While we know that exercise is good for us, let’s just look at some of the benefits of walking and how that can change your body.   I listed 10 benefits of aerobic exercise in a recent post. This is a summary of that post:

1. Exercise increases your stamina and endurance.

2. Exercise reduces stress.

3. Exercise reduces your risk for heart disease and stroke.

 4. Exercise strengthens your immune system.

5. Exercise strengthens your bones and joints.

6. Exercise decreases your appetite.

7. Exercise will increase the number of calories you burn

8. Exercise will strengthen your heart and lungs so that they will work more efficiently.

9. Exercise decreases a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

10. Exercise decreases your blood pressure and blood cholesterol.

I believe we can all agree exercise is obviously good for us, and when we focus on all the benefits, that can help encourage us to get up and do it!  I’m telling you it is a blessing – it has great benefits to us. God designed our bodies so wonderfully, so magnificently that when we use them like we’re supposed to, they get stronger.

Now you take all those benefits of exercise and you add godliness.

Years ago, the Lord showed me how to pray His Word over my time of exercise.  I wrote the following prayer on a card and had it in front of my treadmill – and I prayed it every time I would exercise.   This prayer is so powerful because it is based on the truth of God’s Word.  The scriptures listed are all included in the prayer.

Father God,

I present my body to You as a living sacrifice.  I offer this time of exercise to You as a time of worship – to glorify You in my body.  I purpose in my heart to sow self control, endurance and faithfulness, and I believe I receive a hundred fold return.  I earnestly expect to become more and more like Jesus;  therefore, I press on toward that goal for the prize of my high calling.  I decree that with every step I take, I am increasing in health, strength and discipline.  Thank you for anointing me to succeed as I prove Your good and perfect will in my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Romans 12:1

Galatians 6:7-9

Romans 8:29

I Corinthians 6:20

Galatians 5:22-23

Philippians 3:14

I John 2:27

2 Corinthians 9:7

Matthew 13:23

Romans 12:2

This prayer is intended to give you a starting point to build and exercise your faith. It will help you renew your mind to what the Word says about your body. Pray this prayer and mix your faith with it. As you look up the 10 scripture references that this prayer is based on, study them and read them out loud, your faith will grow. Ask God to reveal to you what you need to know. It’s important that you understand what God’s desire is just for you.