The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.




TRUST JESUS TODAY





  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Sport or Fitness (02/15/07)
An avid softball player during middle school, I’ve gradually let the game and its strenuous routine become a thing of the past. I never throw a softball anymore. I’ve even forgotten the rules of the game. No longer participating in any active sport, I’ve grown weak muscled and overweight.

I look back on those childhood sport events and recall the good times, but never engage in a desire to replay them. Aching muscles, tired feet and a sweaty body don’t appeal to me today. I’ve progressed too far from that time and place. I can’t go back now.

I tell myself that staying active as we grow older is important, and I wish I would listen to me. But, no matter how many times I say, “I’ve got to do some exercising,” my body rejects the idea. It just doesn’t want to participate. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.

My husband walks for his heart. He enjoys the brisk fresh air and his trek through the neighborhood, and he comes back home exhilarated and refreshed. I always envy his devotion to the task. I also envy the difference in our body flab.

But, I’m not all bad. Being the good wife that I am, I stay at home and rest for him while he’s trudging. It’s a hard job, but somebody’s got to do it.

In the Lord, however, I’m not such a procrastinator. I try my best to stay “active” in prayer, Bible reading and “Good Samaritan” activities. To me, growing inactive in God is worse than growing flabby in the flesh. Our spiritual health depends on it.

It takes more than verbalizing to live for God. Talking about living for God is like talking about exercising – it eases your conscience but it doesn’t accomplish anything. I’ve always heard that “you can’t take good intentions to the bank”. How true.

One of the greatest assets for exercising is consistency. Daily grinding away at whatever routine you adopt (even though it might be small) is better than large, strenuous regimens that are spasmodic.

Living for God is the same. God wants consistency. Faithfulness. Everyday living, not spurts of spiritual energy. God’s Word says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (KJV)

Although an active life is good for the natural man, the necessity of building an active spiritual man far outweighs its importance.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1287 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanney Uthe 
02/23/07
I can relate to telling myself I need to exercise and not listening to me. (I love that line.) Great message and great comparisons with the advise for physical and spiritual exercise.
Joanney Uthe 
02/23/07
I can relate to telling myself I need to exercise and not listening to me. (I love that line.) Great message and great comparisons with the advise for physical and spiritual exercise.
Kathleen Morris
02/23/07
How true, how true! I enjoyed this very much.
Bonnie Way
02/23/07
Good lessons here - I think we call all relate to this, whether we are out of shape physically or spiritually!
Allison Egley 
02/24/07
As others have said, this is a great lesson. I also love the word "spasmodic." I didn't know it was a word before, but I like it! lol Great job.
Betty Castleberry
02/24/07
You have just written about me! I can totally relate to this. Good message, and nicely written, too.
Joanne Sher 
02/25/07
Very nicely written - great message, and engagingly told.
Jan Ackerson
02/25/07
Nice writing, and a very apt lesson. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Michelle Burkhardt
02/26/07
My favorite line, "But, Im not all bad. Being the good wife that I am, I stay at home and rest for him while hes trudging. Its a hard job, but somebodys got to do it."
The struggle to exercise is a mental battle. I liked your humor. But, if I was you, I would go walking with that man of yours. That would be a great time talking and bonding. Having someone to walk with makes it worthwhile.
Nice job.
Jen Davis
02/26/07
I liked this comparison: Talking about living for God is like talking about exercising You did a good job of using the topic to share a valid message, especially the point about consistency. One suggestion would be to rewrite the references to the natural or spiritual man. I thought they took away from your own voice and seemed clich. What I enjoyed most was the casual tone of this piece. The title was catchy too. Overall, good job!
Sara Harricharan
02/28/07
I liked your approach to the topic. This was nice and light to read. I liked the smooth flow and bits of humor sprinkled throughout. Great work! ^_^
Tiffany Secula
02/28/07
So true and wonderfully written!
Edy T Johnson
03/03/07
It's always entertaining to see how different writers can go in so many different directions around one topic. You and I sound as if we are on the same wavelength. Thank you for taking time to leave a comment on my story. I appreciate it!
Patricia Casey
03/03/07
You make solid comments to support the truth that spiritual health is most important. But,

Im not all bad. Being the good wife that I am, I stay at home and rest for him while hes trudging. Its a hard job, but somebodys got to do it. (This is funny)

Great job.

Thank you for commenting on my article "Stitches of Evil." I appreciate your feedback.

In Jesus' Name,

Patricia
Janice Fitzpatrick
03/11/07
So true! This spoke to me very deeply. I think all of us can realte to this as we maybe don't exercise as much as we should,whether spiritually,physcially, emotionally or time wise with loved ones or witnessing,etc. Great choice of words and humor to top this off.;0) Good job! Thank you for sharing this. (Also thank you for the fdbk on my challenge entry.):0)