Spiritual Exercise

A humorous calorie guide once suggested that you can burn hundreds of calories without ever stepping into a gym. “Running around in circles” burns 350. “Making mountains out of molehills” burns 500. “Climbing the walls” burns 150. “Swallowing your pride” only 50—but it may cost you more than you think. We smile because we recognize ourselves in the list. Many of us are exhausted at the end of the day—not from physical labor—but from worry, drama, pride, stubbornness, and unnecessary conflict.

It is possible to spend enormous energy on things that accomplish very little. We burn calories “beating around the bush” instead of speaking truth in love. We tire ourselves “dragging our heels” when God is calling us to obedience. We exhaust our hearts “adding fuel to the fire” when the Lord would have us be peacemakers. The problem is not activity—it is misdirected activity. We are busy, but not always fruitful.

Paul reminds us that while physical exercise has value, spiritual exercise has eternal value. Imagine if we put as much effort into prayer as we do into “pushing our luck.” What if we invested the energy we spend “running around in circles” into walking steadily with God? What if instead of “tooting our own horn,” we humbled ourselves before the Lord? True strength is not found in frantic motion but in faithful devotion.

The world will keep offering endless ways to expend your energy. But godliness builds endurance that lasts beyond this life. The greatest workout is learning patience, humility, forgiveness, and faith. Those disciplines may not show up on a calorie chart—but they transform the soul.