Building Spiritual Fitness

It is intended to be a practical guide to the basic disciplines of the Christian life.

So you are a Christian, and you have grown some in your spiritual walk. But you'd like to be a better Christian. There is no such thing as instant godliness. Godliness, like so many skills, requires practice, endurance, and discipline. All who are struggling for a more godly life will benefit from this inspiring booklet. Impractical platitudes are missing. They have been replaced by direct and exciting challenges. - Back cover.

Imagine standing in the face of adversity, unmoved by your fears and doubts, ready to respond to any spiritual attack. Imagine trusting and hoping in God so deeply that nothing is impossible. Imagine having such great strength of character that the Enemy of your soul fears you. Our Heavenly Father is endeavoring to make us strong in the power of his Spirit, but just like weight training and fitness, it’s not always easy. Physical fitness—just like spiritual fitness—is a process that takes a lot of hard work. God has a way of training us, and when we understand his ways we become stronger through every difficulty we encounter. Have you ever felt like God has let you down, that others have gotten away with hurting you, or that you’ve stepped out in faith only to fail? God wants to strengthen us through the trials of life like he did Peter, Joseph, King David, and others. Spiritual truths and insights come to us as we dig through the Scriptures to understand God’s way of strengthening us. Let’s seek to understand this process and allow God to make us “strong in the Spirit.” There’s nothing like having a personal trainer to help your body reach its full potential. Consider this book your spiritual personal trainer, helping you reach your full potential and become the person God intended you to be, living from a place of strength, faith, and trust. God wants to build spiritual strength in us, and he knows just how to do it!

Do you sometimes feel that no matter how much wealth you accumulate, toys you own, friendships you make or physical and mental mountains you conquer, you're still at the end of the day unfulfilled - with a gnawing deep down inside that something is "still missing" or that you're meant for something greater than what you're doing right now? You're not alone. That loss of direction, purpose and deep, fulfilling meaning is absent in the lives of some of the most successful or fit people you'll ever meet.Over the past several years, as Ben has repeatedly witnessed in both himself and others the ultimate unfulfillment of a sole focus upon carnal, fleshly pursuits, and as he's observed great thinkers and philosophers while continually seeking wisdom, he's become increasingly convinced that caring for one's spirit is as important-no, actually far more important-than caring for one's body and brain. But after your muscles have atrophied, your skin has sagged, your brain has degraded and accumulated with plaque, your blood vessels have become clogged, and your nerves have become weakened-long after your relentless pursuit of fitness or health or longevity has become a vain effort-your spirit can be just as strong and as bright as ever. How about you? Have you gained the world yet left your soul behind? Do you feel like that most important part of you - your soul - is shrunken, neglected and unfit? Do you crave for more meaning, purpose and fulfillment in your life? Then this book - Fit Soul - was written exactly for you. Within the pages - written in a practical, easy-to-understand way with tips, tricks, strategies and solutions that will be simple to implement within your own life - you'll discover everything you need to know to care for your soul, attain true spiritual fitness, discover union with God and find the happiness you have always craved for and deserve.

St. Paul talks about the need for the spiritual person to train like an athlete in order to be fit for God. Many runners keep logbooks. This is your spiritual logbook. Here you can: measure your progress through a practical scoring system, evaluate your relationship to God in six categories: (1) Prayer and Praise, (2) Faith and friendship, (3) Discipline and discipleship, (4) Repentance and renewal, (5) Learning and listening, (6) Thanks and trust, develop more loving interpersonal relationships through focusing on right actions and right attitudes, while guarding against negative tendencies viz. right avoidance, gain deeper insights into your spiritual life though a structured daily meditation enjoy a unique personal journal. In addition, this book provides a weekly brief essay on some topic of spiritual value, over 100 quotations, 300 carefully selected Bible extracts for you to ponder, and other helpful matter including The Principles of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis About the authors: Margaret Fourie is an Anglican priest and author of four books on relationships and personal development. Arthur Clarke, recently retired as a lay-minister, has had three books published

• Pairs physical training and spiritual practices together in an easy-to-use format • Perfect for a 40-day Lenten devotion or beginning a new fitness program • For a truly ecumenical audience What’s better than feeding your soul while developing healthy practices for your body and mind? Christ Walk outlines a 40-day program for individuals and groups to focus on improving physical health while engaging in spiritual and mental reflection and growth. Individuals and groups select different biblical routes to complete (through walking, running, biking, etc.), while reading a reflective passage on health and spirituality each day of the journey. Each chapter is a daily meditation on different aspects of mind, body, and spiritual health tied to biblical teachings and Christian traditions. The appendices include options for groups and individuals to transform their Christ Walk experience from journey to journey.

Are you a Holy Spirit-filled born-again believer? Are you tired of spending money on exercise and nutrition programs that have not consistently worked for you? Have you followed countless fitness programs led by mainstream fitness gurus only to be disappointed? If you answered yes to any of these questions, let Pastors of Health, Rich & Karla Walker, show you Holy Spirits way to manage your health and fitness through the book you are holding in your hand- Holy Spirit Fitness vs. Carnal Fitness: How to Build a Rock-Solid Foundation to be in Divine Health and Fit for the Masters Use

My book on Spiritual Fitness is an attempt to explain how someone can better understand the process of spiritual growth toward maturity. I use the metaphor of physical fitness to provide a framework for the discussion. There are nine chapters plus an introduction. The first chapter starts with a description of the ideals or goals toward which we should strive. The second chapter is about the place of spiritual genetics or the role of our family backgrounds on our spiritual growth. The third chapter deals with the value of certain spiritual exercises. The fourth chapter is about nutrition and what kind of sustenance is important to grow spiritually. Chapter five discusses the role of good coaching and chapter six focuses on the proper equipment. Chapter seven discusses friends and chapter eight the costs of spiritual fitness. The final chapter attempts to integrate all of the elements into a cohesive whole. I am convinced that there is great potential in people who have identified themselves with Jesus Christ. I have discovered that many in the church of Jesus Christ feel they are falling short of what God has in store for them. Many Christians want to live an exciting and fulfilling life, but their personal experience falls somewhat short of their expectation. Many are interested in spiritual things, but are looking in the wrong place. God has such great things for everyone in His family. It is a shame that so many do not experience that fulness and excitement. This book is designed for those who want more in their spiritual lives. The book will have interest to those who are believers in Christ, but also for those who are seeking to learn more. It is not enough to know that we should grow in Christ. There must be a plan to follow that shows how this process works and what needs to be done. Bible study groups could use this book as a guide or individuals could study it with profit. I am writing from a Christian perspective and from the protestant, evangelical tradition. My background is Baptistic generally, but I have written this book for a more general Christian audience. I think there is enough here to be of value to persons from many evangelical traditions. The theological position of this book is conservative and based on the authoritative and inerrant word of God, the Bible. I am pleased to offer this book to you and trust it will be a blessing wherever it goes and to whomever reads it. Robert J. Radcliffe Portland, Oregon USA