The Faith League has dedicated our brand to the spiritual athlete. There are two types of spiritual athletes, the literal athlete and the figurative one.
As Christians, we are called to live a life pleasing to God. This life can be compared to that of an athlete who is in training to win a race. In the Bible, the Christian faith is compared to that of an athlete who must train and discipline themselves in order to run the race and win the prize. But what does it mean to be a spiritual athlete?
Figurative Spiritual Athlete
The figurative spiritual athlete is someone committed to their faith and is constantly striving to become a better version of themselves. They understand that their spiritual journey is not a destination, but rather a continuous journey of growth and transformation. The figurative spiritual athlete is focused on building their relationship with God through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading the Bible, fasting, discipleship, and attending church. They are committed to living a life that is pleasing to God and reflecting God's love and grace to those around them.
Literal Spiritual Athlete
The literal spiritual athlete is someone who is not only committed to their faith but also committed to taking care of their physical body, this can be through working out consistently or playing sports. They understand that their body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that taking care of their body is an important part of their spiritual journey. This type of spiritual athlete is committed to physical fitness, sports, and other physical activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. They understand that physical fitness can help improve their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Biblical References
The Bible frequently compares the Christian faith to that of an athlete. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul writes, "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
Living a Balanced Life
Being a spiritual athlete involves living a balanced life that honors God in all areas. This includes taking care of our physical bodies, nurturing our relationships, and growing in our faith. As spiritual athletes, we must constantly be in training and discipline ourselves to stay focused on our goals. By doing so, we can be the best versions of ourselves and reflect God's love and grace to those around us.
So being a spiritual athlete is about committing ourselves to a life that is pleasing to God. It involves discipline, training, and a commitment to growth and transformation. By nurturing our relationship with God, taking care of our physical bodies, and living a balanced life, we can become the spiritual athletes that God has called us to be.
I would love for you to share your experience as a spiritual athlete. Which type of athlete are you? Where do you excel? Where do you struggle? What small step will you start incorporating to improve? Is there anything I can do to help? Leave a comment or send me an email hello@thefaithleague.com.