But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:46-49 (NKJV)
What kind of foundation have you built your fitness on?
Do you find yourself trying something different every few weeks or months? Are you already making your plan of attack for next Monday because you find yourself starting over at the beginning of each new week?
If your approach has changed time and again and you’re not getting the results that you want, perhaps you need to look at what kind of foundation you’re building on. Yes, your fitness needs to have a foundation. It must be firm—something that you build and stay committed to.
Diets and quick fixes are the same as building a house without a foundation. As soon as your schedule changes or life brings an interruption, you’ll not be able to stay committed. The results simply don’t last. However, when you build your fitness on a firm foundation of faith, it’ll be sustainable. It’ll also result in feelings of peace and freedom.
Trends come and go. There’s something new to get hyped up about at the beginning of every year. And boy do they do their marketing well! They make you think you’re missing out if you don’t jump on the bandwagon. You start feeling like you’re not doing enough. You’re led to believe that your life’s purpose is to lose weight. You feel left out if you’re not talking about the new diet you’re on.
We’ve even seen the trend, if you will, of #faithandfitness. A recent search on Instagram showed me that there are more than 600,000 posts with that hashtag. Many of the top posts were from online marketers selling claims that their products will give you the body transformation you’ve been looking for. I was part of a multilevel marketing company for a while. I know how it works from the background and how many of those members added a Bible verse to an otherwise unhealthy approach to health and wellness. (To be sure, this isn’t the case with everyone, but it bears mentioning as a reminder for us to be aware of what we’re really buying into.)
To build a healthy life on a foundation of faith, you must establish your faith before you address your fitness. Then you can integrate the two. When you take the time to build a solid foundation, your approach will last. The results, while they may come more slowly, will stand the test of time. You’ll be free to enjoy, and actually live, your life doing what God designed you to do.
Charles Stanley said, “Jesus was clear: Obedience now ensures endurance and freedom later.”
Action Step
Put God first. Pursue Him instead of weight loss. Spend time in His Word learning what He says about you. Live your life in obedience to Him. Care for your body because it’s the one God entrusted to you. He simply wants you to have the energy and peace of mind to be able to live every day with intention. (Spoiler alert: There’s no number assigned to what that looks like.)
