“Things I Learned About Worship At The Gym” (Ready to Worship S16E1)

August 12, 2022

Host: Wade Webster | Released Friday, August 12, 2022

This season on Ready to Worship, we are thinking outside of the box. We are discussing some things that we have learned or can learn about worship from the gym. As strange as that sounds on the surface, and I agree that it sounds strange, I pray that you will stay with me through this season. I am convinced that in just a short time, we will all be in better shape for worship. Although I am thinking outside of the box, I assure you that I am not thinking outside of the book. I promise that the podcasts will be filled with Scripture and Scriptural application. Let’s start with this lesson:

I Usually Feel Better Afterwards

I will admit it. Some days it is hard to go to the gym. Days when I am tired. Days when I have a million other things calling for my time and attention. Days when I am still sore from the last time that I was there. Those days are hard. However, when I make myself go, I usually feel better afterwards. Let me give you three quick reasons why that is the case. First, I feel better after I go to the gym because my conscience is clear. I know that I need to exercise. I know that it is good for my health and my heart. I know that exercise impacts both the quality and the quantity of my life. Second, I feel better after I go to the gym because exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins are wonderful things. They are chemicals (hormones) that the body releases during exercise and other activities. It is believed that they reduce pain, increase pleasure, reduce stress/depression/anxiety, lessen inflammation, improve mood, boost self-esteem, support a healthy immune system, and improve memory and cognitive function. Third, I feel better after I go to the gym because exercise (perspiration) removes toxins from the body. As you likely know, we live in a toxic world. We pick up toxins in the things that we eat and drink, in the air that we breathe, and in the things that we touch. Exercise helps to cleanse our bodies of some of these toxins through perspiration. Now, you can see why I usually feel better after I go to the gym.

Let’s take this lesson that we learned at the gym and apply it to worship. Do you ever find it hard to go to worship? Likely, there are times that you do. Times when you are tired physically and emotionally. Times when your To Do list is longer than your arm. Times when you are treading water just to stay afloat. Although it is hard to get up and go to worship at times like these, we must push ourselves to go. Usually, when we do, we will leave feeling better. Burdens are lifted at Calvary and at worship. First, we leave worship feeling better because we have a clear conscience. The little prick of conscience that we feel when we miss the gym is nothing in comparison to the big prick that we feel when we miss worship. As much as we need the gym, we need worship more (Mt. 17:4; Heb. 10:25). The gym is good for us physically, but worship is good for us spiritually. It is good for our spiritual heart and health (1 Tim. 4:7-8). Second, spiritual endorphins are released during worship. Perhaps, you are thinking that you have never heard of spiritual endorphins. Well, you have now. I remind you that the New Testament routinely describes the church as a body. The church functions like the body in building itself up (1 Cor. 12:25-26; Eph. 4:16). Let me show you a Biblical context that speaks of the changes that take place within us as we worship – Psalm 73. You may recall that Asaph was very anxious and depressed when he came to the sanctuary. In fact, he was at the point of quitting (Psa. 73:2-15). However, time in the sanctuary changed all of that. Worship provided clarity of mind and focus. It reduced his stress and depression (Psalm 73:16-28). Asaph came weary, but he left recharged. He came confused, but he left with clarity of mind. He came weak, but he left strong. He came depressed, but he left with his spirit refreshed. Worship released some wonderful spiritual endorphins. Third, worship removes some horrible toxins. Although we are striving to stay pure from the world (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 6:17), we still pick up toxic attitudes and behaviors sometimes. Isaiah clearly understood this. When he found himself in the presence of a holy God, he cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts” (Isa. 6:5). Please note that Isaiah described himself as a man of unclean lips dwelling among people of unclean lips. It seems that Isaiah had picked up some of the toxic talk of his times. Likely, until he was in the perfect light of God’s holiness, he had not seen it. Now, he saw it, and it was bothering him. Thankfully, God sent an angel with a live coal to touch Isaiah’s lips and to purify them. The toxins were removed.

As we get ready to worship this week, we must not let anything keep us away. We need to be there. If we will push ourselves to go in spite of how tired or troubled we may be, I am confident that we will feel better afterwards.