Putting Yourself Into Prayer

My very self You knew. My bones were not hidden from You when I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth (Ps. 139: 15)

As some of you know, I turned 50 at the end of September. One of the things I decided to do to kind of mark the occasion was to give myself the gift of fitness. It’s been years since I got any regular exercise (chasing down information in the office doesn’t count!), and my doctor has been pushing me to get some sort of regular exercise program going. A few days after my birthday, I had dinner with one of my nieces. I hadn’t seen her for some time and couldn’t help but notice how terrific she looked. So I asked her what she’s been doing. She told me that she had started working out at CardioBarre, a new fitness facility that opened in Eagle Rock a year or so ago. She told me she's been going there twice a week for about 4 months. That was all it took. I started going myself a few days later, and I can already feel a difference.

As often happens when people embark on an exercise program after an extended period of inactivity, you discover muscles you forgot you had, and you have to retrain parts of your body all over again. This particular program combines aerobics and ballet movements, working with hand weights (1-3 lbs each). The focus on grace, balance and strength really makes you appreciate the incredible creation that the human body is. As the Psalmist tells us, we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14).

But I have also discovered that I have to maintain a balance about this “body stuff” lest I become fixated on myself. St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Our bodies are not our own to abuse and do with what we wish; we are to glorify God in our bodies (cf. 1Cor. 6:19-20). Last night while I was working out, I felt inspired to pray for people I know. (You have to do something to distract yourself when your muscles are burning :-) !) I prayed in particular for friends and family members who are facing serious illnesses and offered up my small pains that God would heal their sufferings. It might sound strange, but the prayer takes on a different level when you (quite literally) put your whole body into it.

I find it an amazing thing that even something as mundane as a workout can be turned into prayer. But our God is so lavishly generous. His abundant grace never fails to assist us in using everything in our lives as a means to come to Him.

Prayer Request: For those who are facing serious illnesses.

Prayer: O Lord, our God, thank You for the gift of our bodies. Forgive us for the times that we have abused them, or used them in ways that don't conform to Your plan. Help us to surrender ourselves completely to Your grace. Use us as You will to perform Your saving works for Your people in need. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.