Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR: Discover why exercise is critical for Kingdom Family Leaders and how physical fitness connects to spiritual stewardship. Learn the truth about stamina and physical health – there’s no steady state, you’re either improving or declining – and how daily exercise helps you be present for your children and grandchildren as they grow up.
What?
When’s the last time you exercised? I hope the answer is just a few minutes ago, because as Kingdom Family Leaders, we need to take care of and treasure our body. Our body is the temple for the Holy Spirit.
When we look at the morning savers that we’ve been going through this week – silence, affirmations, visualization – exercise is E and that’s today’s topic. Exercise is critical.
I was talking to my 9-year-old yesterday about soccer practice where they were running and running and running a lot. And he’s like, “Oh, man.” And I said, “Your stamina doesn’t really stay in one place. It’s either increasing or decreasing.” It’s funny, I never used the word stamina when I was a kid, but all these video games have stamina in it. So stamina, endurance, whatnot.
That’s the same with our physical health. As we get older, as adult Christian men, as we get older as people, our bodies need that recharge. They need that exercise, they need that stress. Particularly if we have an office job – I’ve even got a sit-stand desk. But I try to get out and exercise every day and do a little bit of that fitness to maintain this beautiful body.
Why?
This experience revealed something crucial about physical stewardship as Kingdom leaders: there is no steady state, there is no just sitting still. You’re either improving or declining. This principle applies not just to video game stamina meters but to our actual physical health and endurance.
As Kingdom Family Leaders, we have a responsibility to steward our bodies well because they are the holy temple for the Holy Spirit. This isn’t vanity or self-focus – it’s stewardship of what God has given us and preparation for long-term service.
The reality is that if we have office jobs or sedentary lifestyles, our bodies need intentional stress and exercise to counteract the effects of sitting and inactivity. Without regular exercise, our physical capacity naturally declines, which affects our ability to serve effectively and be present for our families long-term.
Lesson
Exercise as part of the morning savers isn’t just about fitness – it’s about being a good steward of the body God has given you. I’m still losing a little bit of weight and getting to my ideal weight and performance, but I also want to be strong so that we can be around for our grandkids and for our kids as they grow up and get older.
The key insight is that physical fitness directly connects to your ability to fulfill your calling as a Kingdom Family Leader over the long term. If you don’t maintain your physical health, you limit your capacity to serve your family, lead others, and build God’s kingdom effectively.
You don’t have to do the morning savers in the same order or the same way, but you have to do them somehow to become the better you that God has intended for you. Exercise can be adapted to your situation, schedule, and physical capabilities, but it needs to be part of your routine.
This connects to the larger principle that Kingdom leaders must be disciplined in all areas of life, including physical stewardship. Just like we need spiritual disciplines for spiritual growth, we need physical disciplines for physical health and longevity in service. It’s just good leadership!
Apply
If you don’t have exercise on your daily routine, maybe it’s time to take a look at the morning savers and apply them to your life. Consider what type of exercise would work best for your current situation and schedule.
Write down in the Doobly Doo: What’s your current physical condition and exercise routine? What one change could you make this week to better steward your body as the holy temple for the Holy Spirit? Remember, your stamina is either increasing or decreasing – which direction are you heading?
Think about your long-term vision: Do you want to be strong and present for your children and grandchildren as they grow up? What kind of physical condition do you need to maintain to fulfill your calling as a Kingdom Family Leader for the next 20-30 years?
Start small if needed, but start consistently. Even 10-15 minutes of daily movement can begin to reverse the decline and start building the strength and endurance you need for long-term Kingdom service.
You be blessed!
Morning Savers Part 4: Exercise as Stewardship of Your Holy Temple
