Close Your Rings!
“It’s time to stand.”
“You’re way ahead of your goals. Keep crushing it!”
“You’re usually ahead of goals by this time of the day.
Close your rings. A 15-minute walk will do it.”
The above messages are programmed into my watch to support physical movement. Using the watch as a personal coach is a motivator for staying on track to reach fitness goals. The goals on the watch are called rings. I program the watch with caloric and exercise goals. For example, my goal is to burn at least four hundred calories a day and exercise at least thirty minutes a day. Congratulatory messages pop up when a ring (goal) is achieved.
If I’m behind on my daily goals, my watch sends me a message to get moving. When all three rings are closed, I receive a burst of colorful rings. The watch is programmed to share data with others. Motivational messages are cued in the watch to encourage friends who meet their goals. Are these bells and whistles needed to motivate me to exercise? It helps me and it’s fun.
In addition to physical fitness goals, we need spiritual fitness goals. How do we close our spiritual rings in this fast-paced society when there is no creative watch that you place on your arm? Actually, what we have is much better. We have an internal divine-driven watch that is free, cannot wear out, break, or be stolen. Of course, I reference the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a free gift that comes with salvation. The Spirit prompts, guides, and directs us to what is best for our lives. The more we use our gift, the stronger we become spiritually. The spirit encourages us to pray, study the Bible, and meditate. If you’re feeling down, that’s a prompt to pray more. If you’re seeking direction, that’s a nudge to read God’s word or to be still and listen.
Are there congratulatory messages like the watch displays? Well, there’s no burst of colorful rings. It’s much better. You spring forth with vibrancy. You are more likely to exercise. Your countenance is radiant. You do more for others. Your physical health is improved. And whatever stress you may be facing, you definitely don’t look like it. You feel joy and an abiding presence of the Spirit within. When we seek to strengthen our spiritual bodies, life becomes more meaningful, peaceful, and rich internally.
“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27, NLT).
Interested in reading more of my writings: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732039615
