Bridging the Faith and Fitness Gap

It’s logical to say that in this day and age our society has adopted a “me, me, me” mentality that is virtually accepted everywhere. The fitness industry isn’t about supporting a team or leading an organization in the right direction– it’s about us. It’s about the individual and personal effort to reach towards a goal. In no way is working out a team sport. It’s as simple as you, yourself doing the work. I mean after all no one else will benefit from YOU eating 7 meals per day. No one else will benefit from YOUR consistent training routine or rigorous early-morning cardio sessions. You’re a one man/woman show.

If training and fitness has become an enjoyable priority in your life then most likely you’ve been well aware of this for some time. You have to put in the hard work to get the results.

Today I want to challenge your thinking. I want to challenge your purpose in training. It’s so easy to give into the world’s beliefs that we can have what we want WHEN we want it, but have you ever thought of the bigger picture? Here’s another question:

What is your purpose for training?

Depending on your sport, desired activity or specific goals, these answers can vary. People workout with all sorts of achievements in mind; some don’t even have goals, they just workout and run because society says you have to be physically fit and healthy, so they hope for a positive ending with no clear direction.

With this being said, there is one very unique thing that these goals have in common – They are ALL temporary.

What happens when you reach your goal?

Ok so I can run 10 miles without stopping; I can bench press 315 pounds; I completed my first triathlon, woo!

Now what? Don’t get me wrong here, having personal achievements are extremely important and help tremendously in training mentality and motivation to do great things in life, but is there something that’s more important?

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8

In the fitness industry today, God is absent. He is left at church when we leave Sunday morning’s service and is stuck waiting there for when we come back. We dive headfirst into the busy week with our routines and God is placed in a separate box that is only opened specific times of the day, if at all.

Many Christians will make this mistake because they do not realize the “big picture.” God doesn’t want SOME of our time or even MOST of our time. He wants to be 100% of our lives. This means that God should be woven into your businesses, your priorities, your activities and your lifestyles.

As Christians, what is our purpose on this earth?

The Bible tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8). He forms us into who He calls us to be. Our purpose on this earth is spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him. Everything else is second.

In the fitness industry, the faith and fitness gap has not been bridged… until NOW.

Our lives should be a shining example of God’s love for us and His never-ending grace. We respect Him with our body, mind and soul.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Conclusion

I encourage anyone reading this to make God a part of your fitness lifestyle. Here are a couple ways to get started:

1. Pray before and after your workout

Ask God to bless your time and abilities in your training. Whatever goal you’re looking to achieve, make your requests known…

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6

2. Worship with your training

One of the best ways to keep God a part of my workouts is to blast praise music! This can be rock, rap or straight up worship music. You’ll notice the positive difference in your training. Over time, this can be amazingly effective in keeping God first place in your life.

It’s time to leave behind the popular selfish outlook that has been accepted in society! God is our loving Father so let’s praise Him in our workouts, our sports, our nutrition, our priorities and our lifestyles!

Your Trainer in Christ,

-Mitch Muller

CPT – MindsetFitness.net

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” –1 Corinthians 10:31

Putting Faith In Your Workouts

For those of you who know me on a personal level, my heart’s main focus isn’t set on the gym life that has surrounded my career, but my life that I have given to God and faith in Him.

Now-a-days every gym I’ve come across you have those big power-lifting gym rats that hang out in the corner by the power rack…Ever seen them? Occasionally one will get up from his seat, wrap his calloused hands around the bar, and deadlift 500 lbs until his face is red and his manly groans can be heard through the loudest music in my headphones. The others stand at his sides and yell and curse till the last rep is complete. These tend to be the leaders of the gym in their own minds, but are they leaders that can be looked up to in a Godly perspective? The young kids look in awe and ask for advice, and the regular lifters keep quiet but still wish they were that big…

In these gyms, it is easy to say that the biggest guys are the ones to look up to. And not all of them would be considered bad role models. However in my mind, what truly makes a man a MAN, is not how much weight he can throw around, or how many young kids ask for the “secrets” to his success, but how he presents himself as a man of God; staying humble in the greatest times of achievement and respect.

Not every person that walks in the gym knows Jesus as their Savior, and I’m not saying these people are bad whatsoever, but as young OR experienced lifters, we should look up to those who help us in a way that in pleasing to Christ: Which is why I’m writing this article about faith in the first place!

When was there a time when you saw someone in the gym, young, old, big or small that was reading their Bible before their workout began?? Needless to say I’ve NEVER seen this happen. Not even once. I even lift at a gym located at a church! Doesn’t God ask us as Believers in Him to be unashamed of His Word and to reach those who don’t know Him? In my opinion, this is the BEST way to not only be a shining example of Jesus in our everyday lives, but to also give ALL the glory to him even in our sessions at the gym. If we aim for Jesus to be first place in our lives, wouldn’t that mean we should also set him first in our workouts? Why not!

When this faith-filled approach popped into my mind it was clear as day.

Some days the gym will be packed out, and others you might be the only one there. And there will be times when an excuse might come into your head to skip reading the Bible today; “Oh I’ll just do it when I get home.” Can’t tell you how many times I’ve said that to myself. Shame on me. I know I’m not perfect, but Lord knows I’m forgiven…

So here’s my challenge for you: Give God the opportunity to be the center of your muscle building experience. Whether you’re in the locker room, sitting on the bench, training at home, or in the corner by the power rack with your lifting buddies, ask God to bless your workout and to be a shining example of God’s love to the rest of this world. He will never let you down and that’s a promise.

The very first time I did this I was nervous to see what it would be like. I walked into the gym with my bag in hand filled with all my nutritional vitamins and supplements; sat down in the corner on some step-up benches, pulled out my Bible and started praying. I asked the Lord to fill me with the strength I needed to progress in my training, to let me be a shining example to those around me, and to open my mind to the verses He wanted me to read that day. I opened up to James which is one of my favorite books of the Bible and it read: “24 You see that a man is justified by works and not faith alone…26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

This gave me the confidence I needed and God showed me that putting him first in every aspect of my life, including my lifting sessions would be rewarding. Having faith that God will strengthen you in your workouts will not be enough, but through Works (Reading your Bible and speaking to others about God), you will be blessed I have no doubt.

I know most of you reading this may not have a personal relationship with Jesus, but if you are interested in hearing more about faith then don’t hesitate to send me and email and I will be glad to help out!

Oh and for those of you who need some pumping-up kind of music, I suggest Lacrae, Thousand Foot Krutch, Manafest, or Pillar. GREAT stuff…

Your Trainer in Christ,

– Mitch Muller

Bridging the Faith and Fitness Gap

Tag: faith