Before the Barbells

Some people keep a simple rule: Bible before barbells. Before the workout, before the email, before the news, time with God comes first. It is a short phrase, but it settles a lot of decisions in advance.

Jesus lived by that kind of order. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Before the crowds, before the healing, before the teaching, he prayed.

Training is good. A healthy body serves your family and your work well. But it makes a good second thing and a poor first thing. When your body gets the best of your morning and God gets the leftovers, the order is off.

You don’t have to choose between them. You just have to put them in the right order. Pray, read, then train. Let your strongest muscle be the one that runs to God first.