If your faith doesn’t feel as strong as you think it should be, it’s likely you’ve let your training schedule laps. It’s obvious what happens when we stop working out: our muscles relax, our strength fades, and our stamina wanes.
Faith is like that.
I had to restart my running after a recent heart attack. It was time to be serious about getting out on the road again. At first, it was all awkward routines, sore muscles, and internal whining. But after a few weeks, something shifted. My body began to crave the movement. My mornings felt off if I missed a day. Discipline eventually turns back into desire. Getting dressed for a run becomes a reflex.
Discipleship isn’t about big moments — it’s about small victories repeated faithfully. Leaning into your spiritual disciplines may not feel powerful each time. It’s over time, where the progress is made. It’s over time, where muscle memory kicks in,
The truth is, if you don’t rise to the level of your spiritual potential. Your faith becomes sedentary. Spiritual atrophy sets in.
Scripture
“Train yourself to be godly.”
— 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
This verse doesn’t say “hope to be godly” or “feel godly.” It says train — like an athlete, a soldier, or a craftsman. Repetition, not emotion, forges spiritual strength. It’s showing up when it’s tedious, hard, or inconvenient — because that’s when the muscle grows.
Jesus didn’t just pop in for Sabbath services. He withdrew regularly to pray. He quoted Scripture in the wilderness because He had spent time memorizing it. He forgave in real time because humility and love were already formed in Him through the daily discipline of walking with the Father.
So why do we think we can become men of God by accident? Or by hanging out with guys whose faith is stronger than ours.
Today’s Challenge: Start training your faith
Faith isn’t built in the spotlight, but in the reps. Let’s stop waiting for spiritual hype and start training with discipline.
Here’s how to start:
1. Pick One Habit.
Choose one simple habit to practice this week.
- Read one Psalm each morning.
- Pray for 5 minutes before checking your phone.
- Spend 5 minutes in silence.
Practice listening to God’s still, small voice.
2. Commit for 7 Days.
Just seven. Remember, you’re in training. If you lose a day, don’t stop, continue on.
3. Track the Reps.
Put a checkmark on your calendar. Watch how those small boxes start to add up. Each one is a moment you chose training over comfort. That’s what builds men of grit and godliness.
4. Don’t Wait to Feel Motivated.
Motivation doesn’t come naturally. There has to be something we want more than what we have. The excitement may not be there to read our Bibles, pray or confess our sins. Make it a priority anyway. It’s like eating or exercise. We first have to show up. God’s already there to meet you where you are.
5. Invite Accountability.
Tell a brother what you’re doing. Ask him to check in on your progress. Or better yet — do the habit together. Real growth doesn’t happen in isolation.
Final Thought
Men, spiritual strength doesn’t just happen. You train into it. You grow into it. You repeat until godliness becomes second nature.
When temptation hits, your muscle memory will either carry you or crush you. When stress rises, your habits will either anchor you or abandon you. Don’t wait for a crisis to discover what kind of man you’ve become. Start training today.
This week’s step: Pick one spiritual habit. Just one. Start today and don’t miss a day for the next 7. Show up, whether you feel it or not.
