Exercise your spirit!

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you…  1 Timothy 4:14

To excel at anything, you have to exercise! We know that our minds and bodies require exercise to stay healthy and active. We can gain “reflex” abilities through repetitive exercises that improve our performance for specific skill sets. What about our spirits?

Are you exercising your spirit? Athletes want to grow to become strong so they can advance in their sport. Physical stature and knowledge of the game is valued and desired by all. Take note however – if you fail to grow your spiritual self in God, you may very well be unable to hear Him speak to you: “And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1).

You are more than muscle, more than the sum of your thoughts and personality. You are a spiritual being, and your spirit must grow and mature in stature and wisdom for you to reach full potential.

How? Read, study, and meditate on God’s Word. Pray continuously. Share the truth of Christ with others. When you hear from God, do what He says immediately.

You will never attain the peak of your skill without a strong spirit. Exercise it!

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:13-16