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Strengthen Your Core

Supposedly, it’s all about your core!

That is, in today’s world of physical fitness, it’s all about strengthening your core.  Your core refers to the group of muscles that support your spine and pelvis, providing stability and enabling movement. It's not just your abs; it includes your back muscles, pelvic floor, and even your diaphragm.

When your core is strong, it helps you maintain balance and stability. It can help prevent back injuries and help you maintain better posture. It can also help with athletic performance by allowing for more efficient movement and power transfer. And there are, of course, appropriate exercises to strengthen your core.

But there is another kind of core, one that is known as the inner self. The inner self, as described in the Bible, refers to the spiritual and moral part of a person, distinct from the physical body or outer man.

And while our physical bodies are important and we certainly feel every ache and pain resulting from injury or even aging, our inner man is probably even more important as it is where God’s Spirit works.

One way the Bible addresses the body and inner self is found in 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

Another way the Bible addresses these areas is found in 1 Timothy 4:8 - “for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Our physical bodies are important and we should take care of them. And as we experience those aches and pains that seem to increase as we age, we are reminded that it will likely only get worse as our outer self keeps wasting away.

But in the midst of that, we can also be encouraged that our inner self can be renewed. This renewal is primarily a work of the Holy Spirit but there are also inner self “exercises” that can help us in this renewal process such as walking by faith and having regular communion sessions with God.

It has been said that we are not bodies with souls; we are souls that have bodies. Assuming that to be true, and I believe it is, it should change our focus on which core is really important and needs the right exercises to strengthen it. 

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