Completing the Spiritual Fitness Checkup

This is the second part of a Spiritual Fitness Checkup. Its similar to a medical checkup you would have when you go to a physician. There are some indicators that a doctor looks at and gets some feedback on your physical well-being. We hope you can get some feedback, although you are really doing a self-assessment. We are dealing with spiritual matters. In the first part, we looked at our mouth, our ears or hearing and our reflexes. There is a scoresheet designed for this self-assessment and I encourage you to rate yourself as we continue with several more indicators. Plus, on the scoresheet, you have a place to write some action steps for the next few months to help you move toward goals that would improve your self-rating.

Part 1 - Spiritual Checkup Establishes a Baseline

Spiritual Fitness Scoresheet

Next on our list of indicators is pressure. Just like high blood pressure is the silent killer, worldly pressures can be the silent killers of our spiritual beings. Financial pressures, job security, and even your own peers can bring about this worldly pressure. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” God’s Word tells us over and over again that we have no need to worry! God will never leave us. Are you really out of shape here? Or are you pretty fit? Rate yourself on your scoresheet.

Some further reading: Psalm 55:22, Matthew 11:29-30

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” We need to be fully aware of our ‘spiritual hearts’. The heart is one of the most important organs of our physical beings. It’s also critical to the spiritual being. Therefore, we must be aware of the dangers of a hardening heart. Pastor Rick Warren says “The most important antidote for spiritual heart disease is giving. When we give, our hearts grow bigger.” Conversely, the hardening of the heart is a gradual process, not something happening overnight. Some characteristics are insensitivity to what the Lord says (unbelief), justification of sinful conduct, an absence of private devotion and little interest in spiritual matters. Don’t ignore your spiritual heart.

Finally, its time to examine our Spiritual Diet. Physical beings require certain vitamins and nutrients. We need to ask ourselves if we are feeding our spirit the nutrition it requires. Sunday morning isn’t enough. 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT)

Daily devotions are perhaps the most important part of your spiritual diet. Make the time for them and draw close to the Lord!

So, how did you do? Be diligent and don’t neglect your spiritual being.

Well, if you used the scoresheet, you must have some thoughts about how you can change your ‘scores’. Over the next months, you can work on some indicators or all of them. 

The purpose of this check-up is to establish a baseline. My invitation to you is to have an intentional effort to improve your level of spiritual fitness. GROW in your walk with Christ. It doesn’t matter if you are new in your walk with Him or if you are still maturing. You want to continue to grow! 

I am currently working on the development of a basic spiritual workout. I hope its something that serves as a daily plan for your spiritual fitness.

I invite you to check out our new podcast. You can find it by clicking this link: https://chaplaingray.podbean.com/

Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."

Chaplain Gray 

A Spiritual Check Up Establishes a Baseline -Part 1

I’m sure you’ve had the doctors appointment when a series of ‘tests’ are done so that the doctor can get a full picture of your physical health. The doctor often wants to establish a baseline upon which he or she can compare as you return for an annual check-up. There may come a time when the doctor speaks to you and says there are some concerns based on the ‘test results’. Its the same way with our spiritual health. How do we measure and establish a baseline for comparison in the days, months and years ahead? 

I would suggest that there is a way to get that spiritual check-up. You can even do a self-assessment. So, we are going to consider six areas in our checkup: mouth, ears or hearing, reflex, pressure, our heart, and our diet. Now, for the purpose of today’s blog, we are going to look at a short version.  We’ll do three areas this week and three next week. Here is a link to a ‘scoresheet’ for you to use as you read, reflect and consider each of these areas. SPIRITUAL CHECK UP SCORESHEET

Unfortunately, we are starting out in a very tough area. The amount of teasing, put-downs, and criticism that comes out of our mouths (and yes, writing it in social media COUNTS) is a major problem. The bullying in our society today is an epidemic. James 3:8-9 says  “…but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” 

Some further reading: James 1:26, Colossians 4:6, Colossians 3:8, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 16:24.

The tongue and mouth and our respect for them are crucial to the life of the Christian.

Let’s move on to our ears or our hearing. You remember the old cliche “Garbage In - Garbage Out”. This is clearly referring to what we are subjected to on a daily basis. What do we hear on a regular basis? Jesus told us on numerous occasions to listen and listen well. And [Jesus] said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” —Mark 4:9

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you allow those around you to use foul language or do you force the issue and tell them that it is unacceptable?

Think about it! We make choices all the time. I’ve decided to listen to very little secular music. I’ve changed my playlist, the stations I listen to and the messages that I expose myself to. Again, we can choose what we are hearing including refusing to listen to people and their filthy mouths. Can you say “Your filthy mouth disgusts me” and walk away? Are you afraid how you would look?

Some further reading: Romans 10:17, James 1:19.

Don’t let others words harden your heart!!

Remember how a doctor checks your reflexes? The little tap on the knee? 

Just what is a reflex? A reflex is an action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and without conscious thought. A hiccup is a reflex. 

Well, our spiritual reflexes are a normal tendency to respond to the aggressiveness of others. I bet you could describe a time when you responded in a way that you are not comfortable with. Romans 12:17 (NLT) says “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.” 

Your attitude and your heart will determine your reflexes. Verse 21 (Romans) sums it up: “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” In other words, ‘take the high road.’

How are we doing so far in our checkup? So far we’ve looked at our mouth, our ears, and our reflexes. Take a minute to look at your scoresheet. Did you rate yourself on each of these areas? And did you set a goal of where you want to be in six months? You’ll have to define what the scores look like. This is a starting point. Now at the bottom of the scoresheet, you have an opportunity to write in an action step you will do during the next few months to help you get where you want to be.

My friend and author Bruce Boyer says, “God has been referred to as ‘the great physician.’ That role applies to both physical and spiritual health. Bring Him into your daily life and let Him help keep you healthy.”

We've made it halfway through our check-up. Next week I'll take us through the last three elements of the spiritual fitness check-up. 

Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."


Chaplain Gray

An Introduction to "Spiritual Fitness"

For a long time, I’ve felt like there is a compelling reason why being fit ‘spiritually’ is important to our well-being. Throughout my entire adult life, I’ve seen an equilateral triangle that represents the development of spirit, mind, and body. Too often, the spirit side is ignored or certainly not given an equal place in our priorities.

While we are to treat our bodies as a temple of the Lord, we have to remember that being spiritually fit has ‘eternal’ implications. In 1 Timothy 4:8,  “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 

So for a number of years I’ve had a devotional that focuses on how we might approach a ‘spiritual check-up.’ This led me to search out the idea of a spiritual fitness workout. Many writers have focused on the spiritual disciplines it takes to lead a life of discipleship, following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Military branches have paid attention to the spiritual fitness of their forces as they realize the importance of a well-balanced person. Pastors preach messages based on Timothy’s training for godliness. 

Having worked in the YMCA for my career, I saw year after year how members would start new fitness programs and routines using the latest fads, equipment and even special clothing! For many, however, they can’t sustain a routine. Life gets busy and interferes with our best intentions. It’s like that too for many Christ followers as they make a resolution to read the Bible more faithfully in the coming year, go to church more often and serve others!

What if there was a way for us to train for godliness that we could sustain and even ‘advance’ to another level and remain motivated? If we had a way to measure our level of fitness and identify where we need to focus some effort in order to maintain ourselves, perhaps we could continue to strengthen our spiritual well-being.

I believe that if one can get started on a basic spiritual fitness program and establish good habits in doing so, then he/she can sustain their workouts. I further believe that there is a natural step to an advanced training program that will continue to challenge and help one grow more and more in his walk with the Lord. 

This is a work in progress so I will present the Basic Workout program and the Spiritual Check-Up first. Then I’ll present what I believe is an Advanced Workout.


Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."


Chaplain Gray