Exercise is very important for overall health and well-being. However, working only on your body neglects other areas that are just as important. I believe we need to exercise our body, mind, and spirit.
Regular physical activity can help improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, improve mental health, and increase longevity. Exercise can also help to maintain healthy body weight, improve sleep quality, and boost energy levels. In addition, regular exercise can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and can improve cognitive function and brain health. Overall, incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine is essential for maintaining good health and quality of life.
Exercising your mind is just as important as exercising your body. Keeping your brain active and engaged can help improve cognitive function, memory, and overall brain health. An old man at the community center this morning told me that he tries to wake up every day with a “purpose” in mind. I told him that was great advice and proceeded to ask him what his purpose was today. Then I told him mine.
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, solving puzzles, learning a new skill, or playing brain games can help to maintain and even improve brain function as you age. Research has shown that challenging your brain with novel tasks can lead to the formation of new neural connections and strengthen existing ones. This can help to delay or prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of developing conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities can also improve mood, reduce stress, and increase overall well-being. So, just as it’s important to exercise your body, it’s also important to exercise your mind to maintain cognitive function and overall brain health.
In addition, exercising your spirit is an activity that we should have as a daily goal. Keeping your spiritual life connected to God and meditating on the word of God will help you face any spiritual obstacles that come your way. Paul says he “disciplines” his body and makes it his “slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27). He also says, “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:8-10).
It is so important that you do not neglect your spiritual workout so that you will be able to fight off the devil when he attacks. Workout spiritually by reading the Scriptures every day, engaging yourself in deep bible study, writing your prayers down and speaking them out loud to God, and sharing with others how to become a Christian and what it means to love Jesus, live for Him, and being ready to die faithfully in His care.
Working out should never be limited to one area of your life. Exercise your body, mind, and spirit to experience the full measure of this blessed life we live to the glory of God.
God loves you, and so do I,
Alexander Mills