The One Goal I'm Failing In

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I'm just finishing the third month of my four-month sabbatical. It has been a great journey of rest and drawing closer to God, my family, and the people around me. I have greatly benefited from this and am excited to complete the journey, seeing how God uses this time to bear more fruit in my life and ministry at Greenbelt Church. 

Back in November, I shared my Sabbatical plan here on the blog. While I ended up reading very different books, most of the plan has stuck. I've seen great results in all areas... except one...

My Fitness and Weight Loss Goals

I've tried multiple workout programs, apps, and routines. None have given me the results that I've seen in the past from 2020 to 2023. 

The reality is, the issue isn't the routine; it's me. I need to refocus and get back to some key basics. 

If you've struggled with healthy living and exercise, then maybe these are questions you need to answer as well!

1. What is your "Why?"

Why do you REALLY want to exercise? Is it simply to lose weight, look good, or feel healthier? What is your motivating factor? If you can't clearly define it, you can't clearly stick to it!

I defined my "Why?" back in 2020. Honestly, with all that has been going on for the past couple of years in life and ministry, I've let my "Why?" drift into the background. It wasn't front and center and driving me, especially for the past 3 months.

My "Why?" has to do with my passion to follow and serve the Lord. I want to be able to fully live out the call that the Father has on my life. The Bible mentions several times to "run the race".

Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight that hinders and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." 

1 Corinthians 9:24: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.".

Now, I know these verses are talking about our spiritual life in Jesus. However, there is a physical component to this that I believe is very important. In order for me to live out my spiritual life, my physical life should be healthy as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This verse shows that God is working in our spirit, soul, and body! I want all three to be where God wants them to be.

I believe God is calling me to a new level of fruitfulness. I've had a vision for quite some time of our church blessing and having an impact on 1% of the people in our city. I dream of 100 spirit-filled, Jesus-following, Bible teaching churches, each impacting 1% for the glory of God.

For me to be ready for that, I need to be healthy: spirit, soul, and BODY!

I want to run the race that God has before me! I want to be able to live out what he calls me to do. I don't want my poor health to get in the way. 

That's my "Why?"! I want to be healthy to live out God's call. It's not about simply looking good. It's not even just about being healthy. It's to live my life in a way to bring more glory to God.

What is your "Why?" You need to know it.

2. What Keeps Derailing You?

We all know that making big changes in our lives is not easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it!

Are you able to pinpoint what tends to happen after a few days or weeks into your wellness journey? Do you recognize any patterns that happen that derail you?

Do you get bored? Do you feel like it's not working? Is it too hard or too easy? Do you have trouble finding the time?

For me, it stopped being fun!

When I was working out in 2020 to 2024, I was having a blast! I loved the program I was doing. It was fun, it was goofy, it was serious. It just hit every one of my fun buttons! 

Since having to move on from that program, I just haven't been having any fun exercising.

I hate the gym! I REALLY, REALLY hate the gym. I hate gym culture. It feels like a fashion show and everyone is filming themselves. I feel like an old man completely out of place in the gym.

I hate generic fitness apps all created by AI, and generic computer "how-to" videos. It lacks all personality.

Part of the fun before was using my journey to bless others. Documenting, tracking, making videos and encouraging others was a big part of the fun for me. I haven't been doing that since October.

In order to not be derailed, I'm going back to having more fun!

What about you? What is derailing you? Address it!

And finally...

3. Are your routines designed for your life?

When it comes to fitness, I think we bite off more than we can chew. We dream of going to the gym for an hour every day. Or walking 10,000 steps every morning before work.

Lots of times, people don't stick with their exercise routine, not because they are not motivated, it's because it just doesn't fit with their lifestyle.

Is the workout too long? Too many days of the week? Does it require too much setup or travel time? Is it not aligned with your energy levels or other family commitments?

These are important questions to answer.

I like things to be simple. I like clear teaching and easy instructions to follow.

So many of the fitness programs and apps I've been trying are just not simple. They expect a level of familiarity and just jump right into it. They don't guide or help me build a routine in the program. They don't take fitness levels into consideration. 

And because it's not simple, it just doesn't fit with me.

Knowing this, it really helps me to focus on a routine that will work. I don't want to deal with equipment and setups, I don't want to travel, or wait around for machines to be available. 

What works for your life? Have you considered that in your exercise?

How to stop Failing

I want to share a little story with you. Back in 2020, with all that was going on in the world, God used my fitness journey to keep me strong spiritually. It would have been very easy to get caught up in so many of the issues the culture was going through and be derailed spiritually. I'm so grateful to God for bringing that fitness journey and friends into my life to keep me focused.

Now, in 2025, I believe God has used my spiritual journey to get me back on track in my fitness journey. The past 3 months, I've been so blessed to focus on my relationship with God and the wellness of my soul and spirit. As I enter the final month of my Sabbatical, I believe God has done a great work to help me now get the physical part of my journey going in the direction he has for me.

It will be simple.

It will be fun.

It will be for God's glory.

I'll be documenting the journey here on the blog. I hope this will encourage you on your journey.


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