The new year is a time that many of us start new training programs. We decide to use the fresh beginning to practice some better habits that we hope will become a normal way of living come December. Maybe you are one who decided to go to the gym this year, or eat fewer desserts. All of that is good for your body. Have you considered the need to train for godliness?

Paul wrote to Timothy, Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:7-8). I think physical training is hard sometimes. Training for godliness is even harder but, as Paul points out, it has results that will matter now and in heaven. Every time I turn down a brownie and keep my commitment to my exercise routine I am doing something of value. I am helping to promote health in my decaying body. The choices I make now can have huge impact in the next twenty years. If I keep my cholesterol down I will be less likely to have heart disease. But all the training I do for godliness has payoffs now, in the next twenty years and for eternity.

Most of us know what we should be eating and how much we should be exercising, but what should we be doing to train for godliness? One point contained in this scripture is to have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales. Basically what Paul is saying is that we need to recognize what is worthless in this world. Our world is full of God’s presence and the creation He loves. It is also full of worthless realities that too many of us are focused. We train in godliness when we recognize the things that distract us from God.

Physical training goes against my nature. I do not want to get up earlier so I can push my body to complete my physical exercise routine. I want to sleep a little longer. I want to get right into a hot shower rather than sweat and get dirtier. I go against my nature to train for a healthier life. It’s the same in my training for godliness. I have to go against my nature. It is only natural for me to want to rush through my devotions in the morning rather than take the time to sit and be quiet and really hear what God has to say to me for the day. Naturally, I feel the urge to get on with my list of things to do and do not want to be interrupted by the sales call in the middle of my morning. It’s not natural for me to really look at the sunrise and praise the God whose mercies are new every morning. I’ve learned that in training for godliness, I have to force myself to do things that are unnatural for me. I have to make myself think of God first thing in the morning, and one day it becomes the most natural thought on my mind. I need to carve out time in my day to read my Bible and pray and before long I begin craving a word from God and can’t wait to have this time.

What are you doing to train for godliness? Each year we need to evaluate where we are and where we have been and where we are going. It is hard work, but, as Paul pointed out, the rewards are for here and in the future.