Discipline is at the heart of most success. Sometimes fortune and luck find us and we realize a success or extra income or special favor. But most times, hard work and staying steady reap great benefits.

I know I talk a lot about Baxter running and my walking. These activities just provide so much material for daily life lessons. And establishing a “baseline” is a life lesson it has taught me.

What am I talking about when I use the term “baseline”? Those of us who are now a certain age know that medically our physicians want to run tests and establish our ‘Normal” in some areas of health. When our numbers stray far from our normal, our physician knows we have a health issue. 

So the baseline is our foundation. The place we operate from. 

Baxter says that if we exercise regularly…run/walk three to five times a week. Do your distance. You establish a baseline of stamina and fitness. A foundation. At least we have found that to be true in our lives.

For me, if I walk three to five times a week, doing four miles each time with an occasional five mile day, I find I have a baseline of fitness that prepares me to do the events Baxter signs me up for. Whether it is a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon (sorry, I’m not going any further), I’m prepared. I don’t have to train. I’ve already been training.

It is the regular preparation that allows me to participate when an opportunity presents itself. And isn’t that true spiritually?

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a blog about events and disasters that blindside us…happen suddenly. I’ve discovered that when these disasters do strike, when harm does come, if I have been in the Word regularly, if I have had my morning worship and prayer time…those events don’t take me out. I’m not saying there is no pain or harm or tears. But I’m not destroyed. I’m crying out to the One who hears me daily. I’m depending on the One who provides for me daily. We can find ourselves “struck down, but not destroyed”. We’ve established a spiritual baseline of fitness…a foundation… and can withstand a strenuous assault.

However, if we have not spent time with our Abba God, or been in the Word, or kept fellowship with the Body of Christ…how can I expect to withstand what evil throws at me? I’m  not “spiritually fit”. And that’s no one’s fault but my own. 

There is no condemnation intended here…hopefully, there is encouragement. We live in a fallen world. We won’t always get things “right”. Somehow trouble will find us…But we can stay spiritually fit. 

Let’s “work out”…together…