If you have arthritis, you know how painful and difficult it can be to stay active.
But did you know that exercise can help alleviate some of the symptoms of arthritis? Not only can exercise help reduce joint pain and stiffness, but it can also improve your overall health and well-being.
Today, I’ll explore some Bible verses on exercise that can inspire and motivate you toward a more active lifestyle. You’ll also learn the benefits of having a faith-focused exercise routine.
Importance of exercise for health and wellness
It improves cardiovascular health.
Exercises are crucial for your heart and circulatory system. It improves the ability of your heart to pump blood efficiently, reduces the workload on your heart, and lowers your blood pressure.
Exercises help reduce the damage to your heart vessels by reducing inflammation. It also reduces the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol and improves the HDL (good) cholesterol, which removes cholesterol from your bloodstream.
It helps to reduce body sugar.
Exercises also help reduce your blood sugar level by increasing your insulin sensitivity. It allows your body to use insulin efficiently in transporting glucose from your bloodstream to your cells.
Exercising also increases glucose uptake by converting glucose in your bloodstream to the energy your muscle consumes.
Exercises reduce liver glucose production and muscle mass as well.
It helps to control weight.
When you exercise, you can burn calories faster, promoting weight loss.
And even when you are at rest (i.e., not exercising), your body can burn calories because of the increased muscle mass you’ve gathered, thanks to your consistent exercise routine.
Exercise can also aid in reducing body fat, suppressing your appetite, and improving body metabolism, which helps to control your overall body weight.
It boosts mood.
Exercising has been known to stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural mood boosters.
Exercise has also helped some people to relieve stress and improve sleeping conditions, which can be affected by chronic illnesses.
It can give you a sense of accomplishment and purpose and boost your self-esteem.
It improves sleep quality.
Exercise can improve your overall sleep quality by helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
Exercising well has also been linked to decreased sleep disturbances and increased deep sleep.
It helps to manage chronic conditions.
Exercise has been known to help manage chronic diseases like arthritis by reducing inflammation, improving cardiovascular health, weight loss, and improving insulin sensitivity.
It also has some mental health benefits and helps you increase muscle strength.
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Importance of faith-focused exercises
Faith-focused exercises help beyond physical wellness. So, it’s more than the activity; it’s about the health of your spirit and mind.
It glorifies God.
Faith-focused exercises glorify God by honoring the body He has given us, allowing us to develop a habit of gratitude and praise to God.
It draws us closer to Him and allows us to serve as witnesses to others.
To be joyful.
Faith-focused exercises help you to find joy in what you do and how you do it.
Exercises become more than an activity to tick off your list but something you do to feel fulfilled and happy.
It improves your spiritual well-being.
Faith-focused exercises help you to feel more connected to your faith and spirituality by giving you purpose, clarity, and a sense of direction.
To find purpose.
Nothing helps you find purpose more than faith-focused exercise.
It strengthens your drive because you are not just doing what others are doing but have a reason and a supernatural drive.
Bible verses on exercise with contexts
- Proverbs 31:17
“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.31.17.KJV
- 1 Timothy 4:7
“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/1ti.4.7.KJV
- 1 Timothy 4:8
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1ti.4.8
- Philippians 4:1
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.13.KJV
- 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.9.24-25.KJV
- 2 Timothy 1:7.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/2ti.1.7.KJV
- Proverbs 31:25
“Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.31.25.KJV
- Mark 3:27
“No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.3.27.KJV
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.6.19-20.KJV
- 1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.9.27.KJV
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.10.31.KJV
- Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/col.3.17.KJV
- Galatians 6:9
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.6.9.KJV
- Colossians 1:11
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
https://bible.com/bible/1/col.1.11.KJV
- Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/deu.31.6.KJV
- Romans 12:4
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.4.KJV
- Romans 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.1.KJV
- Isaiah 40:29-31
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.40.29-31.KJV
Exercises that you can do with arthritis
1. Yoga.
Yoga is a mindfulness exercise that can help you to focus your thoughts, reduce stress, and improve your mood.
2. Aerobic exercises.
Aerobic exercises can help boost your cardiovascular health and weight management and relieve symptoms.
Aerobic exercises include running, jogging, swimming, cycling, rowing, rope jumping, and HIIT workouts.
3. Stretching.
Stretching is a low-impact exercise that can help enhance flexibility and range of motion, which helps to relieve and improve arthritis symptoms.
4. Pilates.
Pilates is also a low-impact exercise that helps to increase flexibility and range of motion. You can take your time and work closely with an excellent personal trainer and your rheumatologist.
5. Hand exercises.
You can use several hand exercises to improve the range of motion in your hand joints and relieve arthritis symptoms.
It also helps to increase your flexibility.
6. Strength training.
Strength training exercises enhance your muscle strength and endurance. This way, your muscles can help your joints lift some weights.
Strength training exercises include weight lifting and the use of resistance bands.
Final thoughts
I hope you found these Bible verses on exercise helpful and inspiring.
Remember, exercise doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be a fun and fulfilling way to care for your body and improve your health. Whether walking, swimming, or doing yoga, know that God is with you every step.
As it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
So go ahead and get moving–your body (and your spirit) will thank you!
Do you have other Bible verses you use for fitness motivation?
READ ALSO: FAITH AND ARTHRITIS | HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST ARTHRITIS USING FAITH
