by Joanie Butman
Peloton may not be considered your run-of-the-mill devotional time, but those thirty minutes have become one for me. My favorite instructor, Cody, definitely wouldn’t fit anyone’s ideal of a spiritual mentor, but I’ve learned some valuable spiritual lessons from the most unexpected people during my journey. When God wants to reach you, He can use anyone. I just replace self with soul from Cody’s motivating commentary. For example, when he promotes self-care, I translate it to soul-care. There is no more important aspect of self-care. Your body has a limited shelf life, but your soul is made for eternity. It would behoove us to nurture it.
If I can work out my body and soul at the same time, all the better. After all, physical training and spiritual training aren’t mutually exclusive. They both build endurance and muscle. It takes effort and discipline for both. God is always involved in my exercise efforts because at my age I need Divine intervention just to finish a 30-minute ride! My prayers sound something like this, "Sweet Jesus, help me get through this ride. I can't do it on my own!" Or I might just repeat this verse as I struggle, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).” My prayers are similar for whatever challenge I'm facing whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually. For the ride of life, which is harder than anything Cody could devise, Divine intervention is essential for finishing well.
As I mentioned, Cody is unconventional to say the least but he is enthusiastic and motivating. Yesterday, he emphatically urged the class to “GET UNCOMFORTABLE! The person you want to be is not going to happen if you don’t get uncomfortable.” So true. We need to endure discomfort to experience change. The spiritual version of that sentiment is the popular adage, “God is more interested in our character than our comfort.” My spiritual growth spurts have always involved stepping out of my comfort zone.
Cody’s closing comments sum up the Christian walk beautifully when substituting soul for self. “Continue to integrate soul-care into your life until it becomes a habit and something you crave and the joy will be overflowing.” Amen to that! He then suggests some Peloton evangelism by sharing his class with someone you love or having the courage to share it with someone you don’t know. Sounds like a winning formula for Kingdom building when your sharing the gospel, which will build strength and endurance for even the most difficult rides life serves up.
We live in a society where self-care is a billion-dollar industry, and caring for your body is important because “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).” Christ offers soul care free of charge, and I can’t think of anything more fit and beautiful than a well-tended soul. Choosing to spend time with Him on a daily basis is always a wise investment and the results are longer lasting than any exercise routine I’ve ever tried.
Choose wisely!