Movement Mindset

This post is by Shaina Weisgerber.

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God”

I dreaded PE class. Growing up I was the girl who walked her laps. The stabbing, burning pain while I ran was unbearable. “Do people actually do this for fun?” I asked myself. I tried a few sports growing up, but I did not relish the training, the conditioning it took to be able to perform those sports, so I never excelled or enjoyed athletics. I still struggle with the concept of movement in my everyday life. Not until recently did I realize how important moving my body truly is. 

Move is the third step in our Hello Mornings routine: God. Plan. Move. The first two steps in our routine come very naturally for me! I enjoy Bible study, prayer, journaling and being with the Lord. I may or may not obsess over my new planner every year, pens, organizing tools, etc. I truly look forward to and love cultivating God time and Plan time. Movement though, not so much. I am not sure if it is my mid-thirties metabolism, the need to keep up with my active girls, or the desire to truly live an honest and healthy lifestyle, perhaps all three, but movement has edged its way into my life. I am actually enjoying it. 

My tip for this step in Hello Mornings is this, change your mindset about movement. 

Let me tell you, movement does not come easy for me. It is something that takes accountability, encouragement, and effort. What I have found through getting myself moving is this; God is right there with me, just as He is when I have the Bible open. He’s on the treadmill, at the weight bench. He is next to you while pushing the stroller through your neighborhood; He’s coaching you along on those last few minutes or miles that your throat is burning and you just want to quit. Whatever intensity you are operating at, He has not left you to endure on your own. 

Movement is a part of our worship. Movement allows us to meet God in a different way, with our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Listening to worship music is a plus as we jog, walk, or breathe deeply, but hear me out, just moving is the actual worship. Allowing our bodies, that God created, to breathe, move, stretch, and endure is a part of our act of worship. I know it sounds silly almost, but when we allow our bodies to do what they were created to do, we allow God to do what only He can do from the inside out.  

Kat talks about starting with just 3-10 deep breaths per morning as your Move goal. Y’all, that is exactly where I started. I was not in a routine of exercising. I was not in a routine at all. 

Start small. Just breathe. Invite Him into your body. Let Him begin to work through you and as you allow Him access to you through movement, you will begin to discover that He wants to dwell in you and work through you in every area. 

We don’t have to start our journey of movement with a 5k. We just have to start. Let yourself be transformed by the renewing of your mind as you consider that the movement of our bodies is a part of our act of worship. He is with you! He is for you and He will never leave you! 

We’re on this journey together, friend!

Shaina is a wife, mother and Worship Pastor in the Texas Panhandle. She enjoys being at home with her family, or out with her family, coffee dates with friends, going to her grandparents’ home in the mountains, reading, cooking, writing, and teaching on occasion.

Photo by Arek Adeoye on Unsplash