'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and might' (Deut 6:4)

It's Spring, and many of us are enjoying again the benefits of outdoor exercise. We are walking our dogs, running the walking tracks, bushwalking, swimming, and the like. We all lead busy lives, and incorporating this exercise time with our prayer time works astoundingly well.



When walking ~ Lord, may my feet follow the path which you have chosen for me. May I place my feet exactly inside your footsteps. With each stride, may I become more determined to follow your will. Show me, Lord, and direct my paths this day, I pray.



When running: Holy Spirit, please fill me with each breath that I take. As I exhale, take out all that is unholy. Lord, please take over my life, and run it for me. Take me at the pace which I am best able to perform.



When bushwalking or hiking: Lord, please direct me in the right was. Your word is a light for my feet, so please show me where to go next in my life. Give me the direction I need so that no time is lost or energy spent on things which are not Your best for me.



Swimming: Lord, as I swim, I am reminded of endurance, Give me endurance to follow you and continure to the very end. Even when I become tired and feel that one more lap is too much, give me the strength to endure the unendurable. In this lesson, help me to learn to hang in there with you even when to the going gets so tough that I feel like giving up. Thank you Lord, that you never give up on me.



Dancing: Lord, give me a Spirit of gentle Grace which comes form you alone. Help me, as I live out Your plan for my life, to become more loving with my partner, more aware of my neighbours, and fill me with love for all people. Help me to become more loving, and open to hear the music of Your voice and it stirs me to action. Give me a true sense of Your life's rhythm for me.



Aerobics: As I puff and pant, pushing and straining to keep up with the beat, remind me to keep alert to always work diligently for you, to strain to reach my very best for You. Give me the energy I need to fulfill the work you have allotted me.Keep my eyes always focused on You and look always to you for guidance, every step of the way.



On Cool Down: Lord, my knees ache, and I am perspiring all over. Yet with all this I realise that I am becoming increasingly healthy. I am more flexible, strong and I know all this will be worth it. Help me to always know that my health is a gift from you.Thank you for my body as it is now, and thank you for the way my body is getting even fitter. May my soul also be likewise growing in flexibility, strength, and courage. I realise afresh that growing in God is also a process. Help me grow more like you today, dear Lord.



Relaxation: I am a person surounded by the loving arms of my Lord. Thank you Father, that I may rest now, and bring me Your gift of Peace. May I realise afresh that I have you holding me, carrying me, and show me when I need to slow down and wait quietly for your sweet rest to comfort me some more. Let me never rush away from this time with You, for here I find my deepest needs met.



When I am too Ill to Exercise: Lord, I thank you for the time I have available to me which otherwise I would be using differently. Give me fresh hope, new vision, a knowledge of your great love for me, and a real awarenes that you will heal me in Your own way and time. Show me everything which I am able to do today to help my body to become well again. If that means absolute rest, grant me patience to fulfil this task. I need Your strength to carry me through this phase of my life. Thank you that I am never alone, and please grant me your calm, grace and gentleness with myself at this time.



Utlizing prayer in conjunction with our physical activity, helps us stay centred, the time passes more quickly, and our bodies, souls and spirits are all energised in the one activity.



Enjoy as you exercise your body, mind and spirit!


Christine M. Jones
http://www.dropletsfromlife.blogspot.com