Spiritual & Mental Fitness
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
You can go to any town and you will find a flourishing health centre or a gym. Everybody is concerned about their physical status: What they eat, what they drink and what they wear. But I want to ask you a question this morning because God has been asking me the same question...
What about our mental and spiritual state of mind?
You see, we must start working inwardly and then work outwardly - It has got to start on the inside, not on the outside.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36
It is what you read, see on television and time spent on that cell phone that influences the inward man. We have got to be careful we are not living in an imaginary world. You and I have to discipline ourselves - We have to discipline ourselves if we are going to stay on course.
A lot of people are struggling with guilt, depression, stress, anxiety and fear - it is all tied up in the mind. What you look at and what you say affects you. We need to meditate on godly things, things that are pure, wholesome and uplifting. For example, what does the Lord say about your situation?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
If Christ is for me, who can stand against me?
Romans 8:31
We have got to be real, honest and truthful. You know folks, watching pornography is unacceptable. Reading books that have a status that is evil - unacceptable. We have got to discipline ourselves, just as we do in the gym.
Smith Wigglesworth was a plumber and God used him mightily. He never used to pray for longer than thirty minutes but he never let thirty minutes go by without praying. John Wesley started one of the biggest revivals the world has ever seen. He said to his preachers: “If you are not spending a minimum of five hours a day in the things of God, change your trade.”
Let us discipline ourselves today to get our minds and our spirits physically and spiritually fit.
God bless you.