Are you receiving a healthy diet of God’s Word? Are you regularly exercising your faith? You may be lacking the real diet and exercise that you need. That’s why it’s important to prioritize activities that have eternal value over those that have temporary value.
It’s that time of year again when we make our new year’s resolution. Diet and exercise will be a part of my 2026 goal because according to my doctor they are important factors in keeping my A1C low. I have to admit, these are my two least favorite words, but they seem to be the answer for everything that ails me. They are both so simple, yet they require a great deal of discipline over a long period of time.
Our walk with Christ is very similar. The longer we walk with Him, the more we realize our need for Him. We experience real change when we spend time in His Word, prayer, and discipleship, but all of these things take time and commitment. When the health of our relationships, behavior, and faith are poor, we should ask ourselves, “how is my diet and exercise?”
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet requires making sure we are regularly consuming what we need, consuming some things in moderation, and avoiding what has no nutritional value or worse is harmful to our health. In our walk with Christ, we need consistent and intentional time in God’s Word. We need to be hearing, reading, and studying Scripture regularly at church, with other believers, and alone.
We also need to limit activities that are good, but take us away from growing in our devotion to God. This requires taking inventory of our time. For instance, are we spending more time in the gym than we are in God’s Word? Lastly, we need to remove anything that is harmful and takes us away from Christ. There are certain things we can agree fall into this category. There are also things that are harmful for me that may not be harmful to you. This requires identifying idols in our lives and removing them.
I like to think refined sugar is kind of like sin. Hear me out. Like sin, it’s everywhere promising convenience, comfort, and pleasure. When we eat a lot of refined sugar something in our brain makes you crave more. Similarly, when we give into the temptation of sin, we are more likely to sin again. Refined sugar wreaks havoc on our insides and has no nutritional value. Sin destroys everything it touches and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Unlike refined sugar which can be consumed in moderation, not even the smallest amount of sin should be part of our healthy diet.
Exercising Your Faith
Exercising your faith is very similar to exercising your body. It takes discipline over a period of time. It requires always pushing yourself to greater strength and longer distance. Are you attending, serving, and tithing to the local church? Are you participating in the discipleship opportunities in your church – Sunday School, community groups, discipleship groups, etc.? These things help you grow and mature but require consistent participation over time.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
Are you stepping into roles that God is calling you to? Once I was approached by a woman after I spoke at a women’s ministry event. She said, “I could never stand up in front of other women and speak like you do.” My response, “Well, neither could I until the day God called me to do it.” Never say never, and never be afraid to do something God calls you to do. It’s part of being obedient, and it’s how we grow. There are a lot of things that I can’t do apart from Christ, but can do with Christ.
Are you striving to be obedient to God’s Word? In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” If we love God, we should desire to abide in His Word and to live His truth. This requires submitting to God’s will in every part of our lives, and truly believing that His ways are better than our own. We must choose obedience even when it costs us something or appears to be the harder choice.
Prioritize Eternity
I understand the benefits of diet and exercise as it relates to my physical health. I’m at the age where my future is determined by how I live now. However, I can eat all the right things and do all the exercises and still go be with my Lord and Savior tomorrow. Another day is not promised to me, and my life in this world could end at any moment.
I know that is no excuse to not eat healthy or exercise, but it should be considered when thinking about my priorities. None of us question the benefits of good physical health, but have you considered the benefits of good health where your faith is concerned? We use our busy schedules and life as an excuse for why we don’t spend more time in the Word, prayer, and discipleship. This attitude dismisses the fact that it is God, through His Word, who equips us for everything. We are unknowingly causing more damage in our lives when we do not prioritize time in God’s Word.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
I saw a post the other day with a picture of a woman working out in a gym. The caption read, “Having a husband and kids should make fitness and strength an even higher priority.” I thought to myself, “my strength comes from Christ.” My husband and children need me in the Word of God more than they need me in the gym. Only then will I seek to love them as God has called me and equips me to do.
New Year’s Resolution
In 2026, resolve to maintain a healthy diet of God’s Word and prayer. Need some help? Download Seeking God Bible Study Guide and Abiding in Prayer Weekly Prayer Journal on my Resource Page to help you get started. You can also follow along the Anchored to Truth Foundations of the Faith Bible Study.
Resolve to exercise your faith. If you are not part of a local church, start attending a Bible preaching church. Find a place to serve God and serve others. Participate in discipleship opportunities in your church and beyond. Are there women in your life who you could disciple? If so, invite them to study Scripture with you.
Resolve this year to prioritize eternity. Make time for the things that will help you and others grow in your knowledge and obedience to God and His Word. I would love to hear your 2026 resolutions. Send me an email through my Contact Page.