Free & Fit Lenten Study - Week Three: Word, Workout & Worship - by Tim Cheux
Free & Fit Lenten Study - Week Three: Word, Workout & Worship - by Tim Cheux
Jesus Saying for the Week:
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
— John 19:26–27
Collect for the Week
Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Collect for The Day
Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Collect for Peace
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord,
in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life,
whose service is perfect freedom;
defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies;
that we, surely trusting in thy defence,
may not fear the power of any adversaries;
through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Scripture Reading for the Week:
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me, And let us lift up His name together.
I sought the Lord [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant; Their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him from all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience], And He rescues [each of] them.
O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.
O [reverently] fear the Lord, you His saints (believers, holy ones);
For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions lack [food] and grow hungry,
But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.”
Psalms 34:1-10 AMP
Scripture Passage:
https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.34.1-10.AMP
Activity for the Week:
Find a prayer partner! Assign yourself a prayer person a partner and have every member of your group have a prayer partner! Help Tim out here!
The partners must agree to check in with each other at least once a week, at a preestablished time, to see how their Lenten commitments are going. Encourage prayer people to be honest in their reports and invite them to support one another with notes of encouragement throughout the week.
Workout for The Week:
3 x 17
Warm Up
Walk, Jog, Run
Lords Prayer
Jesus Prayer
Arms
4 x 17
Wide Stretch Arms
Jumping Jack Arms
Up and Down Arm
Small Arm Circles (8)
Large Arm Circles (9)
Legs
4 x 17
Leg Lifts
Leg Circles
Leg Cycles
Wide Stretch Legs (8)
Jumping Jack Legs (9)
Core
4 x 17
Push Ups
Bridges (8)
Sit Ups (9)
Cycle Crunches
Prayer & Plank to Psalm 33
Warm Down
Jog, Walk, Jog, Walk
Jesus Prayer
Lords Prayer
Instagram Workout for the Week:
Reflection for the Week:
Have you ever been to a food tasting sample event? Where you can taste all the food before you buy it and often don’t end up buying hardly anything? Often in our Western civilized society we are offered many things to test our five senses, to tempt us and to ultimately get us to to yield to buying, purchasing or supporting a specific brand, product or service. Although these selections are not bad intrinsically in themselves, if we continuously yield to them, if we form patterns of unhealthy buying behaviors and if we get consumed by such earthly materials it can become a more serious issues.
The Psalmist for today recognizes their need to focus their ultimate attention on God and to build a relationship which includes all our attention, focus and energy on God. The one true living God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Psalmist proclaims “O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good!” Instead of consuming physical food or drink the Psalmist is referencing our spiritual food. To pray is to speak to God, to Worship is to is to sing to God, to read Scripture we can hear from God and to proclaim Gods promises of old through Witness and Testimony we can petition to heaven for help with our daily lives and in Community in Fellowship at Church we can Taste and See God at Work in all of our lives in Jesus name!
As Christians we have the fortunate privilege of being able to Worship God in all we do, their is no restriction or requirement for us to do so, but in all we do we can give God thanks and Praise. The Psalmist is overjoyed to share “How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.” We can all turn to God in the small things, in the big things and in the mundane things. Through prayer we can be confident of what comes next: eternal life. In heaven we get to permanently Taste and See that the Lord is good! In Jesus name. Amen
Let us Pray…
Father we thank you for a new day, to be assured of your mercies which are new every morning and to proclaim your name everyday. We love you, we Praise you and we seek you in all we do in Jesus name. Amen
Question to Ponder for the Week:
Where do you see examples of the two practices of Faith and Fitness in a Workout & Worship format together?
It is fairly recently to me that I have seen others truly incorporate the practice of these two concepts formed as one. When you consider so many sports ministries, sports teams and fitness or recreational activities take place its difficult to believe that so few would consider encompassing faith and fitness as one spiritual discipline. The Workout and Worship model from the “Faith and Fitness as One curriculum” focuses primarily on this unique approach and some people have recently incorporated mindfulness and running or walking and completing a labyrinth or hiking and focusing on Gods presence yet the actual discipline of morning, lunch time and evening prayer being a mental, physical, social and spiritual focus remains fairly new to most people.
This includes examples such as Revelation Wellness, Faith RX, Holi Yoga and Psalms & Stretches. However, each approach may not incorporate the ancient practices of liturgical or said prayers whilst moving and meditating. Perhaps liturgical dance, a modern arts movement, can provide a good example and similar physical model.
One of my dear friends who introduced the concept of Faith and Fitness to me, who first introduced me to Praying the Lords Prayer whilst stretching, has always been bringing these two ancient concepts together as one and has done so since primary school. Through yoga and pilates exercise she has built daily routines into her own Bible Readings and cycle of prayer, stretching and strengthening her body, mind and spirit as one to the Lord in Worship and Working out together through intentional formational morning and evening prayer routines.
In her own words, not mine, she describes them as follows:
“I see faith and fitness in more places than I have ever realized, for I know that God hears our heart and I know when we are healthy in mind and body, the spirit is more clearly seen and experienced. I see it when I see walkers strolling by my home exercising in peace, taking in nature while moving their god-given bodies and stepping away from worldly distractions and defeat. I see it when people bravely and humbly show up for a group exercise class, and I see faith and fitness when friends honor a commitment to take back control of their fiercest battleground over and over again.
The message isn’t one of branding, but rather of honoring the Father, Creator and Giver of our lives and breath, by utilizing this very physical body in life and breath. We must also help others in the church to recognize the opportunity, to overcome fear, in their physical selves as being victorious in spiritual battles and for those outside the faith, or whose faith is disconnected from body, we must help bring the same honor, humility, for the bodies we’ve been given. It’s only through Gods mercy, love and grace that we’ll ever feel be fit for the kingdom. Just as faith without works is dead, we too waste away without faith and fitness at work alive and active in our bodies everyday.”
In conclusion, we are all able to take these two concepts, not as part of a business, certification program or curriculum, but as a personal prayer life with living out our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
From ancient history and pagan tradition we know that Olympics and recreational dance and movement exercises similar to Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Islamic religious traditions in the past.
Yet, the focus on Jesus, the devotion and daily said prayers can be uniquely accredited to Christianity through the Lords Prayer and Jesus Prayer when practiced daily at morning, lunch time and evening prayer. Therefore, we must throw off every evil that entangles us and set us free from sin, addiction and shame through the Power of the Holy Spirit to pursue Faith and Fitness as One in Jesus name. Amen
Scripture for the Week Psalm 100:4-5 - Thanksgiving Prayer
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name. For Jehovah is good; his lovingkindness endureth for ever, And his faithfulness unto all generations.”
Psalms 100:4-5 ASV
https://bible.com/bible/12/psa.100.4-5.ASV
Workout & Worship Examples:
Workout & Worship Blog:
Workout & Worship In Lent:
Love & Blessings F&F Team
Reach out to us and sign up via www.freenfit.org
Free & Fit Mission
Free & Fit mission to build community through Sports, the Arts, Outreach & Service.
Free & Fit Vision
Free & Fit Vision The vision of free and fit course is to engage, motivate, improve and hence find freedom in a physical and spiritual state. As such the freedom that leads to a peaceful heart; leads to a healthy body.
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pg/freeandfitchallenge
Twitter&Instagram: @freeandfitnyc
Full details of our Release and Waiver here: https://www.freenfit.org/post/free-fit-nyc-exercise-participation-in-online-sessions-release-waive
Thank you for reading and agreeing to these terms. Please email any questions to: Freeandfitnyc@gmail.com Sign up to our events online: www.freenfit.org
Freedom // Fitness // Fellowship
Free & Fit Challenge © Copyright 2022
Free & Fit NYC/NJ © Copyright 2022
Free & Fit London © Copyright 2022
