Just like your body and mind, your spirituality needs special care and attention to stay fit. Life is full of obstacles and challenges that test your faith and spiritual well-being. So in order to meet those challenges head-on, you must
Just like your body and mind, your spirituality needs special care and attention to stay fit. Life is full of obstacles and challenges that test your faith and spiritual well-being. So in order to meet those challenges head-on, you must give your spirituality the proper nutrition and exercise — just like you would treat your body if you were training for a marathon. After all, you’re in this for the long haul, right?
So how do you pursue the path of spiritual fitness? Perhaps it’s easiest to break it down into manageable steps. Here are five key tips that you can focus on daily to improve your spirituality:
• Learn to share: Learn to share many of the things you love, even if you are most comfortable having them all to yourself. That means changing your focus from “I” to “we.” Find something you have a gift or talent for and start sharing the fruits of that talent with others. When you start with something simple and enjoyable, such as cooking a meal for others, fellowship becomes easier in the difficult times.
• Don’t seek praise: God wants you to be a team player. But that doesn’t mean you should seek praise when you lend a hand to those in need. Even if the people around you don’t recognize your work, remember, the reward is in the good deed itself.
• Remember promises: When you are faced with temptations, remember your promises to God. God never gives up on you, so focus on staying true to the promises you make to yourself and God.
• Picture yourself as a mentor: The lessons you’ve learned both in good times and bad can be powerful guidance for others. Live your life so that someone will pattern their life after yours.
• Choose to climb higher: Imagine your spiritual journey is like climbing a ladder. You must leave your useless baggage — such as jealousy and greed — on the ground. Each rung you climb will take you higher and give you a better view of the things that you have left behind.
Eleanor Riley, author of the new book, “Rungs on My Ladder: A Compelling Memoir of Faith,” (Cornerstone Publishing 2007) believes spiritual fitness is something all must practice every day to fulfill purpose in life. She says if we continually exercise our spirituality and strive to become closer to God, we’ll become stronger.
“Even though we don’t understand something when it’s happening, there is meaning to it all,” says Riley. “That’s the work of God. And if we continually follow our faith, God’s hand becomes clear in all situations. I believe God hears our prayers and is continually coaxing us up a ladder that leads us to higher faith and higher powers.”
Eleanor Riley, the second of nine children, hails from Westmoreland, Jamaica West Indies. She first surrendered her life to Christ at the early age of 10. Her spiritual Renaissance occurred at the Church of the First Born in Jamaica where she sang in Sunday school, children’s choirs and adult choirs.
Riley migrated to the U.S. in 1970. She has been married to Bishop Dr. Cecil George Riley for 30 years. For the past 25 years Riley has been very active in the Freedom Hall Church of God, Inc. Ministry where she currently serves as evangelist, choir director, youth director, and soloist along with her other duties as First Lady.
