian Workout Clothing
With these tools, you’ll have everything you need to optimize your workout routine for God’s glory. Remember, you don’t need to be perfect. There will be some days when you daydream from the stair stepper or forget that you’ve designated stretch time as prayer time. It’s okay. Just ask the Holy Spirit to guide you while you’re at the gym. You may be surprised to find that your plans aren’t God’s plans.
If you’re looking for high-quality and fair-trade Christian workout clothing, we’ve got tons of options in our shop. Our mission is simply to help spread the love of God to everyone—and we hope that you’ll join us.