(Նեեմիա
6:3)
Վերանորոգման աշխատանք եմ սկսել,
Սանաբաղատն ու Տուբիան ինձ չեն կարող շեղել,
Բազմիցս եմ նրանց հրավերը մերժել,
Մտադիր եմ աղոթքիս պարիսպը նորոգել:
Չեմ ուզում որ աշխատանքս դադարի,
Որովհետև մեծ գործով եմ զբաղված,
Ոչ մի հրավեր ինձ չի հրապուրի,
Աստծո գործին մասնակցելու եմ կանչված:
Գիտեմ, թշնամին փորձելու է ինձ նորից
կանչել
Բայց ես նույն պատասխանն եմ ամեն անգամ տալու,
«Չեմ իջնի իմ պարսպից, շարունակելու եմ նորոգել»,
Իմ պատասխանը երբեք չի փոխվելու:
Չեմ վախենա նրանց սպառնալիքներից,
Տերն է իմ ձեռքերը զորացնում,
Չեմ խաբվի նրանց խորամանկ հնարքներից,
Նորոգման գործս Նա է առաջնորդում:
Մինչ կառուցում եմ, պատերազմը չի դադարում,
Մի ձեռքումս ծեփիչն է, մյուսով Հոգու
սուրն
եմ
պահում,
Հավատքով ու աղոթքով պարիսպս եմ ամրացնում,
Ամենազոր Տերն է աշխատանքս հսկում:
Այս գործը Նա է սկսել, Նա էլ կավարտի,
Թշնամու ջանքը իզուր կլինի,
«Սանաբաղատի» ձայնը մի օր կլռի,
Աղոթքիս պարիսպը ամուր կկանգնի:
Հռիփսիմե Մկրտչյան
13.08.25
Day 7
Faith Fitness in Fellowship
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… but exhorting one
another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Spiritual workouts are effective not only when exercising alone, but
also in the group with other persons who
want to be trained in godliness. Just as physical training becomes more effective in a
group—with a coach to guide and peers to encourage—so also spiritual growth
flourishes in the fellowship of believers.
A personal study of the Bible is helpful, and fellowship
with God's children is more effective
because we learn from each other. Prayer is necessary both alone and in group.
To learn to pray, I should pray both
alone and with other christians. It is necessary to resist the temptation of
sin, and it will be even easier when we
hear the testimony of people who have overcome the same temptation, and when
they pray for us to overcome. The original Church knew the importance of
Christian fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46).
God’s Word urges us not to neglect meeting together,
but to encourage and exhort one another—especially as we see the Day of Christ
drawing near (Hebrews 10:25). Fellowship is not optional for those training in
godliness.
We are called
to:
Encourage
one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Instruct one another (Romans 15:14)
Serve one another with our spiritual gifts (1 Peter
4:10)
When God works in our lives, He teaches His Word,
delivers us from sin, and we testify about these things, we strengthen our faith and the faith of our listeners. Remembering the
promises of the Lord trains our faith, reminding others of His promises trains
the faith of all of us. The hope of the coming of our Lord helps us to be
patient, watchful, and sanctified, and when we talk about it with the children
of God, we all wake up and strive to be sanctified.
Therefore he who practices godliness does not train
alone, but with other Christians. Christian fellowship is a must. If I want to
have a progress in sanctification, I must first have communion with the Holy
One, my Lord, and also with the sanctified ones, His children. In order to
become a prayer warrior, I must not only persevere in the habit of prayer, but
also have prayerful friends. A Christian girl should surround herself with the
daughters of God.
The church is a
spiritual gym for us to train in godliness.
Fitness
Parallels
·
Team Drills:
Just as gym partners prevent injury, believers “spot” one another—lifting each
other’s burdens, correcting form in love, and stepping in when someone’s faith
grows weary (Galatians 6:2).
·
Group HIIT:
Prayer circles are spiritual High-Intensity Interval Training—bursts of
intercession and agreement that ignite collective faith (Matthew 18:20).
·
Cool-Down
Circle:
Testimonies are like post-workout protein shakes—rich in spiritual nutrients
that restore hope and rebuild weary hearts.
·
Church as
Gym:
The local church is God's fitness center: pastors serve as coaches who help us
correct our form, fellow believers cheer us on, and the Holy Spirit is our
ever-present Trainer (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Topical
meditation
May 31st, 2020
Day 6
Voices
lifted, Spirits trained
Singing
is not only an exercise for singers to train their voices, but also a spiritual
exercise for those who want to train in godliness. If the song is based on
scriptures and praises God, exhorts the children of God, then it can train in
godliness.
Singing
praise trains gratitude in the heart, brings joy, reminds us of the Lord's
love, mercy, His great deeds, reminds us of God's Word, helps to exhort,
encourage God's children.
’’Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord’’. Colossians 3:16
The
spiritual song teaches, exhorts and encourages to trust in God , to be
thankful, to live a holy life, to pray. Singing the song "Sweet hour of
prayer" is an exercise for the spirit of prayer. He who sings with all his
heart "Trust and obey" will
learn to trust and obey God. He who sings "Only believe" exhorts not
only listeners to believe in God, but also himself. He who sings ‘’Nearer my
God to Thee’’, longs for holiness and God’s
presence and encourages the listeners to do the same. The song which is
inspired of Spirit, is a spiritual
workout for those who sing it
heartfully.
Topical
meditation
May 30th 2020
Day 5
Self-Examination – Strength Training for Character
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” — 2
Corinthians 13:5
Self-examination
is a vital part of our daily spiritual workout. Just as physical strength
training develops muscles, self-examination builds character and spiritual
strength.
I
must regularly examine my actions, thoughts, motivations, goals, words, habits,
and even how I spend my leisure time. But this is not a casual glance—it must
be done in the light of God's Word, with sincerity, reverence, and a
willingness to change.
Self-examination
protects us from hypocrisy, pride, and spiritual carelessness. When I honestly
confront my sins and weaknesses, it leads to repentance, humbles me, stirs a
desire to change, and deepens my prayers. It teaches me to forgive others more
easily, to flee from temptation, and to stay alert spiritually.
When
I discover growth and progress through self-examination, it strengthens my
faith, fuels my gratitude, and increases my joy.
Self-examination
also helps us detect the enemy’s traps and avoid them. It renews our minds by
identifying harmful patterns of thinking and replacing them with God’s truth.
So, self-examination is a necessity.
Fitness
Parallels
Mirror Drill:
Just as
athletes check their form in a mirror, we must examine ourselves through the
mirror of Scripture (James 1:23–25).
▪ Spot Your Form: Compare your thoughts and motives to God’s Word.
▪ Correct Imbalances: Repentance is like dropping pride to lift humility.
▪ Isolate Weak Areas: Identify one sin and do focused “repentance reps.”
Flexibility Parallel:
Stretching
prevents injury; humility prevents hardening. When God reveals sin, surrender
stretches us toward grace, keeping our hearts soft and responsive to Him.
Reflection
▪ What did I notice about my inner life today when I
looked through Scripture’s mirror?
▪ Is there a
“weak muscle” in my character that needs focused training in repentance and
renewal?
Topical
meditation
May 29th, 2025
The study of the Bible is both spiritual nourishment and active training—it feeds us like a meal and drills us like a workout.
Just as athletes must eat
healthy food to stay strong, those who pursue godliness must be nourished by
God’s Word. Scripture is the soul’s diet, giving us strength, clarity, and
endurance. Reflecting on the Word of God is a powerful exercise: it builds
faith (Romans 10:17), trains discernment, imparts wisdom, and fills us with
joy—and the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
God’s Word also shapes our
prayers. When we read His commandments, we pray for obedience. When we read His
promises, we pray to trust and receive them. When we read of godly lives, we
ask to live likewise. When we read of sin, we pray for protection and purity.
When we read about God’s mighty works, mercy, and love, our hearts are stirred
to praise and thanksgiving.
So, if I want to have a trained faith, joy,
discernment, a spirit of prayer, I will meditate on God's Word every day.
Fitness
Parallels
Feast:
Scripture is a banquet for the soul—feeding us with
joy (Nehemiah 8:10), wisdom (Psalm 119:130), and conviction (Hebrews 4:12).
Fitness:
But it is also a spiritual gym—where meditation “reps”
develop discernment, build faith, and strengthens the spirit of prayer.
Bible “Macros”:
Protein: Truths that strengthen (Psalm 119:28)
Carbs: Promises that energize (Isaiah 40:31)
Vitamins: Words that protect from sin (Psalm 119:11)
Just as athletes need both fuel and exercise, God’s
Word feeds and trains us. Psalm 119:11, for example, has been my soul’s feast and faith’s drill: it nourishes my love for God while helping
me to resist sin. When temptation comes, this verse is like a resistance band
for my soul—helping me stand firm and walk in holiness.
What verse has been both your meal and your workout this
week?
Reflection:
How has God’s Word acted as "spiritual protein" in my
life this week?
What "junk food" (distractions) compete with my Scripture intake?
Topical
meditation
May 28th, 2020
Day 3
Prayer – Cardio for the Heart, Weights for the Will
One way to practice godliness is to pray. Prayer is an
exercise for the spirit. Through prayer we communicate with God and receive
strength, we get rid of anxiety, of negative thoughts and feelings, we think
about the things which are above, and therefore we train the mind. Through prayer we receive peace and joy. Waiting
for the answer to prayer trains
patience, getting the answer trains
faith, praying for others trains
love. Regular prayer teaches us to strive, to be disciplined, to get rid of
laziness. So by praying we can train our mind, our patience, our faith, our
love, become disciplined, diligent, peaceful, joyful.
Prayer is both cardio and
strength training for the soul: it pumps faith through our spiritual veins
(like cardio), and it builds perseverance to endure life’s weights (like
strength training).
Exercise is a repetitive act
designed to develop skill and strength. Just as language learners must practice
beyond knowing grammar rules, and musicians spend hours repeating scales and
pieces, so too must we practice prayer. No one makes progress in the spiritual
life without regular time spent in prayer. To make prayer a true spiritual
workout, I should aim to pray consistently building spiritual endurance over
time.
Fitness Parallels
Reflection:
• Do I view prayer as essential spiritual training
or just a religious duty?
• How can I build a regular, disciplined rhythm of prayer into my daily life?
• In what area—faith, patience, love—do I most need spiritual growth through prayer?
Topical
meditation
May 27th,
2020
Day 2
The Discipline of Reps and Routine
Every workout program requires
effort, discipline, consistency, perseverance, and patience.
The same is true for the
spiritual workout. No one becomes an athlete in a single day—it’s a gradual process. So it is with the spiritual
life. You can’t achieve perfection in one day; it’s something you pursue throughout your entire
life.
Just as articles with headlines
like “Easy Way to Lose Weight” or “One Minute to Build Muscle” are misleading, so are spiritual shortcuts like “Three Easy Steps to Holiness” or “One Week to Godliness.” There will never come a day when I can say, “Finally, I’ve reached holiness. I no
longer need to make an effort or train myself.”
Athletes train daily to
succeed. The spiritual athlete must also train himself daily in godliness. Just
as physical workouts should gradually increase in intensity, so should our
spiritual training. A brother once advised those struggling to pray to begin
with just ten minutes a day. A person who has never developed the habit of
prayer won’t suddenly be able to pray for an hour. But the one who perseveres in
prayer will grow into deeper and longer communion with God.
So—regularity, discipline, and effort are
essential.
Topical meditation
May 26th, 2020
Day 1
Warm-Up
– Setting Your Spiritual Goals
The Spiritual Fitness Plan
"Exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7)
This week, I meditate on training
in godliness. To run the race of faith well (Hebrews 12:1), I must be
spiritually fit—strong, enduring, and disciplined. Just as an
athlete wouldn’t say, “I want to be strong but
refuse to lift weights,” it’s foolish to say, “I want godliness but won’t train for it.”
The apostle Paul uses athletic
language: the Greek word “gymnaze” (γύμναζε) means to train like a gymnast. Bodily exercise has temporary benefits, but godliness strengthens us for
eternity (1 Timothy 4:8).
Just as athletes warm up
before a race, we prepare our hearts for spiritual training. No one expects to run a marathon without preparation—why would we expect
godliness without discipline?
The Spiritual
Fitness Plan
Godliness is reverence,
obedience, and trust—a full-body workout for the soul. It reduces stress
(faith), boosts joy (endurance), and renews the mind (flexibility). Let’s train for
it!
Reflection:
·
What
distractions (laziness, excuses ) hinder my training?
Topical meditation
May 25th, 2020
