How My Christian Faith Shaped the Way I View Fitness

Hi friends,

Pretty early on in my running journey, I started hearing other runners on Instagram talk about how their runs became such a beautiful time with Jesus and how they truly encountered Him when they were running. At first, I couldn’t relate at all. My runs felt like pure suffering, and I was too busy gasping for air to experience anything spiritual. That is, until one day, I decided to swap my usual Taylor Swift albums for some Forrest Frank on a nice and slow four-mile run, and everything shifted. Yes, I still felt like I was dying, but man, the presence of God was surreal. I had now understood what these other Christian runners were talking about—Jesus was indeed there, running alongside me. That moment changed everything. From then on, I started inviting Jesus into my workouts, praying before I trained, and worshiping mid-run instead of just trying to get through it. Fitness became more than just exercise to me at that moment; it became an act of faith. To me, faith and fitness almost go hand in hand. I think about

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Or do you not know that 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.”

So often, this verse is taken in the context of sex and purity, and though that is true, when taken into a much broader perspective: physically, mentally, and spiritually, it highlights how caring for our bodies through fitness and nutrition is also a way of honoring God. I think we often forget that the Holy Spirit lives within us. Since our bodies are temples, we need to steward them well.

Read more about my fitness journey here!

When Fitness Became an Idol for Me

For a long time, fitness was something I pursued for my own personal achievements: hitting PRs, looking a certain way, or proving to myself that I could endure hard things. However, in hindsight, it was definitely an idol for me. I often had the discipline to hit the gym and work out, but on the same days, I would skip spending time with God and wouldn’t open my Bible. It wasn’t until I came across this reel on Instagram where this girl said,

“You hit the gym more than you spend time with God.”

Man, was I convicted, because that’s definitely me. I would be frustrated when my fitness routine was inconsistent or when I wasn’t seeing results, but when I got frustrated with my faith or was angry at God, I would just reject spending time with Him. At some point, I had to ask myself: was I placing my love for fitness before my love for God?

It’s so easy for fitness to become an idol—something that consumes our time, thoughts, and energy at the expense of our faith. There was a time when I prioritized my workouts over spending time in the Word. I justified skipping my devotions because I needed to train. It wasn’t until I realized that even something good—like fitness—can become an idol if it takes priority over God. Once I shifted my mindset and started dedicating my training to the Lord, it no longer felt like something I had to do, but something I got to do to honor Him.

How Fitness Has Made Me Stronger in My Faith

I think so often we take for granted the fact that Jesus has given us the ability to move our bodies. It is only through Him that I am able to complete workouts. After coming to this personal realization, I began seeing every opportunity to move my body as an act of worship.

I would often catch myself in the middle of a tough workout, about to complain, but instead, I was led to thank God for the ability to even work out. This led to my training sessions becoming a time of worship.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

I don’t take this verse lightly anymore. Every workout, every mile, every rep is an opportunity to glorify Him with my body.

So often, I think we believe ministry work has to be something connected to a church, but in truth, no matter what you do, your life should reflect the glory of God. I often tell my friends, “You might be the only Jesus someone sees.” So be a good example. And God has given me the beautiful opportunity to be an example of Jesus in the fitness space.

The Discipline of Faith and Fitness

Our discipline in fitness mirrors our discipline in faith. If you compare the two, they really do match up. You will remain spiritually immature if you don’t spend time with God, just like you won’t see progress in your fitness pursuits without consistency.

When we are consistent in the gym, we see tangible results that push us forward. And when we are consistent in spending time with God, we experience peace, growth, and transformation.

James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

This verse is about faith, but when you compare it to fitness, there are so many similarities. Growth requires perseverance, whether in the gym or in your spiritual walk. It’s crazy to think that literally in the Bible are the answers to all of man’s problems, fitness included!

Encouragement for Your Own Journey

If you’ve been struggling with motivation—whether in fitness or in faith—know that you are not alone. Some days, I wake up excited to train, and other days, I want nothing to do with it. But on the days when my energy is gone, I lean on God the most. And it’s in those moments of depletion that I feel Him the closest.

Here are some practical ways to invite God into your fitness journey:

• Pray before your workouts – Ask for strength and endurance.
• Listen to worship music while you train – Let it shift your mindset.
• Express gratitude after every session – Thank God for the ability to move.
• Use scripture as motivation – Keep Bible verses that inspire you.
• Remember your why – Fitness is a gift, not a burden.

Both faith and fitness are lifelong journeys. Both require time and consistency. I want to encourage you to use your personal fitness journey as a way to glorify Christ. Because when we invite Jesus into our workouts, they become so much more than just exercise: they become an act of worship.

Have you ever experienced a moment where faith and fitness connected for you? I’d love to hear your story in the comments! Until next time.

P.S. While your here, follow me over on Instagram! I’m going to be releasing a faith & fitness series where I dive into how my faith in Jesus has shaped my fitness journey 🤗

Much love,
Alexa