Train Yourself for Godliness

God has designed our bodies to respond instinctively to a variety of situations. Nerve endings stimulate
pain, which causes our hands to pull away from heat. Lungs gasp for air when our muscles require more
oxygen. We don’t think about these responses. They are instinctive and automatic. Our souls respond in
the same way.

When we are in tune with the Lord, our souls cry out for him. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek
you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
(Psalm 63:1, ESV)

This prompts a question: Do our souls instinctively turn to the Lord in prayer?
I was convicted about this question on a recent visit to India. Suresh is an Indian pastor and missionary
serving with Fellowship International Mission. During my visit, Suresh brought me to a village where he
bought property to build a house and ministry center. Suresh and his partners are training dozens of
pastors in a remote region of India. He needed a place to train them more effectively. Because of cultural
attitudes about his tribe, most Indian communities would not allow him to purchase property. The Lord led
him to preach the gospel in a new community where he discovered several Christian families without a
church or pastor. The community leaders sold him a piece of property. His first step was to dig a well to
supply water for his home, the ministry center, and the entire village. This would be the first fresh running
water for this community, and they were thrilled at the prospect.

He only had enough money for a 400-foot-deep borehole. He hired a boring truck, and the well was
drilled. After spending all he had to reach a maximum depth, the well did not produce water. Suresh
concluded the story: So my family and I fasted and prayed for three days, and then the water came!”
His faith deeply moved me, and I reflected on how I might have responded: Call the donors and ask for
more money. Ask the community to chip in to drill a deeper well.” Find out why there is no water. Hire an
engineer. These and many other responses might have been warranted, but Suresh spiritual instincts
were in tune with the Lord, and he turned to Him in humility and faith.
My friend taught me much that day. He reminded me that prayer should be our first instinct when faced
with overwhelming challenges. The more my heart is in tune with the Lord, the more natural prayer
becomes.

The thing about instincts is that while many biological responses are involuntary, other responses can
improve through training. Basketball players incessantly repeat layups, free throws, and jump shots to
train for competition. Golfers hit thousands of drives to improve their swing. Swimmers practice their
strokes, gymnasts practice their dismounts, and archers practice their draw, all to strengthen muscles and
better connect their minds and bodies through “muscle memory.” We can learn much by applying the
training concept to our spiritual disciplines.
If your spiritual disciplines is lacking, reflect on the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, “Have nothing
to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some
value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to
come.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8, ESV)

Paul connects physical exercise, which produces temporary strength, with spiritual exercise, which
produces eternal results. The Greek word translated “train” is gymnadzo, which has the same root as the
English word gymnasium. It reminds us that spiritual disciplines require training.
Creating the “muscle memory” that prompted my friend to pray requires a commitment to spiritual
disciplines. That commitment is not always easy. Dedicated athletes endure fatigue, cold weather, sore
muscles, and tired bodies to achieve the conditioning necessary for high-level athletic performance.
Spiritually dedicated people endure challenges, obstacles, and the temptation to take an easier path.
They persevere through the difficulty of memorizing Scripture. They pray when they do not always feel like it.

‍

They wake up early to meet with the Lord and obey Him when the temptation to satisfy the flesh is
strong. They courageously stand alone when others choose to conform to the culture. As a result, they
reap eternal rewards. When trials come, they instinctively respond like Suresh and turn to the Lord first.
Let’s train ourselves for godliness and build those spiritual muscles!