The Important Reason Why You Need to Build Your Spiritual Muscles

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Do you ever wonder how much time we spend thinking and talking about pointless and unimportant things that may or may not happen?

Paul wrote the following to Timothy:

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales.

1 Timothy 4:7a

Some of the other translations put it this way, Don’t have anything to do with…:

• irreverent legends and silly myths. (AMPC)
• worthless senseless stories. (CEV)
• worldly and absurd myths. (EHV)
• godless legends not worth telling. (GNT)
• stories that do not agree with God’s truth. (ICB)
• silly stories dressed up as religion. (MSG)
• foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth. (NCV)
• senseless traditions and legends. (TPT)

Call it whatever we want . . . I know I’m guilty.

It can be so easy to get drawn into discussions about things that really don’t matter all that much!

I think about how divided our world is right now. We argue about the words we use and determine we know a person’s heart by the way they vote or whether or not they’ll get a vaccine. Even ideas that are in Scripture can cause extended, sometimes heated conversations. Things like the end times, baptism, Bible translations, and the “right way” to worship . . . and that’s just a few.

I’m not saying those things are unimportant; however, they can easily cause us to focus on our differences rather than the unity Christ wants for us.

So, Paul said there’s a better way to spend our time and energy.

Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

1 Timothy 4:7b–8

You and I need to train our spiritual muscles to be able to stand strong against the lies of the enemy.

There’s only so much time in a day, a year, or even a lifetime. Maybe it’s time for us to take a closer look at the way we spend our time and make sure we make time for the things that are eternally important . . . things that train and build our spiritual muscles.

But how do we train those spiritual muscles?

1. Focus on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
2. Pray all the time about everything. (Ephesians 6:18)
3. Read the Scriptures to know God more intimately. (Acts 17:11)
4. Tell other people what God has done for you. (1 Peter 3:15)

A Prayer Asking God to Help Us Build Our Spiritual Muscles

Father, I’m so sorry. I am so easily distracted by foolish ideas and silly stories. Please forgive me. I want to be spiritually strong to stand against the lies and temptations of the enemy. Please help me. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might focus on Jesus, pray about everything always, study Your Word that I might SEEK, KNOW, TRUST, and OBEY You, and tell the story of all that You have done for me.

Thoughts are constantly flooding my mind and every relationship includes conversations. I can focus on the blessings You have given us to unite us or on the attempts of the enemy to divide and defeat us. I can spend my energies on things that are momentary or concentrate on those essential things that last forever.

My hope is in You, Lord. Please help me use the blessings You have given me to love and serve You and love and serve the people around me. By Your grace, help me live so others can see You in me. You are worthy of all the glory and honor and praise now and forever. Amen.

Pause today to think about the things you are investing in . . . the ways you spend your time, the conversations you invest in, and the things you spend time thinking about. Take a few moments to ask yourself if there is anything you need to change. Things to delete and things to add.

Set aside some time to work on spiritual muscles because the stronger you and I become the more prepared we’ll be to fight the distractions and lies of the enemy.

On today’s note write:

With God’s help, I will focus on Jesus and build spiritual muscles.

May God bless you today as you focus on and train for godliness in Jesus’ name.

Click here to read the rest of 1 Timothy 4.

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