117Move TimeBut how can we be ready? That’s what Hello Mornings is
all about. God. Plan. Move.
Shift 2: It’s Not About How We Look but How We Live
We prepare ourselves by studying God’s Word (God time),
we plan our days according to His leading (Plan time), but we
also need the energy to do as He asks (Move time).
So while you might have thought of Move time as working
out, I’d like to propose a radical shift in how we think about
exercise and fitness. It’s not just sweating, dieting, and basically
suffering in some form or fashion with the goal of changing our
physical strength or appearance. When that is our goal, fitness
is only about image. How do I look? How much do I weigh?
What size do I wear? How strong am I? Who can I impress
with the way I look? Essentially, How can I bring glory to
myself through my body?
I wonder if, as believers, we might claim a different
perspective— one that frees us from a one- size- fits- all standard
and offers a grace that moves us forward.
God’s ultimate purpose for our physical bodies isn’t based
on how we look in a bathing suit or how much we weigh. It
isn’t even about how we feel about ourselves or the example we
leave for our children. Those might all be lovely by- products of
being healthy, but, as believers, the sole purpose of our fitness is
to answer this one question: Am I fit enough to do all God has
called me to do with excellence and joy in this season of my life?
Here are some questions to help you evaluate your answer:
- Do I have the energy to be patient with my loved
ones— even at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., or 8:00 p.m.?