Last week at a doctor’s appointment, I was asked about my activity level. I confidently told the doctor, “I walk my dog twice a day—about three miles total.” (My dog’s a fast walker.)
Walking three miles a day? Not bad. I thought I was basically the picture of optimal health.
Then this morning, as I walked briskly along with my dog, I saw a guy running toward me. And I don’t mean jogging—this guy was sprinting. I thought, He must be finishing his run, pushing himself to the end. But as he passed me, he didn’t slow down at all. That was just his pace.
Suddenly, my “three miles a day” didn’t seem so impressive. I could probably sprint like that… if something were chasing me. But there’s no way I could keep up that pace for long.
Training Makes the Difference
It got me thinking.
That runner and I actually have the same, basic cardiovascular system.
The difference? His has been trained to work at a much higher level than mine.
And that’s true for all of us. We all have the same, basic bodily systems—muscular, nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, etc. But not everyone’s systems perform at the same level. If I compared my muscles to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s… well, let’s just say his are a bit more developed.
Why? Training.
My body is shaped by the way I live. If I wanted the endurance of that runner or muscles like The Rock’s, I’d have to change how I train.
What About Your Spiritual Life?
The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Every follower of Jesus is called to become more like Him.
But let’s be honest—some people just seem to reflect Jesus more than others.
This isn’t about comparison. It's about recognizing that how we live shapes who we become. If I want to be more like Jesus, I need to evaluate my habits and lifestyle. Because here’s the truth: Your current way of life is perfectly designed to produce the person you are right now.
If you want to grow spiritually, you’ll probably need to do some things differently. And that’s where spiritual disciplines come in.
Join a Fasting Challenge
Have you ever focused on the spiritual discipline of fasting?
Jesus fasted and expected His followers to do the same. But fasting isn’t something we talk about much; it’s not surprising there are some who have never fasted before.
Fasting is about more than just depriving yourself. It’s about training your heart to depend on God in a deeper way. It’s not punishment; it’s about making space for spiritual growth.
So, I want to invite you to join a fasting challenge. Before you dismiss it, take a second to think about your own spiritual development. Are you becoming more like Jesus with your current habits? Do you have room to grow? What if adding fasting to your life could jumpstart that growth?
Fasting isn’t a hunger strike. You get to choose what it looks like for you. Maybe you give up sugar, alcohol, or sodas. Maybe you skip one meal a day or fast one meal per week. The point is to stretch yourself in a way that helps you focus on Christ.
Ready to take the challenge?
