Luke 9:23

To "take up your cross and follow Jesus" means to daily surrender your own will, desires, and ambitions to follow God's will, even when it's difficult or requires sacrifice. It involves self-denial, not as a life of suffering, but as a deliberate choice to put Jesus at the center of your life, making Him the ultimate authority in all your thoughts and actions. This daily commitment means responding to life's circumstances based on your relationship with Him.

The Bible teaches that human hardship arises from living in a world marred by sin, flawed choices, and the influence of evil factors that have disrupted God’s original design. Yet, suffering is not portrayed as the end of the story. Instead, Scripture presents hardship as an opportunity for spiritual growth, sanctification, and a reminder that our true home is not in this world, but in the presence of God. As Romans 8:18 encourages, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

“Welcome to ‘Faith & Fitness,’ the podcast where we explore the powerful intersection of fitness and faith. I’m your host Peter Goldsberry, the founder of Toward The Lord, and today I want to talk about something that’s close to my heart: balancing our spiritual journey with our physical health in a world full of influencers and trends. Let’s dive into how our well-being and spiritual lives can not only coexist but thrive together.