You can love Jesus deeply and still struggle to take care of yourself physically.

A question came up several weeks ago that still has me thinking: “Why are so many pastors overweight?”

Honestly, it’s a fair question.

One of the challenges of ministry is that you can spend so much time caring for other people that taking care of yourself keeps getting pushed further down the list. Add family responsibilities, late nights, stress, meals on the run, and a schedule that never seems to stop, and unhealthy habits can creep in pretty quickly.

I understand it because I’ve lived it. I can always come up with a reason why the workout can wait, why grabbing something quick is easier, or why I’ll start making changes next week. But I also know plenty of people with demanding schedules who still make their health a priority. At some point, I have to stop making excuses for myself and start making changes.

I turn 50 next year, and one of my goals is to enter my 50s in the best shape of my life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it.

One thing has become pretty obvious: there aren’t any shortcuts.

Most of the progress I’ve made has simply come from showing up consistently, making better choices, and doing it again the next day.

Paul writes, “You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, (NLT)

For me, this is about stewardship. Stewarding the things God has blessed me with.

I want to take better care of the body God has given me. I want to have the energy to serve well, enjoy life with my family, and hopefully still be doing the things God has called me to do years from now.

That doesn’t mean I have to change everything overnight. In fact, most of the progress I’ve made hasn’t happened that way. Most of it has been pretty ordinary. Make a better choice. Do it again tomorrow. Get off track sometimes, then get back at it.

That’s really what Keep Running means to me.

It’s not about being perfect. I’m going to miss workouts. I’m going to eat things I probably shouldn’t. There will be days when I’m motivated and plenty of days when I’m not.

For me, it simply means I don’t want to stop growing just because I’m getting older.

The phrase or charge to “Keep Running” applies to more than fitness. In fact, it comes from Hebrews 12 where we are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.” Keep Running his a reminder for me to keep growing spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

At 49, I confess that I still have a lot of growing to do, and hopefully a lot of race left to run and so do you!

Keep Running!!!