Have you ever promised yourself that you’d exercise more to get “back in shape” as the saying goes? Most of us have, but what about a workout for your spiritual body?

Let’s compare ourselves to an automobile. We have all of the necessary parts to run like a well-oiled machine, but if we don’t regularly follow the maintenance schedule, our car is likely to breakdown. Sometimes we become so fixated on our physical health that our spiritual health gets placed in the back seat. And, let’s face it; no one really likes a back seat driver. Naturally we must try our best to maintain our physical bodies, but we must also make sure that our spiritual side is sitting comfortably in the passenger’s seat.

Every life is filled with challenges. We must prepare ourselves to travel down these roads, and be able to successfully maneuver the curves and speed bumps. God has given us a road map to help stay on course, and prevent us from getting lost. In Scripture we’ve learned:

From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. —2 Timothy 3:15-17

In addition to following life’s road signs, and carefully changing lanes, here are some things that we can do to keep our engine running smoothly.

Worship God: The definition of truly and completely worshiping God may vary slightly from person to person. However, we all agree that our lives must be lived by honoring God. Being active in the community, attending church services, sharing God’s word, and following strong Christian values are all examples of how we can worship God.

Stop Worrying: Are you the type of person that worries about the big things, and all of the little things? This type of personality trait can be exhausting. According to Christian beliefs, God has a plan for us and this plan was put into motion before we ever took our first steps on this earth. Let go of worry. Life will happen as it’s supposed to, and it will follow our individual blueprint. The next time you find yourself feeling a high level of anxiety, ask yourself, “Can I do anything to help or change this situation, or is it beyond my control?” If you answer the latter one, then you’ve got to let it go. We may never completely understand why certain things occur, or don’t occur, as we think they should in life. But, it is not our job to understand. We must merely accept life as it comes, one day at a time.

Let Go of Grudges: Have you ever been so angered by how a person treated you that you vowed to never forgive them? Perhaps their behavior caused you pain, or they were disloyal and disrespectful to your friendship. You’re may be left with feelings of resentment or sadness. When faced with this situation, you have two choices. First you can choose to carry a grudge which is not only against God’s word, but can also cause additional stress in your life. Second, you can choose to forgive that person, as we have all been forgiven for our sins. It may not be easy to do, but letting go is the healthiest option both physically and spiritually.

Spend More Time with God: Have you ever pondered the question “Why am I here on this earth?” One of the primary answers is that we are supposed to be working on our spiritual development. Take time each day to spend with God. Work every day on strengthening your relationship with Him. You might think that your plate is too full and you don’t have an extra 15-30 minutes a day. But trust me, you do. Start by lessening your daily distractions of such things as social media, television, etc. Make your focus to live a life of purpose and conviction.

Consistency and dedication are crucial components to any physical or spiritual fitness regimen. Develop an exercise plan and commit to it. Train ambitiously, and as each weight is lifted off your shoulders you will become stronger. Make every worship workout count.