Forget the latest fitness craze or diet fad. Getting in shape can be easy if you’ve got the right motivation.

Are coffee, doughnuts, ice cream and potato chips your idea of the four basic food groups? Does the very thought of breaking a sweat cause you to reach for the TV remote? If so, God is calling you to get off the couch and get active!
Despite what the infomercials tell you, it’s not necessary to have “abs of steel,” bulging biceps or a 26-inch waistline to be healthy. A few simple lifestyle changes can help you feel great, live longer and even boost your spiritual relationship with God. All it takes is a realistic plan, a little sweat and determination.

Sadly, society often distorts the way we view and treat our bodies. We tend toward two extremes: neglecting the body through inactivity and poor diet or worshipping the body by over-exercise, vanity and eating disorders.

As Christians, we mustn’t play into either trap. We shouldn’t feel defeated or criticized just because we don’t fit a certain body type. On the other hand, we also have to encourage each other to care for our bodies in the way God intended. Physical fitness is part of a lifestyle of holiness that acknowledges a deeper connection between body and soul-a lifestyle that we should all be striving for.

Building Up the Temple
In North America, we have ignored healthy living to our detriment. Health Canada statistics portray a country riddled with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and diabetes. These conditions are responsible for 75 percent of all deaths in Canada. In some cases, these diseases could be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices that connect the body’s design to the soul’s purpose.

In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul issues a call to action: “Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and prove what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God desires that your body be pleasing and perfect. Not in the way that the world conceives of perfection-washboard abs or five percent body fat-but healthy and strong so that we are prepared to carry out his work. God wants you to be physically able to love him “with all your strength” (see Deuteronomy 6:5).

Throughout Old Testament history, God’s Spirit dwelt in magnificent places, such as the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. But Jesus revealed that the Holy Spirit was meant to reside in the most magnificent temple of all-our bodies! Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God has designed each of us to actively serve and glorify him in this way.

“Fit” For His Dwelling
So what can we do to stay healthy? Salvation Army Orders and Regulations outline a solid plan for a healthy and godly lifestyle: “The Salvationist will not despise or misuse his body. Since it can be the instrument of God’s purpose, he will endeavour-insofar as this is possible-to keep it in a healthy, vigorous state.… The Salvationist will seek to ensure that he gets sufficient fresh air, exercise and sleep. This is Christian common sense.”

As soldiers, we have committed our bodies to God and are expected to keep them “fit” for his dwelling. Our Soldier’s Covenant proclaims that we will abstain from all enslaving habits such as smoking, alcohol and pornography, but our Founder recognized that even good things, in excess, can prevent us from living out God’s will. In his missive Religion for Every Day, William Booth noted: “Eating and drinking have much to do with the shortening of peoples’ lives.… I very much question whether more people do not die from over-eating than over-drinking.”
These days, other things that prevent us from being physically healthy include too much time watching TV, surfing the Internet or sitting behind a desk.

Let’s Get Physical
As Christians, we must approach physical fitness in a way that honours God. If he has planned for you to live to the ripe old age of 100, but your inactivity and unhealthy lifestyle causes you to die early, what then? God has plans for your soul to accomplish in your healthy body, but to do this you must be a faithful steward of his “temple.”

The good news is that God is gracious and compassionate, even when we fail to live up to his expectations. He is the great restorer. He has designed our bodies with the capacity to heal, repair themselves and return to a state of health. Many diseases can be prevented, assuaged or even reversed with proper exercise and nutrition.

So for all you chronic couch potatoes, there’s no better time than now to get your body moving. Here’s how:
• Start or take part in a sports ministry in your corps such as soccer, flag football, volleyball or basketball. It’s a great way to engage young people and help your church stay involved with the community.
• If you’re not a sports fan, there are still plenty of ways to stay active. Ride your bike, work in your garden or start a lunchtime walking group at your workplace.
• Pack a healthy lunch instead of eating out at fast-food restaurants. You’ll save money and cut down on empty calories.
• Turn off your TV and computer for a few hours each day and get outdoors. You’ll soon see the benefits-increased energy, an alert mind. Maybe you’ll even fit into those old jeans from high school!
• Before you “bless the food,” take a minute to ask yourself, “Is this what God wants me to put in my body?” Maybe you need to pray before you shop at the grocery store or order at the restaurant.

This week take note of your physical activities. Try to see exercise as worship, a way to use your body as “an instrument of righteousness” (see Romans 6:13). God is calling you to greater health. Make your body a living sacrifice.

9 Steps to a Fitter You
If you don’t exercise regularly, here are a few easy guidelines to get you started:
1. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity (minimum brisk walk intensity) three times per week. Maintain a pace that elevates your heart rate-but not enough to prevent you from carrying on a conversation.
2. Practise full-body resistance exercises at least once a week. If you will be using weights, learn the proper technique-improper body position and pace for exercise can lead to nasty nagging injuries.
3. Stretch regularly on most days of the week. Stretch after a workout, hot bath or shower. Make sure the body is warm before stretching. Never stretch when muscles are cold. Don’t bounce. Hold the stretch for at least 45 seconds but aim for one minute. Stretching should be pain-free.
4. See your doctor for a check-up. Be sure that your current health matches the physical training program you’re about to embark on. Annual “physicals” are also important to maintain good health. Ask your physician about your cardiovascular disease risk factors.
5. Connect with a personal trainer or an exercise physiologist. These experts can help tailor an exercise and nutrition plan to your goals.
6. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats or sodium. If you snack between meals, choose healthy options such as fruit, cut veggies or yogurt. An easy way to get started is to follow the Canada Food Guide at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/food guide.
7. Pace yourself. Allow time for your body to recover and heal between workouts. If you have an intense workout one day, ease up the next day with some lighter training.
8. Get the proper amount of rest. Studies show that those who are sleep-deprived have a higher rate of obesity. The average adult needs seven or eight hours of sleep per night.
9. Make the Holy Spirit your training buddy. Pray about how you can honour God with your body and improve the condition of his temple. Use your discipline in reading your Bible and praying as a model for physical discipline.

by Andrew Evans
Certified Exercise Physiologist, Cariboo Hill Temple, Burnaby, B.C.

Reprinted from Salvationist, August 2007