Exercising is usually supposed to be a healthy thing in most cases.   At least that’s what I thought when I first started riding the stationary bike about 10 years ago.   Yet, it became an obsession.  It became literally, my idol.   I couldn’t do without it; it was like a drug.   I would exercise for 2 hours, and I always wanted more; I wanted more of a calorie burn, so I could justify eating.  It felt like a chain that was holding me down; that’s what sin is.   It’s this chain that holds you in place, and you can’t break free.  That is, until Jesus comes, and sets the captives free!   

That’s this story.  That’s the story of Jamie.  That’s my story too.  

We’re learning that exercising is not always healthy especially when it becomes your god instead of worshipping the living and true God.   Exercising can actually hurt your body more than helping it, especially when you do it to excess. 

I want to offer a disclaimer here: I’m not a personal trainer or health professional; so please take every piece of advice with a grain of salt! 

Jamie and I talked specifically about her story with running.  I personally love running.  It’s my favorite way to exercise, but I’ve had to take a huge step back from long distance running of any kind for several reasons: 

#1) my body always felt sore and tired after every run longer than 5 miles, and it just took me a long time to recover.#2) long distance running still seems to affect my periods.  

#3) i found that i placed a lot of my identity and worth in the amount of miles I ran instead of doing it all for God’s glory, so I’m just focusing on the little things like 2-4 miles and asking the Lord to help me want to give Him glory in those.   

1 Corinthians 9:24, ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’  

Jamie has an incredible running story, and you need to get the fuller story here on her blog:  

However, Jamie and I delved into other topics in this edition of the podcast:  

1) Why Exercise Can Harm Your Body Especially If Your Nutrition Isn’t Adequate 

2) Why Running Can Become An Idol 

3) What Jamie Learned When Running Was Taken Away from Her 

4) My Own Journey With Having to Step Back from Long Distance Running

5) Jamie’s Amazing Running Story 

6) How Jamie Had That Person In Her Life Who Helped Save Her Life (You Need These People Too!)

7) What Time Off of Exercise Taught Jamie That Nourishment Something Your Body Needs (whether you exercise or not) 

I don’t want to tell you everything, because I would love for you to listen.  I would love for you to be encouraged if you are needing to take time off of exercise, if you’ve ever taken time off of exercise, and as you run this race of recovery.  

This podcast reminded me of these precious verses in 1 Corinthians 6 about taking care of our bodies when we’re bought with the blood of Jesus.  Our bodies aren’t ours anymore when we’re bought by Jesus.  That means: 

We Can’t Abuse Them 

We Can’t Starve Them 

We Can’t Just Do With Them What We Want 

1 Corinthians 6:15-20, ‘Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’  

I can’t say I’m to the point where Jamie in realizing that I don’t have to exercise to have nourishment, but God has brought me SOOO far, and He has been so faithful.  I don’t nearly feel as anxious about not doing 2 hour workouts or even 1 hour workouts; my runs are shorter, and my time on the couch is longer.  I’m way less anxious about not getting in a long workout than I used to be.  It’s a journey. It’s a process, and the Lord is delivering me one step at a time.  

have you ever not exercised?   

have you ever found that not exercising was a good/healthy thing for you mentally and physically and emotionally and even spiritually?   

The post Why Not Exercising Can Be Healthy – Episode #48 appeared first on Beauty In Christ - The Book.