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Reaching Higher

By Charles Gee

READY:

“And you must Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

SET:

Being fit is one thing; being an athlete is another. Experts say 30 minutes of exercise at a comfortable pace four times a week will make us fit. That’s two hours a week of running, walking, biking or swimming will allow an individual to meet the requirements of maintaining basic fitness. 

Being an athlete requires taking training to another level. We must push our abilities to the limit, giving the maximum our bodies can give. Being an athlete is not something we do for two hours a week, it’s part of our lifestyle, requiring a greater commitment. What we eat, how much rest we get and the intensity of our training all have a direct impact on our success. Fitness is good, but for an athlete, it won’t cut it. We have to be all in.

Calling ourselves Christians is one thing, but giving God everything is another. Going to church each Sunday and being active in youth group allows us to maintain a comfortable level of spiritual “fitness.” And while those things are good, they alone won’t yield the abundant life God has for us. God doesn’t want us to settle for being spiritually fit, He wants us to be spiritual athletes. That requires 24-hour-a-day commitment. We must daily give Him all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  

Being spiritually fit helps us see the life we should lead. Being a spiritual athlete means we have found it.

GO:

1. Do you consider yourself an athlete? Does your level of training verify your answer?

2. Are you spiritually “fit” or a spiritual “athlete”?

3. What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?

WORKOUT:

Deuteronomy 10:12

Joshua 22:5

OVERTIME:

“God, take me to a new level of spiritual fitness today. Teach me to give You all my heart, soul, mind and strength daily. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”